Non-Native Americans also play a part with On Eagles' Wings. Some, like Larry and Brenda Lilliville*, serve as cooks for the Warrior Summit Leadership conferences. The couple have volunteered their summer months since 2004. oew Summer of Hope outreaches last for four weeks, which opens many opportunities to interact with the young Natives.

"This ministry (OEW) is about saving the lost, especially with the gospel," says Larry.

Brenda recalls, "One of the most memorable moments I had occurred when one of the girls returned from an outreach, full of excitement. She'd prayed with an older woman that night to accept Christ. The girl had felt no qualms sharing her faith, and the older woman needed badly to hear it. She was so excited. That was quite an example for Larry and me."

Darcy Smith* and her family have volunteered for cooking duty since 2001. When asked how her family has most benefited from volunteering, Darcy says, "It really humbled me to hear that the Native youth benefited from just seeing us together as a family. That was a huge revelation to me of how different their upbringing was, because we take family for granted. The young people were entranced by the fact that here were two adults in a long-term marriage and their two children who chose to be together on a volunteer mission trip. They saw we actually enjoyed each other, and interacted well, and encouraged and supported each other."

When Darcy returned the next year, she took three women friends from church with her. She had prepared them for a cool reception from the Native youth. But Darcy was baffled by how different the Native American young people responded from the year before. "All these kids came running into the kitchen and embraced me. They were so happy to hear that I was there." Darcy learned the warm welcome was due to the fact she'd come back. "They trusted me because they knew it wasn't just a short-term relationship," explains Darcy. "The first year they thought I was just in it for myself. Many had had people drift in and out of their lives with a very low level of commitment."

"That's one of the things that keeps me coming back. I volunteer every year for the full month of July. I know these kids appreciate that ongoing relationship with me. It's a privilege to become a part of a different culture that's right here in the middle of the United States, and an honor to be part of this team. Native Americans are an unreached people group. And their plight, the life they have to live, may be America's ugliest secret."

For more information regarding On Eagles' Wings, go to http://oew.hutchcraft.com.

*Names have been changed.