My Nonprofit Reviews

A huge thanks to Dave V. and the Tipi Raisers crew who completed this 400 mile journey to Pine Ridge together. This journey was about so much more than riding a horse (although riding was an indelible experience and this fundraiser would have been completely different without the horses). I learned about love, family, courage, generosity, and many precious lessons from people on the ride and those we met along the way, as well as the horses who carried us. Each day was a big adventure full of mystery in the best way (mostly pleasant surprises) and I would not have been anywhere else in the world or done the ride differently. Next year, I know things will continue to grow and improve and we will take what we learned and build on it.

The Lakota Ride is so powerful because it is supported by the prayers, hospitality, and donations of so many people. This year, we were beyond blessed to ride alongside many Lakota people from the Pine Ridge Reservation. Waylon Belt and his family ( wife Priscilla and kids Waylon Jr., Thomas, and Autumn) were the heart of this ride because we were raising funds that would go toward building them a home as well as others who live on Pine Ridge. Just being with them everyday was a gift and thinking about the impact of this ride on their family brought me to tears of joy and gratitude. Not only was this journey helping them raise money for their home, but we were riding home with them and growing together as a family (tiospaye) and having a heck of a lot of fun- from riding horse and playing frisbee to cooking and strumming on the ukulele- memories I will cherish and more importantly, relationships that will remain on my heart. I am unspeakably grateful for every person who was involved with the ride in big and small ways. For the opportunity to spend three weeks in rich community, prayer, and beauty, I give thanks to the Creator God. Wopila tanka (many thanks).