June 2

The children had a hard time sitting still for this!

A week ago, the Hilltop Christian school children left for summer break, but we are finally finishing up with the report cards and clean up, and thinking and planning for the next school year. The process does not let up.

Our plans are to help at Hilltop for the month of June. Then in July we’ll visit friends and churches in Iowa and Maryland to share our ministry and invite others to join in the work that the Lord is doing here on the Navajo Reservation.

The end of the academic year brings us the time of reflection on the Lord’s blessings and a time to bless our children as they leave the HCS Greenhouse. The staff had a wonderful, warm time of remembering stories of God’s faithfulness.  Teachers shared highlights:

--The discouragement and frustration of seeing an empty (borrowed) gym the night before the Easter Program, but with the help of staff and a work team, the risers, backdrops, and lighting equipment were set up, and the families were very blessed by the program.

Presenting a state report to another class in preparation
for the program  with the parents

--There were several families that were unable to pay tuition the second semester, but generous scholarships were given to cover their bills.

--Two children and a parent that we know of made definite decisions to follow Jesus Christ.

--Each teacher could name several victories in the classroom, either with academics or behavior.

--The teaching staff worked together and held it together despite the lack of a principal.

On the last day of school, we have a Ceremony of Blessings for the children in our class. They take this very seriously and listen closely to each other’s blessings.  Here is our blessing for Morgan.

What a treat to have soloist Mitch McVicker visit HCS!

Morgan, your life has been filled with many disappointments, struggles, losses, and discouragement.  Don’t ever forget God has chosen you, and God has chosen these trials in your life to mold you into the man of God He wants you to be.  The process, at times, will be painful and difficult.  Remember God is with you every step of the way.

           May you be like Jacob who wrestled with God and left with a new name, a new destiny, and a great promise.  May you see God work in your life and richly bless you with His presence.

I pray that as you wrestle with the details of your life, you will cling to Him, trust Him, and let Him refine your character.  May you forever be completely secure in His love, compassion and mercy for you.  May you see the world as God sees it and respond as God responds.

 I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers… I always pray with joy…  being confident of this: that He who began a good work in Morgan will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Letters to the President

The fourth grade class had the opportunity to bless the President of the Navajo Nation with a personal letter. I took a photo of two of them, and we were able to have them hand-delivered to President Begaye.

Parachute fun at PE.

Blog: https://everettnavajo.blogspot.com

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

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

April 28, 2016

 Dear Friends,

We appreciate your prayers concerning our search for a principal. The individual we mentioned in the last letter has a real heart for missions, but he and the board agreed that, though working in Western Indian Ministries is certainly an option, the school administrator position was not a good fit. So, thank you for your continued prayers for an administrator and more teachers for next school year.

Last month, Western Indian Ministries was blessed to host an RVICS (pronounced AR-Vicks) team.  They contributed many hours of construction labor, along with friendship and Christian fellowship.

RVICS is a non-denominational Christian organization for couples with a heart to serve the Lord during their retirement years. Teams of up to 6 couples provide services for needy non-profit Christian ministries. Each work project is 3 ½ to 4 weeks long. Couples live in their own RVs with the host project providing the parking sites with electricity, water, and sewer.

These couples love Jesus and desire to serve Him to the best of their ability. They donate their time and talents without expecting or accepting anything in return.

They are team-spirited and strive to be a good witness for Jesus in all they say and do.

RVICS (based in Smithville, TX) was started in 1976 by a couple who wanted more purpose in their retirement years. The organization has now completed over 2,300 projects.

Tutors are welcome.

Making new friends.

Though they’ve labored on many work projects, when we shared with them the needs of the Navajo Nation and the burdens carried by the children in our school, several of them teared up and admitted that they didn’t know a place like the Rez existed in our country, where half the people lack running water, most live below the poverty level, and there is spiritual darkness and confusion.

A team of teens from a private school in Albuquerque chose us as one of their service projects. While some of the teens helped with construction, many were available as tutors and classroom helpers. They even prepared a fun carnival for the children and families. In wonderful irony, most of the students were Chinese exchange students who do not know the Lord. We are not going to China, but the Lord brought the mission field to us.

We appreciate you, our partners,

Roger and Sara Everett

Blog: everettnavajo.blogspot.com

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

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

Seedlings for the garden.

Snow in April.

Cactus wren nest.

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