When the Presents are gone, we have the Presence.

6th and 7th Graders enjoy the first snow. Due to the altitude, we have the presence of snow several times during the winter here on the Navajo Reservation. The students (and the teachers) go wild. Some classes celebrate with a hot chocolate party.

January 25, 2026

Dear Friends,

Now that the Christmas Season is merging into Valentine’s Day, and the Amazon gift certificates have been spent, let’s take a breath and review.

The theme of our Christmas Program in December was “You can’t have a White Christmas unless you have a Red Christmas first!”  

Galatians 4:4 says: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Jewish law.” 

Jesus Himself is the Best Christmas Present Ever! 

The program explored how Jesus came at the Right Time spiritually, culturally, and politically.  Jesus, who left his perfect home in Heaven, was the Right Person because He was the Son, sent by God, and He was surrendered to God. And the Reason He came was to redeem those who are under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons of God!

Jesus gives us the real presents in our lives: love, forgiveness, His presence, and peace.

This is what we wanted our students and their parents to understand. Many parents approached us at the end of the program, appreciative that the Christmas Program presented some deeper truths for them.

Of course, the lower elementary school presented adorable angels and shepherds at the Nativity. Everyone joined in the finale singing “There’s a place where mercy reigns — at the Cross.”

I am enjoying teaching upper grade English and History. The students listen in class, participate with their own ideas, and seem eager to hear the Biblical connections to the material. However, half of them engage in Navajo Ceremonies with their families. We pray that they will know that Jesus is Enough. He will save them. He will protect them. He will fill that empty longing inside of them and give them hope.

For the eleventh year, Roger is enjoying his diverse students in third grade. He is praying that his students trust Jesus for themselves, not just because their parents say they are Christians. (And to learn their times tables.)

Angels and Shepherds

At the Beach (Our Christmas Break in CA)

Signing and Singing “Love Ran Red”

Hogan in the Snow - Window Rock Museum. Hogan With Snow: 

Christmas Program. Many children like to wear traditional clothing for the program. 

Baptism. He was so excited, he kept telling everyone that he had decided to follow Jesus!

Nativity Scene 2025

Navajo Nuggets

August 2025

Dear Friends,

We’ve had a blessed summer visiting our churches and various friends across the states. We are so encouraged by your love and grateful for your prayers and support. School has begun here again on the Colorado Plateau, and we’re back to sowing the seed. As teachers of young people, we often don’t have the privilege of seeing the harvest in these lives. But, we desire to be faithful in teaching these young ones about the love of Jesus and the authority of the Bible.

Some of the seeds bear fruit —30 fold, 60 fold, and even 100 fold.

Let me tell you about Sanford*. He attended Hilltop Christian School when he was in high school, and though he was a bit of a troublemaker, he became a Christian, and his life turned around. When someone becomes a Christian in the Navajo Nation, he might as well kiss goodbye to all family gatherings and holiday parties. Unfortunately, Sanford had cancer as a young father. (His son was in my class.) His family kept badgering him to call the medicine man for prayers and ceremonies. Sanford staunchly refused saying, “I’m not doing that. I’m going forward with the Lord.” He passed away with a strong testimony. Who knows how many of his children and family are following Jesus today because he remained steadfast?

There is Officer*. He attended Hilltop as a teen also. He tells a funny story about an incident that he and other parent of our students was involved in. Officer did well in high school and college and is in law enforcement. He has a strong Christian testimony in his work place. He attributes his success to Jesus’ supplying wisdom and peace and protection in all types of crazy situations. He is a seed that was watered at HCS and is producing more fruit.

Tom* struggled to grow in his Christian walk, until Covid hit. Then his son and wife passed away (along with other family members). Instead of letting the thorns of life choke out his faith, he fell into the arms of Jesus and said, “God, what are you trying to teach me?” One day in a low time, he pulled out his wife’s sermon and devotional notes. (Apparently she was like me, an obsessive note-taker. ) He read and reread and meditated on the notes. God began to change him. Today he leads singing and sometimes gives the sermon at local Navajo churches. Because of his sharing his faith, he is producing abundant fruit.

Willie* also attended HCS before our time here. He admits that by 16, he had a stony heart which basically rejected Christ. He joined the Marines, and wouldn’t you know it, his closest roommates were Christian guys, who reflected Christ-likeness and shared Christ and the Bible at every opportunity. Willie’s heart softened, and he became a believer. He’s stayed true for over 25 years, and now is involved in church leadership and is doing some preaching. HCS teachers didn’t see fruit. The Marines saw the beginning of the seedling. And now we can praise God that many people hear the Word and are prayed for because of Willie.

Mike* attended HCS until 7th grade. He wanted to attend the public school to participate in sports. He said it was scary at first because kids were doing weird things and he didn’t know anyone. But he told us that he has friends now. He reported that he gets to pray for the team before they play and that he is making very good grades. The seeds of the Gospel weren’t consumed by birds when he moved to public school. He has flourished and is bringing Jesus along with him on the basketball court!

The Lord brought the teachers we needed to start this school year, and we’ve even opened up the middle school (6-8) . We are still praying for a full time principal. Dr. 4 comes on campus four days a month, but is always available by e-mail, phone, or text. We are grateful for his direction. We also ask prayers that the playground installation would happen quickly, so the children can enjoy the new equipment. Also pray for me as I am adjusting to being a first-year teacher in my new assignment in middle school. 

Thank you for your prayers. We are moving in new directions and trying new things. The staff is being stretched. Pray for our peace, energy, and teamwork as we plant seeds this year. 

May God bless you abundantly.

Photos:

Crossway helped me set up my classroom. Thank you!

Girls are using their creativity to build a campfire.

The playground equipment has arrived. It is not completely installed.

Enjoying our cool mornings.

Creative Crafts help students learn history

Yellow shirts to honor our Navajo Code Talkers.

* The names have been changed.

Christmas Nuggets Dec. 2024

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your precious prayers and gifts to us and to Hilltop Christian School and Across Nations. 

In a blur of activities and blessings, we’ve completed the first semester. The children enjoyed a fall festival, which was connected with the Across Nations Radio Shar-a-thon. Our art teacher organized the pumpkin patch, hay ride, and several carnival games. The Shar-a-thon raised a few thousand dollars for the school, and we were blessed by Radio listeners’ generosity. 

Preparing and presenting the Christmas Program occupied much time in December. The children were unable to rehearse in the church in Gallup where we held the program, but they adapted and did well on their songs and verses. The theme was “Follow the Light.” Just as lights are a major decoration used during this season, Jesus is the Light of the World, and we celebrate His birth, His life, His sacrifice, and Christ, the light of Heaven. The families responded positively, and we continue to pray for salvation of those who are being called.

Hilltop Christian School’s enrollment hovers around 55. We are operating this year with a part-time consultant/principal who is on campus four days a month. He keeps in constant communication and also works on school business from his home in Southern New Mexico. We are grateful for Dr. Four's expertise and experience as an administrator, but please continue to pray with us for a full-time principal for next year.

In addition, several of the teachers and their families have faced physical problems and would appreciate your prayers. 

  

Just this month, we were saddened by the passing of Mrs. Lois Harper, mother of the Across Nations Director, Chuck Harper. Larry and Lois Harper formerly directed this ministry, and they founded Hilltop Christian School in 1964. Lois was the first teacher. We’ve met Lois a few times, and she always had entertaining Hilltop stories from the early days. The memorial service will be in January.

We pray you and your family will have a great Christmas season as we celebrate the arrival of Jesus, the Son of God who dispels our darkness. 

The photos are from the Christmas Program. The delightful drummer boys stole the show.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

August 25, 2024

Dear Friends,

She saw a shadowy figure hanging around her workplace. Other staff had seen it near a closet, so it wasn’t just her imagination. They were on edge and fearful. It was time to bring in the big guns. She called her parent, who is part of the Across Nations Staff, and requested prayer.

Across Nations staff hustled over to visit with the workers. They discovered that the workers believed the building was ‘haunted’ because they were at fault for someone’s death. Later that week, Across Nations was requested to come and pray over the area because the employees had tried everything they could in their ceremonial ways to get rid of the “shadow.” KA took three other Native American believers with him, and they prayed over the entire building, room by room. They reported they were like Joshua, driving the evil influences from the land.

Yes, we know there are cultural differences between us and the Navajo, but this is not the equivalent of my students telling me that if you touch a bug, you will break out in red dots or that owls and snakes are not acceptable topics of discussion because they bring evil and bad luck. The spiritual world is real, as you know, and the battle belongs to the Lord.

Hilltop Christian School has been working, saving, and accepting donations for several years to buy playground equipment. Just when we were ready to make the purchase, the funds were taken by fraud. It was a sophisticated scam, and the amount lost was huge. Of course, we are doing all we can through law enforcement and insurance to recoup some of the loss.

We’re angry and heartbroken, but it reminds us that if Across Nations and Hilltop Christian School were on the wrong path, the enemy would ignore us instead of disappointing children and stealing the Lord’s money.

We have started the school year with a full staff. Our administration situation is interesting. We have Dr. John  as our part-time principal. He’s on campus several days a month, and is always available through e-mail, text, and Zoom. Dr. John was the principal at Hilltop many years ago, and he is delighted to see the improvements to the campus. We all want this to be a workable solution, and we pray for him as he travels back and forth from southern New Mexico and as he assumes the leadership of Hilltop Christian.

When Jesus sent out the twelve, He sent them out with nothing. I take too much when I go on vacation: clothes, OTC meds, books, cash. But Jesus said no staff: nothing to lean on or to protect you from wild animals; no bag: nothing for emergencies; no bread: no extra food because He provides; no money: something tucked away to get me out of a jam; and no extra clothing. We are to be what they see. We are just servants of the Lord copying Him by teaching and healing and proclaiming the Kingdom. We teach, we love, we protect, and mostly we proclaim the love of Jesus, the Truth of the Word of God, and the reality of the spiritual realm where God is sovereign and Jesus is our Savior.

Though we have enough teachers, we are sorely lacking substitutes. Pray that more people would be willing and available to substitute for us. We’ve already had two teachers catch colds, another had an infected hand, one is missing a few days due to cataract surgery, and one missed a week because of a death in the family. Don’t tell me there isn’t a spiritual battle going on.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and support in many ways.

In Service of the King of Kings,

Across Nations Celebrates 86

Colossians 2: 6-7 — Grow in Christ

*Follow Him simply in faith

*Drop roots deep down in Christ

*Build my life on Him alone

*Grow my faith in truth

*Overflow with thankfulness

This October 6-8, Across Nations celebrated its 86th year of ministry and dedicated the new Radio Center. Howard Clark founded the mission first as a Bible School in 1937, with the urgent desire to equip Navajo pastors and teachers. He must be praising God to see how the ministry has grown in depth and breadth. The new radio building, constructed of cargo containers, has only a few more knots to tie until we move in the radio equipment and offices.

The radio building was christened the Thomas Woods Media Center. Thomas Woods was a radio personality here before our time, but we learned about him in a strange and wonderful way. We dropped in at Gray’s Rock Shop (Holbrook) on our way back from Flagstaff a few years ago. In chatting with the clerk, we told him we were from Tse Bonito. He got excited and asked if we knew about the Christian Radio station there. We confirmed that we did. He told us that he got saved by listening to Thomas Woods on KWIM, and he has never gone back to his old life! As a young man, he learned to follow Jesus in faith because of the teaching of Thomas Woods in his native language.

One of the men who is pictured in the old photos that were displayed  is Hastiin Notah. He worked right alongside Howard Clark in preaching and teaching all over the Navajo Reservation. At the celebration, we were privileged to meet his granddaughter.  Hastiin Notah dropped his roots deep down in Christ when it certainly went against the cultural current of his day. The Notah Retreat Center on the hill was named to honor him.

At the Banquet (and the Radio Building Dedication) Pastor Milt  led us in prayer. Pastor Milt has a great story of conversion himself.  But to our surprise and delight, at the Banquet, the father of one of our students leaned over to me after Pastor Milt was introduced and said, “I was strung out on coke for ten years, and Pastor Milt visited me in jail.” That father has turned his life around and built his life on Jesus alone. He and his wife are raising good kids who also love Jesus. 

The first quarter is over, and we are preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences this week.  It’s beyond our wisdom to know what to say. We are teaching academics, but our main purpose is to lead these children to our loving God and salvation through Jesus Christ. We want to teach them the truth of God’s Word so their faith will grow in truth.

We heard another amazing story this weekend. We thought this radio project would be completed three years ago, but the State kept changing the rules. Originally the churches that donated the containers were going to finish the inside and deliver them ready to “plug and play.” Well, the State changed the permit and said that it had to be built here on site. That took additional time and required us to hire workers. But we here at Across Nations are overflowing with thankfulness because eight men have met Jesus and been saved because they worked here where they were loved and led to Jesus.

As for prayer this month:

We are looking for a fourth grade teacher.

Pray for our conferences that are coming up.

Love,

R and S