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6A. Sister Daisy Kitchens and Queen Victoria 
Later that summer our teamwork was put to the test on a mission in Rapid City. In the wooded back hills surrounding the city, the Indians of ages past had set up many sacred shrines and sanctuaries to their Great Spirit god. Nearby, more recent white settlers had carved in stone the faces of four presidents, who were also guiding spirits in the life of their own new nation. Astonishingly, nature had chiselled out a fifth of an old Red Indian Chief long before the rest! The inhabitants of Rapid City, many of them Sioux Indians from the Reservations, were thus surrounded by reminders of their past. Their rough tin shacks and plywood shelters contrasted sharply with their former open pastures and green woodland homes.
Pine Ridge Reservation
Our tall handsome Sioux colleagues knocked on a door and introduced themselves with a broad smile as Gilford Noisy Hawk from Pine Ridge Reservation. This invariably brought a spontaneous and equally warm reaction. Our Sioux were renowned for their friendliness. Dakotans, means 'the friendly people.' The quiet shy side of the Indian nature captured the French word 'Sioux' meaning "snake." They could slide silently through the grass without disturbing a single blade! Many shy Sioux families we visited were once members of the Episcopal Church in their homelands.
Land speculators and greedy prospectors forced them out when gold was discovered in the streams crossing their land. Our Sioux cadets, spoke in the flowing and descriptive language of their fathers. Soon they broke the ice and showed that Christians really care. They were deeply moved to realize that a fellow Indian had come hundreds of miles to Rapid City to share his faith in Jesus.
Sister Daisy Kitchens
Taking part in this crusade was a costly business for both cadets and their wives. The men received no payment at all for three hard weeks' work and their wives had their share of problems too! During the mission we had originally planned to camp out together in one great tent, but the Indian women soon showed us they were not too keen. Like other American housewives, they insisted on all the "modern conveniences." As a result, we finally ended in the big basement of St. Matthew's Mission Church, where Sister Daisy Kitchens was on the staff. Before we ate our meals together, Daisy would shout "Dinner's ready!" adding, "remember we're in America - women first!" Despite this, the squaws inevitably hung back and the men were served first!
Sioux Radio
One of our Indian evangelists, Clyde Estes, had a bright idea to help heal a tragic consequence of disunity in the church. It all came about because the members of different denominations frowned upon intermarriage and strictly forbade Holy Communion to these couples. Clyde invited all to come and kneel at the altar rail, not for the sacrament, but for a blessing. In our tiny brick church with its red carpet down the central aisle many took part in worship with their marriage partner for the first time.
The Sioux quickly endeared themselves to us as we came to know them and we soon struck up many warm friendships. There were however two certain well-intentioned ladies in the city. They started a radio program to the Sioux Reservation every morning because they felt so concerned about the Indians. The Indians themselves didn't even bother listening. One told me, "they begin "O, how we love the Indians," but they have never even been to see us! I wish they didn't love us so much!" It was meaningful relationships, not simply words, which the Indians wanted most. Many Sioux had already experienced the most significant kind of relationship with God himself.
A Sioux Child and Queen Victoria
I met a wrinkled one hundred and two year old lady wrapped in a tasselled shawl. She told me in a very thin voice of a trip she had made as a child to Europe. In England, she had performed in a Wild West Show before Queen Victoria. With a twinkle in her eye she related that the whole cast was lined up to be introduced to Her Majesty. Everyone else bowed or curtsied but this five year old adamantly refused.
The Queen was curious and spoke to her father, "Why doesn't your little girl curtsy like the others?" The Indian replied "She's a very independent child, madam, why don't you speak to her yourself?" This little girl was called forward and gently asked why she would not observe this courtesy. "No," she blurted out, "you are not my God! My God's in the United States of America!" Warmed by her directness, Queen Victoria leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "God bless you, my dear! You know where you belong!"
"You've gotta have a glory in the things you do, an alleluia chorus in the heart of you" 
