March 20

Rescued owls at the Navajo Nation Zoo

Last week while studying birds, I pulled out a beautiful book about Owls and was quickly informed by several students: “We Navajos don’t look at owls.”  I wondered if it were even acceptable to show the book to the students, which it was.

Subsequent research explained this taboo.  Only a few wild animals or birds are considered friendly to the Navajos. Owls, crows, mice, and coyotes are considered helpers of witches and evil spirits (Bulows).

Owls are known as messengers, but usually if you hear an owl call, it is an omen of something bad, so one must not look at it (Alford).  They see the owl as connected with sudden death -- often with little or no warning-- and consider the sightings a bad portent (Richard Sutton). According to Navajo legend, the creator, Nayenezgani, told the Owl after creating it “…in days to come, men will listen to your voice to know what will be their future” (Deanane Lewis).

This question opened a door for a discussion with a Navajo Elder at our church. He explained that this fear of owls is prevalent, but he stated confidently that he has the Lord and doesn’t believe in the owl or coyote omens.

There were ten Hilltop students with most having attended here for three years, and only one sitting there before me crossed her arms and said, “Well, I don’t believe that.” (She is the daughter of missionaries.) Great and Mighty is the Lord our God to break down the walls of fear.

Team from Kansas

Painting backdrops for the Easter Program

We’re so blessed to have Work Teams coming back for the spring and summer. Our first group came from Kansas. Since school was on Spring Break, they worked on the construction of the dorm/conference building and painted backdrops for the Easter Program. This coming week we look forward to the wonderfully energetic group of teens from Redwood Christian School. They’ll connect with the students through Bible class, Chapel, tutoring, and play times. In addition, they’ll be setting up the Carnival/Open House so HCS can reach into the community. We hope to create publicity and increase our enrollment for the next school year.

A note of praise to our God who heals: The father of my student who has cancer underwent surgery (in Houston) during the break. He is home now, and things are going well.

Blessings!

Blog: everettnavajo.blogspot.com

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

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

February 29

Collage from the art classes.

Matthew 18:1-6: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them.  And He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

            While making the weekly trek to the market, I spied road kill: a cow. (My first time on that one.) It was difficult not to gag as I took the photo. So many children here are led off the safe pasture due to broken families and a stinky society.

Looks bad and smells bad too.

            Layne told me this week that his mom’s money had been stolen from her purse. I asked if they had called the police. He said no because they thought at first his dad might have taken it. I asked why he would take it, and he said, “Because he was drunk.” But Layne decided that the father couldn’t have taken it because some of his stuff was missing too.

            Alcoholism is rampant. That is a stereotype, but unfortunately, it is all too true. Two children asked for prayer one for a mom and one for a grandma who was going into rehab.

Wild horses in late winter.

            One of my students has an (young) uncle in a coma in the hospital and another’s father is fighting cancer.

            No matter how frustrated I get with their behavior, willfulness, and inability to focus, I cannot allow the precious ones in my class to become “road kill” because of hasty words or an exasperated look. Pray that we teachers have patience and we remember every minute that we are called to show them Jesus’ love.

This just might be the true Matthew 18 principle: Children are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, and our job as adults is to love them and keep them from stumbling.

The third quarter ends this Friday. It seems that grades typically go down during the winter season, so we’d appreciate wisdom. We are preparing the Easter Program, which will be given at the end of the month. As of now, we don’t know where the program will be held because of the water damage to the church.  Pray that God smooths the way for a location and that the children can learn their parts.

May God bless you.

The Hilltop Christian Ark.

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

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

February 15

Dear Friends,

Sometimes I take those weird little quizzes on FaceBook, such as “What should your name really be?” (Victoria) or “Can we guess your occupation?” (doctor). Yesterday I took one on obscure measuring words. I got 2/10 and that was in the top 8%!

In honor of Presidents Day, here is a short quiz about the Navajo Nation Presidents (chairmen and presidents who have led the Navajo Nation.)

Four Questions to Test your Presidential trivia knowledge:

1. There have been two Bushes who have served as the U.S. Presidents. To distinguish them apart, George H.W. Bush is referred to as “41” while his son, George W. Bush, is referred to as 43 (indicating he was the 43^rd President.) If we did that with Russell Begaye (the current president), what number would we call him?

1. Answer: Russell Begaye would be “17” because he is the 17^th person to serve as a tribal president or chairman.

Kelsey Begaye

2. Which tribal leader spent part of his early adult life living on the streets of Los Angeles before deciding to turn his life around and enter tribal politics?

2. Answer: That would be Kelsey Begaye, whose early life would make him the least likely person ever to be elected to the top position in tribal government. After he left the U.S. Army in 1971, he was a 24 year-old man without a purpose. He later talked about those “wasted years” when he was homeless and spent all of his waking hours drinking and partying until one day in 1976 when he wandered into a revival meeting, found God and his life was turned around. Today, after serving as Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council and as Navajo Nation President, he still spends a lot of his time counseling others and singing in a gospel band.

3. It is well known that Peter MacDonald has served the longest of any tribal president or chairman (more than 14 years), but who served the shortest?

3. Answer. Thomas Atcitty served only four months as the tribal president. As Albert Hale’s vice-president, he took over when Hale stepped down to avoid prosecution by the tribal government. But Atcitty would also face charges that he took improper gifts, and he was removed, replaced by Milton Bluehouse.

4. Almost every tribal leader has been mentioned in one or more tribal Supreme Court cases, but only one has been honored to have his umbilical cord mentioned. Who was that?

4. Answer: After he lost the 1982 election to Peterson Zah, Peter MacDonald moved his family to Flagstaff where he was living four years later when he decided to run for office again. He came under fire because of a tribal code requirement that persons running for tribal chairman had to reside on the Navajo Reservation for three years. He fought back saying that his umbilical cord* was buried in Teec Nos Pos, and that apparently helped convince the Navajo Supreme Court to rule he could run in the tribal election.

To read the rest of the quiz see navajotimes.com (Tribal Leaders: How Much do You Know?)

The office of the President of the Navajo Nation was created in 1991 following restructuring of the national government into the three-branch system that exists today. Before that, the office was called Tribal Chairman, and Chee Dodge was the first Tribal Chairman, elected in 1923.  The Tribal government was originally established 1923 to help meet the increasing desires of American oil companies to lease Navajo land for exploration.

 The President is elected every four years and can only serve two terms of office.

President Begaye with VP Nez and Chuck Harper, director of
Western Indian Ministries.

On May 12, 2015 Russell Begaye (former NN council member and businessman) won the leadership after a contentious race that was dominated by a controversy over a rule that presidential candidates be fluent in Navajo.

The Navajo Nation is blessed to have Christians in both the President and Vice-President’s seats. We are praying for wisdom and strength for them. They ran on the platforms of encouraging economic development, wooing manufacturing plants, which would, in turn, entice other businesses, asserting control of mineral and water rights and ability to prosecute non-Indians for all crimes on the reservation. They also spread hope by encouraging programs to slay the ‘monsters’ of depression, suicide, obesity, poverty, greed, and apathy.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts that further our work with the Navajo children at Hilltop Christian School.

*After the child is born, the umbilical cord and afterbirth are returned to the earth in a special place around the home site to ensure that the child will nurtured by their spiritual mother for the rest of his or her life. That spot will always be sacred to that child – the place where the child will be psychologically oriented.

3rd through 5th Basketball Team

Coach Leon encourages the team.

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

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

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