Christmas

December 25, 2022

Merry Christmas to all,

            Just as the shepherd boy David arrived with his sling at the perfect time to defeat the giant Goliath, David’s greater Son arrived on earth when we needed Him to overpower the twin giants of sin and death! (Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.) Generations of believing Jews had prayed for and watched for the Messiah.

            In our Hilltop Christian School Christmas Program we shared through songs, verses, narrations, and poems how the puzzle pieces of prophecies fit together to show Jesus is the Promised One. Each class told a part of the story. Third grade shepherds and preschool angels made an appearance, and we closed with a jubilant song – Joy to the World. Jesus came and He is returning again in His time.

            The Christmas Program was another one of those “God brings it together in His timing” events. The week of the program, a water-leak emergency kept us from having school at all on Monday and Tuesday; so Wednesday we practiced only during music class, and Thursday (the morning of the program) we had a run- through. That evening we gathered for the program at a church in Gallup that the students had never seen. We had no time to fret about the lack of rehearsals and left the results up to the Lord. “We loved how the gospel was woven into the entire program,” said one Grandma. “It all went so smoothly,” remarked several people. Others blessed us saying the Christmas message came through and was very encouraging and enjoyable.

            Speaking of “in the fullness of time”: in August we did not have a 4^th grade teacher. At the last minute, our reliable substitute, who had taught at Hilltop previously, said she’d teach for a semester. She came and started the class on a good path, but last week when break began, she needed to leave. We’ve been praying for a new teacher; and on that last Friday morning, we rejoiced because another substitute stepped in to finish the year! Just in God’s timing. 

            As we watch and pray, we rest in God’s perfect timing as the leadership in the Navajo Nation has changed, and it is not clear how the government will respond to Christians and Conservatives. We continue also to pray for a Principal for Hilltop Christian School. Cindy  is doing a wonderful job in the interim, but she’s added another hat to the already teetering stack on her head.

            We wish you all a very blessed Christmas, for unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is Given.         (Isaiah 9:6)

 

Love,

S and R

September 5

We have been going strong at Hilltop Christian School since August 10^th. The Lord brought teachers for our staff this fall. Our new 6^th grade teacher is a young man from Colorado, who graduated from the School of Mines. His parents were missionaries in Russia, so he has a real heart for the ministry and for teaching the Word of God. Our 4^th grade teacher is a woman  who raised her children here on the Rez, and who has been a faithful substitute for many years for us. She is a gifted teacher, and we are glad to have her on board full time. 

 

We still are waiting for a Principal. Our Across Nations Director’s wife is filling in the position as interim. She is doing a great job. She brings competence and joy to the staff. But she already was busy with other things, so we’re expecting just the right person to be sent to us soon. Thank you for your specific prayers.

 

We have smallish classes. I have 9 first graders, and he has 8 third graders.  We are looking forward to a good year with these students. 

 

We attended an event last weekend -- the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the National Code Talkers Museum right here in Tse Bonito. We enjoyed the speeches honoring the Code Talkers and others who represent our country in the armed services.  https://www.nationalnavajocodetalkersday.com/navajo-code-talkers-museum

 

Across Nations is also celebrating its 85^th year at the end of this month. This is going to be a wonderful memorial to the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness throughout the years. Many of The Navajo Nation’s people still see Christianity lumped in the Western Colonization, and are continuing to believe in the traditional religion and superstitions.  A friend of ours wrote a poem, which I will share below.

 

Here on the Navajo Nation, we get more rain in the summer than in the spring.  We call it monsoon. It has rained nearly every day since July. The desert has turned into a lush green, flowery garden. We don’t have blazing heat, like they do in Phoenix, so our days are beautiful right now. We have some gorgeous photos of the wildflowers.

 

The desert seems dead – 

No growth is in sight.

The ground thirsts for water

‘Neath unrelenting light.

 

Yet, then the rain tumbles;

The ground drinks its fill.

New life resurrected,

Sleeping seeds sprout with thrill.

 

The rain just keeps coming;

The land bursts with new hues.

The flowers are blooming

With joy, earth renews.

 

The desert is covered;

Revival has won!

The land is at rest

Under mild summer sun.

 

Yet, despite the new growth,

The souls in this land

Still lie dormant or dead

In the red, dusty sand.

 

The souls of the people

Lie dead, as in night.

Do they thirst for water

And heavenly light?

 

These seeds we have planted

Dwell dormant in hearts.

Oh, Lord, send the rain,

A revival must start!

 

Wash these dry hearts and lives

With the waters of Truth.

Let them drink in God’s Word,

So seeds sprout a new birth.

 

And just like the land,

We plead Spiritual growth.

We praise You for one,

But we long to have both.

 

Send Laborers, Dear God,

To loosen the soil

And water the harvest

For those in sin’s roil.

 

I desire these dear hearts

To look just like these flowers --

Growing and flourishing 

And basking in showers.

By: Joy 

 

Turquoise

            Many Navajo people have a turquoise bow guard or turquoise ring that they always wear.  Dan T.  said, “Through the years, whenever I came home [from boarding school] on holiday breaks or during vacation time, my father would always ask, “Where’s your turquoise watch bracelet?” 

           When I  first started teaching at a boarding school near Holbrook, a sixth grader in my class refused to take off her turquoise ring, even when reprimanded by the principal.  I didn’t understand what was the big deal at that time. 

            But now I know that it was her ‘protection’ and why Dan’s father asked him about his turquoise and reminded him that it was to be worn and not packed away. His father said, “You should wear it because turquoise is a very sacred stone and is used in many ways in Navajo Ceremonies.” 

            Dan’s dad further taught his children that the holy people above in the sky go across the morning when the dawn’s white light appears in the eastern skies carrying a buckskin bag full of riches. Once the holy people see you on the ground, the holy people recognize you if you are wearing turquoise and give you protection and blessings.  During this time of Covid, we are so blessed that God is our source of peace and protection. 

 

           We have been here teaching at Hilltop Christian School for eight school years. We encounter cultural beliefs like this every day. Many times we don’t even know of beliefs or taboos until a parent or Navajo Christian explains it.  For example, the Navajos believe that the Corona virus is a living monster.  They must call it by name (Dikos Nitsaa’igii -19 --big cough) and learn what it is trying to teach us.

 

            Shannon Francis in an NPR interview said, “Some of our teachings that I was raised with were that in times of pandemics, everybody would have to go into seclusion.  My mother said that this is a good thing because Mother Earth is getting a break from humans - from mining, development, digging her up; and so this is sort of a break for her. And the natural world is going to restore herself and start healing.” 

            Yes, this has been a challenging year due to Covid. The first of the year we saw our enrollment return to pre-Covid numbers. But the disease has swept through our families and staff, so we have had to adjust with learning packets and attention to distancing, masking, and not meeting together.  I see a lot of fear from the Navajo as they persist in wearing two masks, keeping six feet apart, and blaming others for their illnesses.  In our classes, we talk about God’s control and power in the universe.  My students believe that Mother Earth is alive, she has a heartbeat, and she does certain things. This is almost a Goddess Cult. We emphasize every day that God alone (the God of the Bible) is God.

            “Turquoise is the only gemstone that parallels life, culture and beliefs and the individuality of each person in our world” (Joe Lowry – Turquoise Museum.) We want to teach our students that we are all unique just as each turquoise stone is unique. But we go further in our classrooms to emphasize that not only are we unique; we are precious and loved by the Creator God. And there is only one way to be with Him, and that is through Jesus Christ. Navajos are generally amiable and accepting people, and they are willing to listen about Jesus; but it is infinitely more difficult for them to embrace Jesus as the Only Way. 

 

We have completed our eighth year at Hilltop Christian School (a ministry of Across Nations) in Tse Bonito, New Mexico.  A good way to wrap up a school year is to share the peaks and pits. Here are stories from various classes. As always, the names have been changed to protect privacy.

 

Class A Pit: This year was very difficult due to child behavior issues. One child said hateful, scary things to me (the teacher) every morning. Other children lacked supervision at home and were hard to instruct at school.

Peak: One mom responded, and we ended up having a more positive relationship. Another student loves the Bible and couldn’t get enough of it. I would ask him questions such as, “So, Pastor Sam, what do I need to do to be saved?” and he would recite: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

 

Class B Pit: I tried to memorize “Jesus Loves Me” in Navajo all year, and it just would not stick. Now I know how it feels to be a child trying to learn the times tables.

Peak: I had a picture of Jesus and Mary Magdalene after He had cast out the demons. The painting seemed to draw Rainie in so much that she couldn’t stop staring at it. Knowing her family background and seeing her attraction to Jesus, I asked her if she wanted the picture. She eagerly claimed it and hugged it to her heart. I gave her a New Testament written at her reading level.

 

Class C Pit: I had a trial with a severely divided class this year. Half were in school at Hilltop last year, and half had not attended school due to Covid. In addition, there were two students who disrupted the classroom constantly. 

Peak: I had some of the best kids I’ve ever had, and I learned to trust God in a new way, even when He was answering prayers in a wholly unexpected way.

 

Class D Pit: Because of Covid, most of the class had had no early childhood schooling, so we started the year from (before) square one.  Two students were especially immature and challenging.

Peak: The students made progress, and not one will be retained in this grade. I am pleased that many were able to make applications of the Bible stories into their own actions.

 

Class E Pit: I see confusion in the children as the Christian Faith is mixed in with Mother Earth Worship. In the Navajo Times newspaper, there is a section called “50 Years Ago.” Unfortunately, we are still seeing the same stories of corruption, lack of growth in independence and business, and brokenness in the news today. 

Peak: One of the interesting things we did in class was make a Time Capsule to be opened the year the children graduate from High School. It contained a mask, sanitizer, one of their A papers, a photo, and a tract telling about Jesus’ plan of love and salvation.

 

Class F Pit: This also was a challenging year for my class. The children are steeped in traditional Navajo beliefs and stories. They constantly talked about ceremonies, skin walkers and fears. There was spiritual curiosity but not spiritual growth. Brayden said he couldn’t pray because he didn’t have his feathers.  

Peak: Brenda, who came kicking and screaming to school every day in kindergarten, has settled down and become a solid student and a sweet girl who looks out for younger children. 

 

Class G Pit: The children were stressed at the end of the year because of rodeos and homework. We had many class discussions on choosing to change.

Peak: Arthur was caught swiping something from the prize bin. After a conference, there was forgiveness and restitution, and the class never brought it up again.  Arthur really learned about forgiveness and how Jesus forgives. He needed to feel that cleansing and forgiveness, and he verbalized his thankfulness for it. 

 

Class H Pit: This class needed to learn self-control, so that was a huge focus this year.

Peak: I am very concerned that these older children make a commitment to follow Jesus before they leave our school. Two students publically told the rest of their classmates that they were now Christians and wanted to follow Jesus. Salvation came to their house! One other child said she just wasn’t ready to receive Jesus. But at least she is being honest.

 

Pit: Our Principal who has served here for five years is stepping down. He has been doing a great job, but the stress has been intense. He will work here at Across Nations in a different capacity. We are earnestly seeking and praying for a new principal and some teachers for the coming school year.

Peak: God is in control. There are a couple of people who have already shown interest in teaching positions and who are praying about coming here for an interview. This is not a job; it is a calling. So, please pray with us that God provides just the right people for these positions. 

 

May God bless you all. Thank you for your prayers.

Diné Wedding

Dear Friends,

We were blessed to attend two weddings this summer (one virtually). I thought it would be interesting to share a few details about a Navajo wedding.*  The Diné (Navajos) have a traditional wedding ceremony, which is generally used with variations by traditional families even today.  It is still a sacred ceremony.

 

Not so long ago, the groom’s family “hunted” for the right bride for their son. Sometimes the young man was not even told until the wedding was going to take place. The couple was to remain pure until the wedding.

 

The groom’s family took him to the Ceremony and stayed with him in the Hogan. When a couple married in a Hogan with cornmeal mush, it meant that the man and woman were joined together. Now they could have children. Therefore, the wedding was not for entertainment. It was to continue the human race. 

 

In the Hogan, the cornmeal mush in a basket was the most important element in the traditional wedding. Blue cornmeal mush was most often used. The dowry was different from the Western dowry where the bride was “paid for.” In Navajo, the dowry was paid to purchase the cornmeal mush and basket, not for the marriage or the bride.

 

A water container with a single spout was used to wash each other’s hands as the couple wedded. The bride sat facing east on the south side and the groom sat to her left on the north side. The medicine man sat in front of the bride.

 

Traditional weddings are done at sundown as the bride is not to be seen by the sun. The sun is “jealous” of the human race and cannot see the bride. She covers her head as she approaches the Hogan to be married – these days with a Pendleton blanket.

 

There were many teachings to the couple during the ceremony. Teachings about life, about family planning, and about taking care of each other were important topics.

 

The bride’s family prepared a meal for the groom and relatives outside the Hogan. The groom was to move to the bride’s family’s homeland where he was expected to make a home for his future family. 

 

School started on August 11^th. We are happy to report that the enrollment at Hilltop Christian School has bounced back to pre-Covid year levels. Pray for wisdom for the teachers as we navigate the great divide between students who were in school last year and those who did not receive face-to-face instruction.

 

Pray for the health of the students and teachers.

 

*Kawano, Ruth, A Diné wedding or not?, Navajo Times, 7/22/21

Summer 2021

The end of the school year provided a time to count God’s blessings and to look ahead, hopefully, to a more “normal” school year. Hilltop offered face-to-face instruction all year, with a packet option for students who chose to remain isolated.

 

Teachers cheered when chrome books arrived on a cart so 2^nd through 6^th graders could continue with computer class. Through a contact of Teacher Mapes, we also received several donated computers, so the old computers can be retired. The students enjoyed art class with Teacher G and delighted in the projects displayed on the hall bulletin boards. Hilltop did not let Covid interfere with our chapel program. Teacher N hosted chapel via Zoom every week and included all of the children who were doing Hilltop at Home. The children were happy to be in school, and students and teachers had a healthy year.

 

As the staff shared their year’s highlights, spiritual highlights outranked them all. We saw how God’s perfect timing enabled Fallon’s Aunt who had spiritual questions to open up to staff members. Mary, and Lia approached their teachers privately to confide that they had asked Jesus into their hearts. Older children, Rivers and Ed, shared their decisions publically in class and made progress in their personal Bible reading and devotions. For many students, choosing to follow Jesus creates tensions because parents follow their own traditions. 

 

As the children were learning their Bible lessons and verses, parents confided that they were being influenced to re-think their own obedience to God and whether they should continue Navajo Ceremonies. Because of our unshakable faith in God’s provision and sovereignty, we at Hilltop believe the children became more focused on God’s power and lovingkindness. In fact, one of their favorite songs this year was called “Jesus, Strong and Kind.”

 

Before we know it, the 2021-2022 school year will begin. We plan to return all students to face-to-face instruction. We hope that enrollment will increase and we’ll be running a robust program next year. 

 

 

 

*Students’ names are changed.

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.