May 21

Western Indian Ministries has many facets. Besides the teaching ministry at Hilltop Christian School, we have Christian radio stations that reaches across the Reservation, Youth worker and church helps, and a jail ministry.

Two of our missionaries here work particularly with churches, and I pass on this note from them:

We need you to stand with us against the evil one today and in the months to come. Last week a group of Navajo pastors from all across the Reservation gathered in Dilcon, AZ, to discuss a Church Site Lease that was developed around 1951, (possibly as early as 1922. We are unclear on the date of the original law.) 

A revised draft of this document had been crafted and was called the “Religious Activity Limited-Use Permit.” It was originally written in a historical context when most evangelical churches were started by white missionaries who were trying to move onto the Reservation and start a church to reach Diné (The People) with the Gospel.

Things have changed. Today there are over 100 Navajo-led evangelical churches. The gospel has gone forth and many Navajos have given their lives to Christ. All glory to God!

Navajo Christian Churches in precarious position

The current Navajo President and Vice President are both believers in Jesus, but the person given the task of crafting this revised church policy and many of the councilmen who need to vote to enact it into law are not.

 It has come to our attention that if a church does not meet the Nation's regulations, the Navajo government would have the power to shut them down. There are many problems with this situation -- the primary one being that the drafted permit is still using concepts from back in the 50s, when most Evangelical ministries were led by white missionaries. This is no longer the case. We are seeing bi-vocational Navajo pastors, denominations with Navajo eldership, ministries being started and established by the Native people.

The biggest problem in this draft of the regulations is how frequently ministries will have to reapply. As it stands now, Christian ministries would only have a 5-year permit on the land they use, when other organizations are given a 75-year lease on the land they occupy before they must reapply. Try to imagine your church having to obtain a new lease every five years to use the land for their building and activities.

As for things at Hilltop, we’re winding down this week. Enrollment for next year is coming along slowly, so we continue to pray for the children and families that the Lord will bring to us.

Many of the missionaries will be traveling this summer, so we pray for safety, refreshing, encouragement, and support-raising for them as they go.

Classes

 School trail hike

Many of the boys play baseball.

The opposite of "learn"

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

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

Easter Program

It's not about the bunny; it's about J-E-S-U-S!

The Easter Program was amazing! People staked out chairs in a borrowed gym an hour before the program was to begin. The concept of running on Navajo time does not apply when children are in a program. Since most of the children were not in costume, many wore their Native dress up clothing including bolo ties, turquoise necklaces, moccasins, and “bun” hairstyle.

The disciples discussing events of the past three years.

Our prayers were that the children would present a clear Gospel message: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He arose according to the Scriptures. They sang joyously and remembered their speaking parts. We heard many positive comments. One woman told me that she came very tired from work, and the music lifted her soul as she felt her weariness fall away! I also heard, “When the children pulled out the flags on the final chorus of Hallelujah to the Lamb, I got very emotional.”

The tomb is empty!

One of the songs the children sang was He is the Bridge.* A couple of weeks ago, on the way back to the main building from the music room, I saw a group of my boys stop on the little bridge over the ditch between the buildings. I approached them, ready to chide them for lollygagging in line, when I hear them singing this song.  It was so beautiful that I stopped and joined them instead. When they cross this bridge, hopefully from now on they will think of Jesus as the Bridge to Heaven.

*He is the bridge. He is the way. He is the truth. His life He gave.

He came to earth from Heaven above. He is the bridge, the Bridge of Love.

Thank you for your prayers. We are still praying that people are pondering the truth they heard through the songs, verses, skits, and narrations of the program.

Spring is here!

We enjoyed Easter Sunrise Service and Easter Sunday service with our church fellowship here too. It seems like we never tire of singing those beautiful Resurrection songs.

We are now in the last five weeks of school. Pray that the children don’t start taking their summer vacation too soon. We are continuing to pray for staff and students for next year. Also, we are making travel and support raising plans for this summer, so we’d pray for the plans to work together and for a precious time with our partners.

 

Winter Stories

Barb, the Porcupine- Navajo Times photo

Dear Friends,

We’re having a snow day today, reminding us that winter isn’t over yet.  In reality, at  7,000 ft. elevation, we don’t really expect spring until April.

In February, The Window Rock Zoo held its annual winter cultural program called “Serenading our Sacred Animals.” The medicine man, Anderson Hoskie led a small group from animal to animal telling stories and advising them of “do’s” and “don’ts” that should not be ignored. 

At Barb’s, the porcupine, habitat, he explained how the porcupine is a protection animal and is responsible for taking care of the mountain. He warned that the quills are forbidden for usage by the Navajos (even though other tribes might use them in powwows.)

Hoskie shares stories in the hogan.
 Navajo Times photo

The zoo curator said that when they do tours in the spring and summer, it is taboo to talk about certain things; but now that it is winter, stories can be told. In the Navajo tradition certain stories are reserved for the winter when bears and snakes and some other dangerous animals are asleep. The reason is that all animals love stories as much as people do, and it’s best not tell them during a time of year when there’s not danger of attracting the ‘wrong’ crowd.

The elk came up to the group as they approached the fence and Hoskie told them that elk belong to the Navajo deities known in English as Talking God and House God.

Hoskie said that the bears were hibernating and that only bears call one another “shush,” which is the Navajo name for bear. People should address a bear as “my grandchild” or the bear will get offended. Hoskie emphasized the need to pray and give offerings to these sacred animals. He said to pray to the bear for good luck.

He also talked about the taboos concerning the coyote. If one crosses your path, you will receive a bad message. It is your responsibility to make an offering, and then go on. If you can’t make an offering right then by stopping your car, you could visit the zoo and make an offering.

School news: We enrolled two new students this week. My friendly first grader is behind academically, but is an eager learner, so I have hopes of her catching up. The older girl missed most of her first week due to illness.

We’re still praying for more teachers for next year.

Love to all of our faithful prayer and financial supporters.

Blog: https://everettnavajo.blogspot.com

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

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

February 2017

Dear Friends,

We’ve been fighting the cold/flu/sinus thing for a couple of weeks now, so I’m cheering myself up with third grade history exam answers. I hope you enjoy them also.

Christopher Columbus: He sailed across the ocean and he was’s scard to go acroos the moster ocean.

Miles Standish: He found pimemouth. He had not many friends. He was short.

Ben Franklin: He discovered lighter. If he didn’t we wouldn’t have any lights. He wrote the calendar.

George Washington: He fout in the Civil War.

Thomas Jefferson: He invented the light bulb.

Daniel Boone: He had a dad and a mom.

Robert E. Lee: Was awesome.

Abraham Lincoln: One day Abe was with her, he was watching a car game and he got shot.

Roger also assigned an “If I were President” paragraph, perfect for this Presidents’ Day!

If I were the President, I whould take down all the schools. Becasues kids do not like [them]. And kids can have all the games and internet.

I’ll play video games and go to sleep every day. And sleep in. play foot ball go to new york I will travel.

If I were the President I would help people for doing the right thing. Also and one thing I’ll do If I were President is following the law so I could be a good President. That’s what I’ll do.

If I were the President I would celbrait Jesus for the beatiful world that he made for us. And also stop school. And celbrait me becoming prestent.

If I were the president I would not let people fight. And I would be a good President and I would not let people carry guns around.

If I were the president I would eat candy and eat cookies too. I would help people and play with kids. I would watch TV and eat popcorn. I would do all of my work that I have to do.

If I were the President I would have a place for homeless to stay until they get better. If I were the President I would [stop] the war and help. If I were the President I would stop drugs.

If I were the President I would help people with what ever they need from us.

When I am a President I will be a realy good President to the people of the United States. If I were a President I would tell the people on tv that they would have freedom.

If I were the President I would be helpful to everyone. I would stop people who are doing bad. I would shake peoples’ hands. I would celabrate all the Presidents.

If I were the president I would do the right things. I would never kill people. I would never get mad at anyone. I will eat healthy things.

If I were the President I would order workers to build a bridge from America to Russia. With a border on the bridge And when every baby that are born will get a ID or paper that have track on their lives and what they are going, doing, and their criminal record. And make and average $3.00 hamburger down to 75cents or more and other items. And make cars like 34,000$ cars to 12,000$ cars.

If I were the President I would make everything free. Because people are poor or in debt. And this is a free country. If I were the president I would tell inventors to make a better blood test. Because needles hurt. And its cruel. I would eat chocolate ice cream for a living. Because its so good. And is really sweet.

Around WIM:

We had a fire on our campus that burned down a building where Teen Mission had stored their equipment. Since no one was living in the house, there was no insurance. Fortunately no one was hurt in the fire.

Our prayer need as we look toward next school year is for teachers. We’d like to add a 4^th grade, a Preschool class, and a 7^th grade, but we’ll need teachers.

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

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