January 31

Snow Day!!

The flakes stopped swirling, giving way to crisp air and bright sun. Every teacher joins us in rejoicing!

Dear Friends,

We had a tremendous time at the SRS (Support Raising Solutions) Seminar on Thursday and Friday. We met dozens of missionaries involved in many ministries-- both stateside and foreign-- who are seeing God’s hand moving powerfully in individuals, families, and cultures. We came home blessed and encouraged. Thank you for your prayers that this would be a good conference for us.

This is the third Sunday that our church, Community Bible Church in Tse Bonito, has worshipped in Hilltop’s cafeteria rather than in its own building.

In mid-January, water began seeping from one of the upstairs pipes. It eventually burst and flowed through the entire south side of the building, dampening walls and ceilings and inundating the carpet in the sanctuary. The stench warned of potential mold.

The church has been inspected for structural and mold problems, but the results are not in. In fact, the initial set of mold tests was “lost,” and has to be repeated. The Insurance company will not make any steps towards settling, thus hanging up progress towards replacements and repairs. Some problems remain invisible. Meanwhile, volunteers and professionals are cleaning out and dehumidifying the building.

The situation is sad, distressing, and overwhelming. We are praying that God continues to work all things together for the good of His people.

Our church situation is an indication of the Spiritual Warfare that assails God’s work on the Rez. In addition, Western Indian Ministries is lending its Lucero building to another area church that was ruined by arson a few months ago. Navajo Bible Church will have to totally rebuild.

The Lucero Building, where they worship now, normally provides the housing for the work teams that come to WIM in the spring and summer. Plan A was to have Navajo Bible meet at Community Bible Church for an afternoon service in the spring, but without a plan B, Navajo Bible could become a “homeless” church starting mid-March. Only our Father can see the answer to that situation right now.

Churches across the Reservations are plagued by physical problems. But even more troubling are some of the other concerns:

Pastors are discouraged because there are few workers.

People hear the Bible messages, but continue to do their own thing (such as participate in traditional ceremonies, use peyote, and disregard Jesus’s teachings.)

People see the church as a social occasion, enjoying the food and fellowship, but maintaining a shallow relationship with the Lord Jesus.

The children love the little wooden cars sent from a group in CA.

Churches are regularly vandalized.

We appreciate you and your prayers. We are strengthened to know that the impossible is possible with God (Luke 18:27).

More Snow

Love,

Roger and Sara

A Church on the Rez

January 2016

Dear Friends,

Learning about electricity

We were happy to spend part of our Christmas vacation with family in warm Austin, Texas.  Upon reaching the east side of Albuquerque (about three hours into the trip), we realized that the only maps we had in the car were California maps from our trip last June. We’re fairly old-school, but we tried to make-do with our nine-year old Garmin. (That means no current maps.) We managed to cut through Texas and arrive in Austin after two days on the road.  Fortunately, our son bought us a new Garmin as a Christmas gift, so we felt more secure driving back to Tse Bonito.

Preschool Christmas Program

We did have a nice Christmas with our family, but we learned it’s stressful to leave home without a map. How does the New Year look to you? Do you have a map? It is important for us to have a mission and goals on this life-trip.

Our mission continues to be teaching Navajo Children and making a difference in their lives by giving them hope in Christ. Our map is marked along the way, and we ask for your prayers as we teach the children and endeavor to reach their families for Christ.

This month, we will attend a Support Raising Solutions Workshop. Our goal is to raise enough support so that Hilltop Christian School does not have to pay us a salary, and it can use its funds for additional staff and basic necessities.  If you would like to contribute to the cost of the Support Raising Seminar, that would be very helpful. Just send it to WIM, noted for the Support Raising Seminar for us.

Family together at Christmas

We are excited and ready for the second semester. Our 5^th-6^th grade teacher, Mr. Mapes, has finally arrived. His spot was being held down by two lovely retired teachers who volunteered to teach until he was able to get here. Pray for him to get adjusted quickly.

Two students did not return after the holiday, and so I have only nine. When I had three absent last week, it made for a very intimate class. They are coming along; all but two are reading fluently. One of my chuckles this week was the answer I got on a safety test. The question was: What do you do if a strange dog is on the playground? The answer was: “Dobodret.” That’s correct! (Don’t bother it.)

Roger continues the challenge with his 3^rd-4^th graders. In contrast to my class, which is basically at the same level, his students range from bright to unmotivated; from compliant to very immature. His chuckle of the week was when the children arrived at 10:00 for a late start and their first question was, “When is morning recess?”  (Not.)

We are so blessed and encouraged by our supporters and hope to mark our map for California and Maryland and Iowa this summer.

 

Window Rock

Blog: everettnavajo.blogspot.com

Support: Western Indian Ministries

P.O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515

http://www.westernindian.org/donate2/

November 16

All through the night, all through the night,

The Savior has been watching over me.

He saves me so sweetly, so neatly and completely

And washes in His all-atoning blood.

My sins are forgiven, I’m on my way to Heaven,

Walking in the smile of God.

This week as we sang this song in Bible Class, I shared this story from the Navajo Times.

Dateline: Window Rock, October 29, 2015

Navajo Nation police reported finding two boys, ages three and four, who had been lost in the woods overnight.

Aza and Tony had been hauling wood and picking piñons with their grandparents and aunt and had wandered off at about 2 PM. Family members had hunted hours for them in the area before reporting them missing. Police began search operations around 7PM and continued throughout the night as the temperatures plunged to the low 40s. The boys were found by their aunt at 7 AM just about a mile from where they had been last seen. They were dehydrated and hungry, but otherwise in good shape.

And now – the rest of the story:

Aza and Tony, looking for something more interesting to do, wandered away from their grandparents and got lost in the woods.

The police came out in full force with expert trackers, vehicles, medical units, and a helicopter – searching through the night. They found some footprints and coyote prints, which caused much concern.

The children were frightened. They fought off “zombies” (coyotes) and hid from the aliens (helicopter) and the scary men with guns. They clung to each other for warmth and eventually fell asleep under a tree.

After the sun had risen, the family resumed their search. Auntie repeatedly yelled their names, and Aza and Tony crept out of the woods, crying. “We got scared so we hid under a tree,” they tell their auntie.

While getting checked for injuries Aza (4) looks up at one of the officers and asks her, “Do you know who Jesus is?”

Pointing towards the sky, he continues, “Jesus was here. He watched over us.”

Jesus loves the little children.  All the children of the world.

Thank you for joining in our mission to love the children to Jesus.

Blessings

 

Support: Western Indian Ministries: http://www.westernindian.org/donate2/

P.O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515

November 9

Matthew 6: 20 “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Dear Friends,

Dressed up for Picture Day

I’m overflowing with treasure today. Here are stories about witnessing experiences from students (who all profess to be Christians) that I taught two years ago. I am so blessed to see how they have grown.

(From Natalie, their current teacher)

The assignment was to approach someone and explain to him either a Christian tract or the Colors of Christ bracelet, and then give it to him as a gift.  I prayed for them earnestly throughout the weekend, and to good avail; for when they came back on Monday, here is what they wrote and then read aloud to the class.

Ada-

It was a rainy afternoon and my mom’s friend’s kids had come over.  All of a sudden I felt this fire-like reminder.  As we sat down to eat, I remembered my homework. I was nervous, but I said to myself, “Come on, let’s just over with it. Tell them about Christ.”  That same fire came upon me, and I was ready.  I took out my paper and bracelets.  I read and talked about the tracts.  Then I went to the bracelets.  They seemed very excited to have the bracelets.  I asked if they had any questions. One of them asked how did Jesus die?  I explained how Jesus died on the cross.

Jerry-

First snow (almost gone already)

I was at my house, and this guy knocked on the door asking for water.  So I got him a water bottle.  I took it to him, and I went back inside to watch T.V.  A few minutes passed, and I looked outside and I saw him still sitting there. This made me nervous, but I just went outside anyway.  The man looked at me, and I said, “Do you know Jesus?”  He responded,  “No, I don’t like any kind of religion because it’s just gonna cause problems.”  So I said, “Like what?”  He said, “Like when my mom died; I was praying asking God to heal her, but He didn’t, and she died right in front of me.”  So I said, “Sorry for your loss.”  He said angrily, “Now go back inside and leave me alone.” 

Clothing Give-Away for the Community

Lisa-

We were at the carnival in Gallup, and I was standing in front of these boys that were wanna bes.  They started talking to us.  We were laughing and stuff.  Then I asked if they knew God.  They got quiet and said, “No, why would I need Him?” Then my friend and I told them about God.  I showed them the bracelets.  I gave away both of them.  After that we said good-bye and departed.

(Natalie closed with: Our God is an awesome God, and these children surely are special!)

One more treasure: Halfway through last school year, a new first grader came who was six months behind the others. I tutored him, and by the end of the year, he was doing fine. Last month I happened to see his father as he picked the children up from school, and I asked him how things were going. He said he was going back to school to be a teacher. I guessed that he was going to teach high-schoolers computers or something like that since that’s what he did in the Marines. But he said, “No, I want to do what you do…. make a difference in the lives of the little ones.”

Won’t it be wonderful to meet people in heaven who have become Christians because of your investment of prayer and finances?

Support: Western Indian Ministries: http://www.westernindian.org/donate2/

P.O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515