Youth Director’s Greetings Sierra Service Project in McDermitt, Nevada Rev. Michael Carlson As you may know, both the high school and middle school SSP work trips will be to McDermitt, Nevada. McDermitt was formerly Fort McDermitt, where federal troops were stationed in the mid 19th century to keep the peace between the Native Americans and the white settlers. After the ultimate defeat of the Native Americans, the fort was turned over to them in the 1890s in the hopes that a school would be built there. Eventually, this did happen, but not for several years. In the 1930s, the Northern Paiute and Shoshone Tribe was officially formed in the area, and the reservation has persisted despite the many challenges of living in such an inhospitable environment and the loss of land available for traditional hunting or farming. In the 1960s, environmental laws helped them to protect more of their resources, but since then many mines have closed and unemployment is extremely high in the area. Our youth will be helping to maintain housing for members of the tribe who are in need of assistance with painting, roofing, and repairs.    Why are we doing this? Here is a quote from the SSP theological statement: “We love because God first loved us.”     (1 John 4:19) “Through our acts of service, we allow the grace of God to flow into and through our lives.  We understand that all people are valuable, carefully fashioned in God’s image and we are freed to accept the essential humanity of each person we meet.  In reaching out to others, we follow the example of service set forth by Jesus Christ. “As with Christ, we serve people whose lives will benefit by our service.  We believe that God lives with us and the work we do with our hands and heart.  We realize, that despite the differences in culture, values, history and geography, we are all brothers and sisters of worth.  Let us accept the Sierra Service Project invitation.  ‘Let us rise up and build.’” We will be consecrating our youth and adult counselors for this mission trip in worship:  High Schoolers on June 27th, and Junior Highers on July 11th; both during the 11am service. Come and send them forth to service in Christ’s name!