We ended the afternoon with a sweat lodge ceremony led by Ben First Eagle.  Words are inadequate to tell you our
experience, but we will try.

I felt God through this awesome experience and deeply moving ritual.  Nick

The whole experience was just utterly amazing.  At first I thought I was going to be a “wuss” and give up, but it turned out to
be great.  If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would jump on it so FAST!

While I didn’t get the experience, Ms. Linda taught me a lot of other cool stuff!! – Camille

I had a great time learning and experiencing another type of service. – Scott

Even though I wasn’t in there long!  I felt God’s Spirit in there!  I am so grateful that I was able to share different ceremonies
from the Lakota people.  Knowing that God was there, even though I couldn’t see him.  God is a great man, and I was
happy and still am, that I was able to tell him that.

The sweat lodge experience was great for me, but it made me feel very rejuvenated and proud.  I’m just happy, mostly, that I
was able to remain there for the whole time.  It also makes me feel good that AI was able to get a lot of things off my mind.  I
really liked, also, being welcomed and a part of the religious practice of a new and different culture. – Marilyn

I have never prayed with my mind, body, soul, and spirit with such intensity.  It was a full body experience.  As we lifted
Susan and Sharon in prayer I felt we were lifting them physically.  As First Eagle prayed for them in Lakota, to hear the only
English words – Susan and Sharon – it was a profound sense of healing.  The sweat and tears mingled with each other on our
bodies and the hay to make a potion of spirit and grace.  Thank you my Native American brothers and sisters. – Jim

I felt very in touch with mind, body, spirit, and earth the voices in the songs overwhelmed me with a sense of peace.  We
were all in relation with one another.  The sitting seemed to become uncomfortable only when not in prayer.  When praying
and singing I forgot about being uncomfortable.  This was a beautiful service.  Thanks be to God for the opportunity to
participate.  Scott

This has been an amazing part of my journey.  I am so happy that I was able to have this experience and I could not have
shared it with nicer people.

Before leaving Atlanta, I prayed and hoped that I too would meet God in South Dakota.  While here I have experienced
more than  I could have imagined in the Native American people, their Holy Land, Linda, our hostess and the youth and
adults on the journey.  Your prayers and e-mails sustain us each day.  Judy

I am grateful that they invited us is so they could share there worship.  Trisha

What has happened today at the sweat lodge has begun to open my eyes.  It’s shown me how arrogant and ignorant I have
been in my life beforehand.  Everything that was said sank in so fast that a lot of it was very overwhelming.  But I am glad I
had the chance to experience some of the culture of the Lakota. – Preston

The sweat lodge was an amazing event.  My eyes was opened and I saw another culture worship the same person we do but
in a different way.  It make me feel so peaceful!  I’ve never prayed so intensely and in that hot of conditions. – Tyler

What an incredibly awesome and powerful experience!  And the peace that descended over all of us was exquisite.  I’m so
grateful for the generosity of the Lakota members to share their prayer experience with us.  Thanks be to God.  We are all
related. – Joan

As you can see, it was a powerful experience.  The boys, Scott and I are now on our way to Flag Mountain to spend the
night on the top of the mountain.  We are, to the best of our ability, going to seek God in a vision quest through the night.  It’s
cold, I hope God will come to warm our hearts.

God bless each and every one of  you for the e-mails and prayers you’ve been sending.  They have sustained us and filled
our hearts with joy as we heard them each morning.  You mean a great deal to us.
 

We arrive at Mount Rushmore.  With new eyes we viewed this national monument.	The kids are gone for an hour.  We relax.	We arrive at Crazy Horse Monument.  With new eyes, as well, we view this national treasure.
Native American dancing at Crazy Horse	The valley leads to the sweat lodge.	Ben First Eagle prepare our hearts and minds for the experience of the sweat lodge.