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

January 2017

Dear Friends,

Well, how are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions?

I’m not big on making resolutions, and it turns out that January 1^st isn’t even considered the New Year by traditional Navajos; so, they also don’t make resolutions.  When reciting the months, they would have started with October. The month of October (Ghaaii) translates into “half” because the summer meets the winter. The crops are harvested, and the nation receives its first dusting of snow. It’s a time to prepare for the traditions of the winter and anticipate the tough times it may bring.

But Western culture inexorably creeps in, so the Navajos have their own ways of celebrating the New Year on January 1^st.  Many will participate in traditional winter games and stories. The local museum held a Shoe Game (Keshjee) Tournament.

“T. Kay and his sisters rang in the New Year like they do every year: as team “Skunk” during the annual Navajo Nation Museum Keshjee tournament.

They learned the game from their parents and like to play it every year. This year they placed second and won five truckloads of firewood.

The first place winners, Weekend Warriors from Dilcon, won 45 bales of alfalfa hay.

Kay said, “We sing loud, and we try to distract the other team as best we can.” The singing becomes competitive during the match as they try to psyche (golishii) the other team while hiding the ball.

The Navajo traditional teaching says the Keeshjee is to be played only during the winter months. When it was first played, it was in a cave in the Lukachukai Mountains. The purpose for the game was for the animals to decide if it would be night or day on earth forever. Each team had a turn to hide the yucca ball inside their lined-up shoes for the other team to find. They used yucca counters to keep score.

Shoe Game at the Museum

The team that hid the yucca ball would sing while the opposing team tried to guess where the yucca ball was placed.

This went on until morning when both teams realized neither would win, ultimately splitting the earth’s time between night and day.

This is one of the many variations of the story that the teams have heard from their family members.  Before the Museum held the annual Keshjee, the teams have always played it with their families. That is where they learned the songs and the different ways to play the game. The songs are passed down, but people adapt and rewrite the lyrics

This year the event also had strings available for those who were interest in learning about string games. “That is what we are here for: to promote our Navajo cultural ways for our Navajo People.” said an event organizer.”  (Navajo Times/Arlyssa Becenti/1/5/17.)

Other New Year’s Eve activities covered in the paper were Community Sobriety Events at which people pledged to remain sober. Some were making the pledge for the first time, while others were there to fortify their own pledges to remain sober. Others came to the event in support of family members and friends.

They mentioned that they are seeking a cultural approach to sobriety rather than a western/medical or religious model.

Receiving hugs

Six inches of snow fell last night, but it’s Saturday so we have no worries except to keep warm in our little trailer.

We are already looking forward to the next school year, so pray for teachers and housing for those teachers. The new girls are adjusting to school. My new boy continues to struggle academically.

We woke up to a white world.

Blog:https://everettnavajo.blogspot.com

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

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

 A group from Australia was here for their summer break.

We helped pack treat bags for the office of the President to pass out.

November 20, 2016

Dear Friends,

Last night we attended a very joyful occasion—a wonderful Navajo tradition called the First Laugh Party.  The first laugh is a very significant event. In Traditional thinking, it marks the child’s final passing from the spirit world to the physical world.  

Still smiling and laughing

It is customary for families to take note of who causes the baby’s first laugh because this warrants a celebration. Whoever causes the laughter is responsible to “throw a party” to celebrate the event.  In some instances, it is very low-key – the mom stops what she is doing, cooks fry bread and helps the baby to hand out salt to whoever is there. In other cases, friends and relatives are invited for an evening of food and fun, and the person who made the child laugh is in charge of butchering sheep, preparing food, gathering rock salt, putting candy in gift bags, and inviting friends.

Fellow WIM missionaries D.H. and Emily Henry have a 4-month old baby girl named Zoe.  She is an adorable baby who enjoys being passed around at church or at the Ladies’ Tuesday night Bible Study.  Her brother Phineas said he made her laugh. As his parents explained the tradition to him, he learned that he now had the responsibility to show his generosity in throwing her a party to teach her generosity.  He provided the candy with money from his own piggybank.

Making fry bread for the celebration

Once the baby has laughed, the training in generosity begins. In the Navajo culture, high value is placed on generosity. At the party, the baby (with the help of the one who initiated this step) hands out a piece of rock salt and candy to the guests. This is to teach her to be generous and hospitable. The salt is eaten immediately or used to season the stew.

As we crowded into the Henry’s living room with our Navajo friends eating mutton stew, fry bread, grapes, and veggies, Milt, a Navajo pastor, told stories.  Milt admitted that he did not usually attend first laugh parties because of the traditional baggage associated with it. Traditional religion is deeply intertwined with cultural practices, making distinctions difficult.

Then D.H. shared Scripture concerning salt and generosity. It was a wonderful way of redeeming a Navajo tradition for the Lord Jesus.

Baby (with brother) learns first lessons in generosity.

As salt was regarded as a necessary ingredient of the daily food and of all sacrifices offered to the Lord (Leviticus 2:1-13), there is a connection between salt and covenant making. Covenants were confirmed by meals, and salt was always present. Salt also is a preservative, so a covenant of salt is forever before the Lord (Numbers 18:19).

D.H. also connected laughter and giving using II Corinthians 9:7: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 

What fun to celebrate with our Navajo friends, enjoying an evening of fellowship, learning, connecting the meaning of the ceremony with God’s Word and praying for this young life to grow up to be joyful and savory for the Lord.

Love,

Roger and Sara

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!!

Blog: https://everettnavajo.blogspot.com

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

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