September 15, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

Many of you would choose Monday as the worst day of the week. Here at Sun Valley, it is almost always true.

Every other Monday, the children come back to us from being at their “homes” for the weekend. But their home lives are anything but stable. One boy told Roger that he was left alone in the motor home to play video games all day.  A second grade girl stayed alone a great deal and ate cereal all weekend. Another girl told me that they had spent the entire weekend in hotel rooms in Albuquerque instead of enjoying the comforts of the familiar. Two girls came back to us covered with flea bites, and lice is always a problem when they come back to us on Sunday night – keeping two people busy for hours every week.

Other homes try to integrate Christianity into their Native religion, which includes ceremonies, chants, and witch doctors, further confusing the children and opening them up to demonic activity in their lives.

The young ones are torn; they yearn to go home and even “act out” a few days before they go, but when they return, it has always been a disappointment in some way. They carry this hurt and disappointment into the classrooms on Monday.

On those weekends, many watch movies and listen to music that would make me blush. One of my girls, influenced by older siblings, came back with the lyrics of a very filthy song spinning around in her head. She felt compelled to write it down. Another boy told his teacher that he had terrible nightmares and wanted to know how to combat them. His teacher talked to him about the power of calling on Jesus to dispel the fears in the night. He then told her that he feels like voices tell him to do things – one voice insisting that he do something naughty, and the other voice warning him against it. Pray especially for one student to listen to God’s Spirit drawing him.

So, on Monday, when you think of it, please pray for us here at Sun Valley. The teachers’ names are Erica, Caitlin, Roger, Sharon, Sara, Aaron, and Natalie.  Our principal is Kris. We will be eternally grateful.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts for the students.

Sara and Roger

www.indianschool.org