October 13, 2014
Dearest St. Matthew’s Family,
I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of your generosity to provide warmth for the children of the Rosebud Reservation. I remember vividly the blazing hot July afternoon that Judy Leavell and I started brainstorming her vision; we were not sure how it would evolve. God is faithful and provides. He has spoken to your hearts and you responded with yarn, knitting skills, money, and internet savvy, which resulted in cases of new winter hats, scarves, and gloves. I know many of these children, and know they will be excited and will feel your love. We have heard that the first shipments have arrived before the first threat of snow!
I am humbled and grateful for your creativity, prayers, and ongoing support. I would especially like to thank Judy Leavell for seeing a need, and then recruiting the people and resources to create a relationship between St. Matthew’s and the Rosebud Reservation. They are a people who loved and cared for me, while I was so far away from you.
Yours in Christ,
Nancee Cekuta
Dear People of St. Matthew’s:
Through Judy Leavell, we have begun receiving hats, scarves, and gloves to give to our children here on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It has been a great delight to receive the two shipments thus far, and I know that more are coming. Your desire to help keep our children warm is especially necessary this year, when we believe we will be facing an extremely cold winter. The caterpillars are the fuzziest we’ve ever seen them, meaning we could spend a lot of time shivering in the coldest months. Your gifts will make such a difference!
Blessings and thanks,
Lauren
The Rev. Lauren R. Stanley
Priest-in-Charge, Rosebud Mission
West
Rosebud Reservation