April 2021

 Greetings from windy Tse Bonito:

 

Good News! Across Nations held a drive-through Share-a-Thon to raise money for the Radio Station last Saturday. The goal was $15.000, and $12.000 was raised! I helped greet the cars, pass out gift bags, and collect donations. Over 100 cars drove through. Many radio fans stayed to listen to the music performed on the outdoor stage. Because the old radio building is condemned, we are in the process of building a new one from shipping containers. If you want to contribute towards this project, feel free to send a donation to Across Nations and designate it for the Share-a-Thon.

 

Good News! Hilltop Christian School has continued to remain Covid free. We praise God for the protection of students and staff.  Of course, we continue with the protocols and cautions commanded by the health agencies.

 

Good News! We frequent a certain fast-food place in town and have made friends with the staff there. They know we are teachers at Hilltop, But I was still surprised and delighted when a worker left her station behind the counter to come out to ask me to pray for a situation in her life. Wow! 

 

Bad News. A young child talked about the commotion at her house and the involvement of the police. I asked her teacher if it were true, and the teacher confirmed that her life is in turmoil. But she said that the Lord had provided a relative close by where the children could run when things got weird at home.

 

Bad News. The children in our class often share prayer requests about their parents leaving or drinking or behaving in other ways that cause disruption to their lives. These requests cause distress in our hearts. Continue to pray for a specific family. I believe the stress of Covid has contributed to this battle in the home. 

 

Fun Facts from First Grade: A girl asked me how old I was, and a boy quickly piped up, “You can’t ask an OLD lady her age.” 

*When we studied insects and butterflies, a girl told me that when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it is like when Jesus comes into your heart. What an unexpected blessing to share with the other children.

*One boy told his dad that it was OK to phone me at 9 PM because I would still be at school. (Though some workdays are long, I rarely stay that late.)

 

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers.

·      Continue to pray for good health through these last six weeks of school.

·      Pray for enrollment for next year.  Many of our school families are on the fence regarding reenrollment.

·      Pray for our staffing needs for the coming year. I don’t know exactly what they are right now, but we usually are looking for staff.

·      Our library/computer building is unsafe, so we need a solution for that. This year because of Covid, we have kept classrooms intact in one room. But hopefully, we’ll be able to have Special Classes next year in their own separate area.

·      Pray for our families. Many have lost several members to Covid and their homes are not havens for the children.

 

 

January 15

This week we completed the editing of the Christmas Program, so that might be a great place to start playing catch up. 

            The Nativity is a beautiful story, and even though we’ve enjoyed the reading of the Scriptures and the pageants numerous times in our teaching careers, each time brings joy.

            Due to Covid, creativity in filming rather than performing on a church stage became the important issue. But, preschoolers dressed as sheep and kindergartners re-creating the Nativity scene are delightful any time. Fortunately, the weather held, so angels and shepherds were filmed outside singing The First Noel, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, and Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.

            I caught the children singing incorrect lyrics, due to their vocabulary limitations, but they made sense anyway…

            A preschool teacher reported that one little sheep sang, “Jingle bells, Batman smells. Robin laid an egg.” But God didn’t. Just at the right time He sent the Savior.

            Hark, the Herald Angels Sing seemed especially prone to lyrical expansion: The little angel belted out, “Hark, the Carol Angels sing, ‘Glory to the New York King.’” Aren’t you glad, Jesus is everyone’s King (especially now)? Then one angel urged us to “Join the trial of the skies.” Triumph didn’t make sense to him, but certainly two sides drew lines in this Spiritual battle that Night. I also heard this: “Light and life to all He brings, Risen with waiting in the wings (healing in His wings). Tell me, does that not make sense to you as you eagerly await the Lord’s return?

            The second graders added a delightful twist to We Three Kings when they sang, “We three kings of ba da da dar. Bearing gifts we travel so far!” There you go, the point is made that wise people from all over the earth will recognize the Messiah.

            Kindergartners who have no idea what an inn might be said, “For there was no room for Him in the end.”  But there is room in any believing soul; and as the fifth grade sang, we must, “Haste, haste to bring Him love, the babe, the Son of Mary.”

 

Zephaniah 3: 17 “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Jesus is our Emmanuel – God with us.

 

            We feel blessed that Hilltop is in the third quarter with no huge outbreak of Covid. We continue to operate with most students face-to-face, but about 10 families working on packets at home. True, some on our Across Nations staff have contracted the virus and are still struggling with the after effects. Our kindergarten teacher lost a sister and her dad to the disease. Most families have experienced trauma and death. 

            The Navajo Nation is basically closed. They have experimented with different kinds of curfews and lock downs, but it is the same here as elsewhere. Positive cases still push up the count, and people are tired of sheltering in place. The government would like to open more businesses, in a safe way of course. Because of the regulations, we as a school will not be able to welcome very many groups to contribute at the school. But some construction crews will arrive in March to help build the Radio building. 

            Please continue to pray with us that the virus stays out of the school and that families will regain some normalcy during this time of fruit basket upset. We also pray that Across Nations will be a beacon of light for a people floundering in fear and financial hardship.

 

May God Bless You All,

 

Unfortunately, I have no adorable children's photos to post for you...

 

 

Across Nations Donations

http://www.acrossnations.cc/donate

 

August 31 School Has Begun Again!

 

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            We have ten school days in the books. 

Thanks to a couple of groups who braved the journey, we were able to get the entire school cleaned and sanitized before August 17. Another team came to help with the radio station, which has some equipment problems. The wives sorted curriculum and cleaned. We are always grateful when people come to help.

 

            As I read on the Internet: “There is no tired like teacher-tired on the first week of school,” I think the teachers are exhausted from the extra preparations and protocols. But all would say that the first two weeks went well. I thought I’d share with you some of the highlights (?) of the first two weeks. 

 

Biggest Conundrum: If Godzilla ate himself, would he disappear or would he be twice as big?

 

Most clueless question: Where’s my pencil? (It was stuck in his well-gelled hair.) 

Most beautiful moment: The only white child in my class looked at her classmates and asked, “ How did you get so tan?”

 

Best testimonial: A former student who signed with a college to play basketball spent much of his Press time praising Hilltop Christian, saying how much he learned in academics and in how to live right and work hard.

 

Most surprising request: The nurse from the Navajo Nation is required to update us on blood-borne pathogens procedures and Covid protocols. After she finished with her presentation, she asked, “May I pray for you?”

 

Best advice written by last year’s third graders to this year’s third graders:

·      You should learn your times tables and division and temperatures. If you don’t learn your divisions, you will fall behide. [sic]

·     At the start of the year it will be very easy until it gets harder.

·     You should always listen to him (the teacher) and don’t say, “I swear,” or “Oh my God!”

 ·      The things you don’t do are argue, hit, and fight. That’s the rules in 3^rd grade 

      and you might need to sing too.

 

·      When it is reading partner time, you need to take turns reading with your partner.

·      Third grade is fun but sometimes hard, so that’s why you should focus. Do not give up, keep trying.

Saddest Story: The mother of a student wanted us to know this backstory: Two years ago, the child’s father (her husband) got angry and shot her, her parents, and her brother in the house where the children were before he turned the gun on himself. Only the mother survived after many surgeries. Talk about PTSD.

 

We’re praying for wisdom and creativity as we love and teach these special children, and hopefully bring Jesus into their families.  Thank you for your continued prayers for us and the Navajo families.

 

http://www.acrossnations.cc/donate

 

August 15, 2020

The topic that is on a lot of minds these days is the opening of the schools. On the Navajo Nation, this question becomes even more complex as there are state schools (Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah) BIE (Bureau of Indian Affairs) controlled schools (Federal), and various types of private schools. Parents may choose to keep their children home and pursue alternate learning strategies, but many districts are requiring teachers to report back to work. 

 

With a summer that has shuffled between plans A, B, and C, we here at Hilltop Christian School are now down to a plan with a letter towards the end of the alphabet. We have tried to follow the CDC, New Mexico (where the school is physically located,) Arizona (where the students live), and Navajo Nation (what the students are) guidelines.  It has been a challenge to create a module of learning amidst all the changing advice and approaches. 

 

So, we are starting school Monday with face-to -face instruction, although we have given the parents the option of having instructional packets to study at home.  The majority of students will be on campus. Our enrollment is currently down by a third. (Approximately 50).  This is a very difficult decision for parents as there is great fear of the virus here on the Reservation, and many students live with grandparents or others with compromised immune systems.  

 

It’s weird to see the classrooms with only six desks which are spaced two sheep-lengths apart. We should be grateful for the small classes, making social distancing easier. In order not to mix up the students, we’ll keep the students together, and the music and art teachers will visit the classrooms. With a temperature check each morning, lots of handwashing and sanitizing, mask-wearing, and social distancing, it will certainly be a different and challenging year.

 

We are convinced that God wants the school here. In fact, with churches still closed, this will be an opportunity for our school to “be the church” to people who are fearful, needy, and confused.  We were searching for several teachers and staff members at the end of the school year in May.  God has again miraculously provided a staff for us so we have the positions covered.  Pray for the new staff members. We have two new teachers in the Preschool. Also, pray that we won’t be overwhelmed because of the extra work of providing packets and lesson plans to the Hilltop at Home families.

 

Please be praying for the health of the teachers, staff, students, and the families.  The parents and students are fearful.  We want them to be careful but also have the peace that passes understanding. We want God’s work to continue here at the school, so pray that Satan will not hinder with an outbreak of the virus. As always, pray for open hearts and open minds to God’s truth.

 

It was great to see our CA supporters. We enjoyed picnics with them in backyards and parks. What fun it was for us to see friends after so many months of lock-downs and curfews here on the Navajo Nation.

 

We pray that you all stay well also. 

Love,

Roger and Sara

Serving with Across Nations at Hilltop Christian School

Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse helped with organizing food distribution and setting up a temporary hospital for Covid patients.

Mike Lindell is with others at NNCRT (Navajo Nation Christian Response Team) food site.

A child plays alone with her dolls.

Code Talkers Day was last week.

Tim Tebow is pictured here with Vice President Lizer and his wife.

 

Photos: The Navajo Nation has received many donations and helpful visitors. 

We are grateful for all who have helped.

News May 2020

 It's pretty amazing that we left NM to visit friends on March 6, and we returned a week later to a whole new world. The Navajo Nation has been hard-hit by the virus.  Part of this might be due to the fact that Navajos are communal and live in large, close-knit family groups. They also have not stopped gathering together even though President Nez has mandated "hibernate” in place to stay safe. Many believe they will stay safe by boiling sage and juniper to drink as a tea to combat respiratory ailments. As everywhere, the elderlies are dying, along with alcoholics and diabetics. Those are two other severe health issues on the Rez, which create pre-existing conditions

We have had nightly curfews for ten weeks and weekend (57 hour) curfews for about seven weeks. The Navajo Nation government will be closed until mid-June. A large part of the nation still lacks running water, and they wash hands in a common bowl. The unemployment rate has shot up to around 50%, which has made it very difficult financially for some of our school families. 

President Jonathan Nez and VP Myron Lizer are outspoken Christians. We pray that they have wisdom and good counsel and remain bold for the God of the Bible. The darkness of the Native Religion comes against them. People are fearful and blaming others. Christians get heavy blame because one of the first major outbreaks came out of a Nazarene Regional meeting. The Nazarene church has lost many pastors and pastor’s wives. White people get blamed too. Perhaps this is because they previously introduced diseases and inflicted privations on the indigenous communities. Blame also goes out to the Navajo people for falling away from their traditional religious practices and not taking care of mother earth.

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We have remained at home and are not sick. No one on our staff is sick, though some have extended family that have gotten ill or have passed away from the virus. The Navajo Nation Christian Response Team (NNCRT) delivered several hundred boxes of food and supplies right away.  Now the Federal dollars have arrived, and the Navajo Nation is doing the job of taking care of its own. 

We didn't have school in the building for the last quarter, but we worked really hard at getting on-line right away. Roger and I had a lot to learn!  The situation is less than ideal because the Internet services are definitely substandard.  One of my families had to drop out completely because they live on a remote ranch with no connectivity. 

Now that the year is over, we are cleaning up, organizing, and preparing for next year, even though we have no idea how that will look or what restrictions will be placed on all of us. We plan to start in August, but can't imagine teaching a class where we have to stay six feet apart all day long and wear masks. 

As for this summer, we won't make any plans to travel in June. 

We are praying for those who have become infected and the grieving friends and families who have lost loved ones. We are praying that we Christians will pay more attention to God and live humbly before Him, knowing that He is providing for us and has everything under control.  The Lord is teaching us to use our gifts in different and creative ways. 

 

Staff Meetings on Zoom

April 19

Dear Friends,

A month ago, Roger and I visited friends in Iowa over our Spring Break. We left Tse Bonito with certain expectations, one of them being we’d soon be sharing our classrooms with our Encounter Team friends from Pennsylvania, Arkansas, California, Colorado and other places.  A week later, we returned to a completely different place, a twilight zone where one didn’t dare cough to ease an allergic tickle. Businesses and schools were temporarily closing up shop. And our co-workers from all over the United States weren’t coming after all.

On Monday morning, March 16^th, the Hilltop teachers and staff met as usual for morning devotions, knowing that no students would be scrambling out of their trucks to hug their teachers and bounce to class. We prayed and determined to charge fearlessly into a new era. Not knowing how long this virus would last, the teachers prepared work packets for the next few school days. We didn’t want to lose any precious time caring for our children’s academic needs.

Parents picked up the packets and transitioned to becoming teachers. It wasn’t easy for many families. And as this disease stretched out, we knew we’d have to leap from a 1970s classroom to a technology-based 2020 classroom. We have old, donated computers in our classrooms, but most of us switched to using our personal laptops. Two teachers borrowed Kindle Fires from a classroom.  And off we Zoomed.

Yes, Zoom is now a verb. We all  (I’m talking all – from the Millennials to the Octogenarians) climbed the steep learning curve; and if the Lord hadn’t sent our student-teacher  (Joy) from Pennsylvania, we would have struggled even more. She was able to help us with technological advice. We now Zoom every morning and afternoon for staff meetings and collaboration. Every one of the classes meets daily in a Zoom meeting. The Preschool is also posting classes biweekly on YouTube. Mr. Naas prepares a chapel and Mrs. Naas has done a Library Reading time for the students.

A month ago, we didn’t even know what an LMS was. Now the whole world knows. We’ve been using Schoology (Learning Management System) and e-mails and an outside mail drop for those with no technology to continue the children’s learning.  Miss Rubanenko, second grade teacher, said, “I’m right on pace with the curriculum, and we should be finished at the end of May.” Mrs. Nelson, kindergarten teacher, stated, “They all come to the morning meeting, and I feel that they are making great progress between the lessons I teach them and what they work on at home.”

The teachers struggle to make the lessons creative and relevant. We spend extra time meeting with individuals to tutor them. And though it has been more work than classroom teaching, our hearts are even more burdened by other loads. We worry that our children are safe. We pray about the traditional teachings children are hearing and the garbage they are allowed to watch to fill the long days.  People who are fearful and are looking for answers surround us. We know some of our families have lost their jobs and are in desperate straits. The children are lonely, and some call or text our teachers or stay on the Zoom meeting as long as they possibly can. Some parents are still working, but they are now required to teach their own children too. Added to either no Internet or substandard on-line services, this has not been an ideal situation.

What can you do? Continue to do what you have been doing. Pray for the Navajo people and their leaders. We’ve been under quarantine for two weekends and will face two more stay-at-home weekends. Pray for the students and for their safety and health. And pray for the staff and teachers at Hilltop. We strive to serve the Lord using the gifts and weapons He gives us. 

Virtual hugs to you all,

Roger and Sara 

“Navajo Jeans” by Hyatt Moore

Merry Christmas!

Come on ring those bells!

One of my favorite activities of the whole year at Hilltop Christian School is the Christmas program.  The smallest scholars dress in their traditional finery.  The girls have beautiful dresses, hair tied up Navajo style, and moccasins on their feet.   They look like little dolls, and you just want to take them home with you. 

In addition to all the cuteness, they sing about God and His special gift.  “The best thing about Christmas is that Jesus was born for me” and  “I’m so glad it’s Christmas. Jesus, I love you.”  Seeing beautiful children singing whole-heartedly about their love for Jesus to an audience of mostly traditional families, who have come to see their children perform, reminds me of why we are here and generally leaves me with a lump in my throat.

1st & 2nd grade girls were characters in the play.

It is a great feel-good moment, but then reality hits.  I am reminded of the environment these kids live in.  They have parents who care enough to invest financially in their education, but most of the students come from broken families, and have extended families with multiple reservation-related dysfunctions.  Unemployment, alcoholism, corruption, broken people and hopelessness abound.  Our goal is to raise a generation of Christians who can serve their people and advance the Kingdom of God, but the odds are so against them.

"The Best thing about Christmas" is that Jesus was born for me.

Then I am also reminded of the Christmas song we sing in third grade: “Love Crashed into the World” https://vimeo.com/54176139 .   (Thank you Crossroads Church Cincinnati Kid’s Club.)  The song is about a long-expected baby who arrives in a very unexpected way.  As the song says, “God does things differently.”  The people were waiting for something they did not get, but what they got was better.  

The Wisemen seek the King.

God is working here in the Navajo Nation.  He is calling out a people for His possession.  He may not be working as we expect or in our time frame, but He is working.  We will continue to trust Him for what He will do in the lives of our students and in the Navajo Nation.

Thank you for your prayers and support.  Continue to pray for our students that God will become real to them. Pray for the health and safety of the mission and school staff.  Continue to pray for the Navajo Nation President and Vice President, who as evangelical Christians try to serve the Lord and the Navajo people

Merry Christmas, and may you experience God’s richest blessings this`` coming year.

Little Sheep showed up at the manger.