Building Bonds and Friendships

Sunday, October 24, 2010

After church, KP asked me what I had planned this afternoon. He mentioned he had a soccer match at 2:00.  When a student goes out of their way to tell me about a game, performance or event, I do my best to show up, since I know it’s important to them. Soccer is still a club sport in this part of South Dakota, but is catching on quickly. I was only able to stay for the first half, but cheered the team on and enjoyed being outdoors on a brisk fall day. It brought back memories from when I played in High School.

I also had brunch with the Cyr Home (4^th – 5^th grade boys). When I go into the homes with younger students, there’s always a race to see who gets to sit next to the “visitor.” Maybe it’s my personality, but maybe it’s that the visitor’s table gets to go up for food first!

Chris, one of their houseparents, got to travel to Chicago with some buddies to see a football game. He called his wife and told her he had seats in the end zone. The boys rushed through the meal and dishes so they could sprawl out on the floor in front of the TV and look for Chris; especially at extra points and touchdowns. When I’d left, they still hadn’t located him yet.

I stopped in the gym to check out some of the action at the boy’s inter city basketball league, which started this afternoon. Our students play with kids from town and it helps build bonds and friendships outside the immediate circle of St. Joseph’s.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future. View all posts by St. Joseph's Indian School