The Battle Belongs to the Lord

August 25, 2024

Dear Friends,

She saw a shadowy figure hanging around her workplace. Other staff had seen it near a closet, so it wasn’t just her imagination. They were on edge and fearful. It was time to bring in the big guns. She called her parent, who is part of the Across Nations Staff, and requested prayer.

Across Nations staff hustled over to visit with the workers. They discovered that the workers believed the building was ‘haunted’ because they were at fault for someone’s death. Later that week, Across Nations was requested to come and pray over the area because the employees had tried everything they could in their ceremonial ways to get rid of the “shadow.” KA took three other Native American believers with him, and they prayed over the entire building, room by room. They reported they were like Joshua, driving the evil influences from the land.

Yes, we know there are cultural differences between us and the Navajo, but this is not the equivalent of my students telling me that if you touch a bug, you will break out in red dots or that owls and snakes are not acceptable topics of discussion because they bring evil and bad luck. The spiritual world is real, as you know, and the battle belongs to the Lord.

Hilltop Christian School has been working, saving, and accepting donations for several years to buy playground equipment. Just when we were ready to make the purchase, the funds were taken by fraud. It was a sophisticated scam, and the amount lost was huge. Of course, we are doing all we can through law enforcement and insurance to recoup some of the loss.

We’re angry and heartbroken, but it reminds us that if Across Nations and Hilltop Christian School were on the wrong path, the enemy would ignore us instead of disappointing children and stealing the Lord’s money.

We have started the school year with a full staff. Our administration situation is interesting. We have Dr. John  as our part-time principal. He’s on campus several days a month, and is always available through e-mail, text, and Zoom. Dr. John was the principal at Hilltop many years ago, and he is delighted to see the improvements to the campus. We all want this to be a workable solution, and we pray for him as he travels back and forth from southern New Mexico and as he assumes the leadership of Hilltop Christian.

When Jesus sent out the twelve, He sent them out with nothing. I take too much when I go on vacation: clothes, OTC meds, books, cash. But Jesus said no staff: nothing to lean on or to protect you from wild animals; no bag: nothing for emergencies; no bread: no extra food because He provides; no money: something tucked away to get me out of a jam; and no extra clothing. We are to be what they see. We are just servants of the Lord copying Him by teaching and healing and proclaiming the Kingdom. We teach, we love, we protect, and mostly we proclaim the love of Jesus, the Truth of the Word of God, and the reality of the spiritual realm where God is sovereign and Jesus is our Savior.

Though we have enough teachers, we are sorely lacking substitutes. Pray that more people would be willing and available to substitute for us. We’ve already had two teachers catch colds, another had an infected hand, one is missing a few days due to cataract surgery, and one missed a week because of a death in the family. Don’t tell me there isn’t a spiritual battle going on.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and support in many ways.

In Service of the King of Kings,

Across Nations Celebrates 86

Colossians 2: 6-7 — Grow in Christ

*Follow Him simply in faith

*Drop roots deep down in Christ

*Build my life on Him alone

*Grow my faith in truth

*Overflow with thankfulness

This October 6-8, Across Nations celebrated its 86th year of ministry and dedicated the new Radio Center. Howard Clark founded the mission first as a Bible School in 1937, with the urgent desire to equip Navajo pastors and teachers. He must be praising God to see how the ministry has grown in depth and breadth. The new radio building, constructed of cargo containers, has only a few more knots to tie until we move in the radio equipment and offices.

The radio building was christened the Thomas Woods Media Center. Thomas Woods was a radio personality here before our time, but we learned about him in a strange and wonderful way. We dropped in at Gray’s Rock Shop (Holbrook) on our way back from Flagstaff a few years ago. In chatting with the clerk, we told him we were from Tse Bonito. He got excited and asked if we knew about the Christian Radio station there. We confirmed that we did. He told us that he got saved by listening to Thomas Woods on KWIM, and he has never gone back to his old life! As a young man, he learned to follow Jesus in faith because of the teaching of Thomas Woods in his native language.

One of the men who is pictured in the old photos that were displayed  is Hastiin Notah. He worked right alongside Howard Clark in preaching and teaching all over the Navajo Reservation. At the celebration, we were privileged to meet his granddaughter.  Hastiin Notah dropped his roots deep down in Christ when it certainly went against the cultural current of his day. The Notah Retreat Center on the hill was named to honor him.

At the Banquet (and the Radio Building Dedication) Pastor Milt  led us in prayer. Pastor Milt has a great story of conversion himself.  But to our surprise and delight, at the Banquet, the father of one of our students leaned over to me after Pastor Milt was introduced and said, “I was strung out on coke for ten years, and Pastor Milt visited me in jail.” That father has turned his life around and built his life on Jesus alone. He and his wife are raising good kids who also love Jesus. 

The first quarter is over, and we are preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences this week.  It’s beyond our wisdom to know what to say. We are teaching academics, but our main purpose is to lead these children to our loving God and salvation through Jesus Christ. We want to teach them the truth of God’s Word so their faith will grow in truth.

We heard another amazing story this weekend. We thought this radio project would be completed three years ago, but the State kept changing the rules. Originally the churches that donated the containers were going to finish the inside and deliver them ready to “plug and play.” Well, the State changed the permit and said that it had to be built here on site. That took additional time and required us to hire workers. But we here at Across Nations are overflowing with thankfulness because eight men have met Jesus and been saved because they worked here where they were loved and led to Jesus.

As for prayer this month:

We are looking for a fourth grade teacher.

Pray for our conferences that are coming up.

Love,

R and S

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