As part of our 527 Tribe Summer Immersion trip rotation, 21 South Main middle schoolers traveled to Watonga, Oklahoma, June 20–24, with a threefold purpose: to work, to play, and to learn.
What did we learn? Watonga is the current homeland of the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, though their traditional homeland is the northern plains of the Dakotas.
What did we work on? We built a storage shed for Watonga Indian Baptist Church and helped care for the church grounds and the homes of two church elders.
What did play look like? We swam at Roman Nose State Park, played frisbee, soccer, made bracelets, had a not-so-silent silent disco, and through it all, grew closer to one another and more aware of the gifts God has given each of us.
Initially, I assumed an immersion trip was just like any other mission trip, with the term “immersion” adding a fancy touch. However, as the trip went on, I discovered it wasn’t just about working in a different place but about learning and understanding the culture of the tribes. Engaging and playing with the Native people became a crucial part of the experience. Our destination was Watonga and Geary in Oklahoma, roughly 70 miles from Oklahoma City. We explored the local tribes and the area, noticing the limited access to food, where dollar stores seemed more plentiful than grocery stores. We all took part in a lot of work, mainly involving outdoor yard tasks. What struck me wasn’t a particular project but the way we approached completing it. Throughout the day, I observed everyone working hard, meeting expectations, and then exceeding them. Our hard work and dedication made a significant impact on the church and yard. We had countless enjoyable activities, but I’ll share my favorite due to space: the silent disco. Everyone wore headphones with three channels to switch between. A button on the back allowed you to change the channel and enjoy a different song. Despite losing my voice that night, I had an incredible time singing and dancing with all my heart. The first thing that comes to my mind is the variety show. One of our leaders, Sam Dove, performed a Shakespeare act. But with our so-called “TikTok Brains,” he amazed us by balancing a broom on his finger. It was indescribably hilarious, and the concept kept me laughing the entire time.
— Katie Bryant
This summer, we went to Watonga, Oklahoma. We learned a lot about the culture and
past, of not only Watonga and Geary but also the state of Oklahoma as a whole. I learned a lot about the spiritual and sacred aspect of the music of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribes and how important it is to them and their worship. Most of the work we did while we were in Oklahoma was helping improve a church. We wiped down pews, built a shed for the church, moved a sticker-y garden, and improved not only the outside but also the space for worship. Being able to improve people's space for worshiping is very gratifying and was definitely an immersive part of the trip.
Two most fun events we did during the trip were the silent disco and the variety show. Even though I was running a fever during the silent disco, it was still really fun. Each of the channels had a color it corresponded to, which made your headphones glow. If there was a good song on one channel, you would go up to people and tap your headphones to basically say, "Change it to this color." It was really funny because other than screaming songs to each other, that was the only communication during the silent disco.
One memory in particular that will stick with me this year is the "Circle of Doom." Every year, we sit in a circle and each seventh grader goes into the middle, and everyone says what they like about the person. This year, it was my turn to be in the middle before me and my grade move into the youth. Everybody was so thoughtful, compassionate and supportive about what they said, and it made me (and most likely the other seventh graders) feel thought of and supported.
My favorite part of the Tribe Summer Immersion Trips is the socialization. Every year, I learn more about the people who I hang out with at church. I like how supportive everyone is there, and how compassionate and observant people seem to be during the "Circle of Doom." The "Circle of Doom" is also an event I look forward to every year. I get to tell all my older peers what I enjoy about them, and this year, people told me what they liked about me.
— Clara Benesh
