Where We Have Been - And - Where We Are Going by Art Soldner

IMCA volunteers are a somewhat independent and sometimes, elusive lot. Just when you think someone will be home for a while, and you call them, a voice on the other end of the telephone says: "No, they are not here. Someone needed help, and they have gone to -wherever." So, this year has again been a busy one. Even as this article is being written, we have learned that two of our volunteers have been invited to attend a Ghost Dance being held in the state of Idaho.

Classes for trainees occupied most of the spring. The present class is somewhat unique in that all who started the training sessions, finished them. The usual dropout rate is about 50%. In May, IMCA, at the request of the Osage Nation, was represented at the memorial and funeral services for Ed RedEagle Sr., Assistant Chief and spiritual leader for the Osage. His wisdom and counsel will be missed.

In June, IMCA went to the Osage reservation to once again assist the Tribe with its Annual Ceremonial Dances. Most of the work was in the kitchen or at the outdoor fires. We have discovered that one of our volunteers is quite adept at cake decorating. He apparently does his best work between 1:00 and 5 :00 am!

On the Navajo reservation, Elder Milford Ulrey has been in the Pinon area, working with several families in various villages. Joined by Elder Hugh Caldwell in August, they are going village to village, taking the gospel. Five baptisms are scheduled for mid-August, with 8 more probable in September. Church services have started again in Old Cedar, attended by 10 people. With God's help, we are sure the numbers will continue to grow.

Three trips have been made to the Mescalero Apache reservation, the latest in July. Efforts with the Mescalero are in their beginning stages, and there seems to be interest on the part of those contacted. Some work has also been done with some members of the Modoc Tribe.

The Blackfoot Camp in July was again successful. Friendships started in past years have been solidified and we have gained a measure of respect and honor with the Blackfoot people. This September, two members of the Blackfoot Horn society, the spiritual leaders of the Tribe, and Quinn Blackrider, our newest church representative to the Tribe, will be coming to the Gathering of Eagles .

The work on the IMCA grounds is making progress. The kitchen/restroom/showerhouse facility is near completion. The water line and the electrical service to the well house are scheduled to be done by mid-August, allowing us (hopefully) to use the new facility during the gathering.

Completing this building opens up a whole new area of ministry to IMCA, that of the 20,000 plus Native Americans of various tribes that live in the Greater Kansas City area.. Some of the Indian elders from the Kansas City area will also be at the gathering. Inquiries have already been made on how the grounds could be used by them.

The Gathering of Eagles, scheduled for September 10-11-12, will feature an open house activity for any and all to come and take tours of the grounds. This is a week-end normally reserved for IMCA members and friends to come together to share a week-end of camping, worship services and fellowship. It is a time when we come together to share the testimonies (good and bad) of the summer. This year we have added the "open house" so everyone, including the Restoration Branch members, can come and share with us, and get some idea of what Indian Ministry is like. If you are planning to attend any or all of the week-end, please let us know as soon as possible, so adequate plans (mostly on the part of the cooks) can be made.