Answered Prayers

Thank you all for praying for Mark's shoulder! We found a very good chiropractor in Farmington. Since we went on Thursday he has not taken any Aleve. We have appointment on Wednesday. Praise God for relief from the pain.

On Friday night, they had graduation for 5 guys in overcomers program. It was a neat program the staff spoke some about the guys, then the guys got up one at a time and gave a speech. Of course, we had food and drum music, too.  Please pray for these guys, they have come along ways but now they go out among their temptations.

Thank you for praying for me and my problem with snakes. He has been answering them, but keep on praying until frost. Other people are seeing them, but I'm not around and I keep thanking the Good Lord for that.

Cleansing Navajo Style

On Monday at 4:00 pm(Mountain Time) Mark got to experience what a sweat lodge is. Just to make things clear this was a Christian Navajo sweat lodge. It was a time of confessing, praying, talking, singing, and of course sweating. It is a time of cleansing. What is talked and prayed about stay in the sweat lodge. It lasted for 4 hours. Usually it is done in the morning and can last all day. Sometimes someone will bring soup for them and flat bread. They use the flat bread for communion.

The pictures that follow are the night afterwards.

First a fire is built to get the lava rocks hot. When they are hot the rocks are moved inside.

Once the rock is moved to the inside, they sprinkle water on them to make steam.

There was 11 guys setting in here!


Mark came home soaked with sweat like someone had hose him down.

Mark says it was a good experience, he is glad he went.

Please Pray

Mark's shoulder is really hurting him. He gets very little sleep at night. He is in much pain! It is not the one he had surgery on. During hunting season, he fell, when the ground was covered with ice. So please pray for him!
Thank You

Somethings We Have Been Up To!

The weather out here is unpredictable. The day it did this (hale not snow) it would rain a few drops about every hour. The wind would just about blow you away, then we get this.

This is the Clothing House. It is kind of like a Goodwill Store but everything is free. They get donations from all over. I have been helping out with sorting through the stuff. Boxing up winter stuff, putting out summer stuff.

The little boy's room!

Little girl's room!

Mark has been weed eating(or some say weed whipping).

He was pulling out small trees where they are not wanted. Fixing this and that!

We also have been doing some weeding by hand(with leather gloves and watching where we are putting our hands). We  are also working on the orchard and the garden.

Thank you for your prayers and your financial support. Please keep praying for our safety. Also Mark's shoulder is acting up and giving him much pain.

Worship

Our worship time on Sunday was very unique. Very much Navajo, but what would you expect when you are attending First Nations Gathering. Worship was 6 men setting around one big drum, with all beating on it and singing. The songs are a mixture of English and Navajo. Then came the message from the Bible. The preacher did not stand up on the stage or even down where we sat. The chairs were in a semi-circle, the preacher sat on a stool in the middle and taught. The Navajo don't like someone looking down on them when you are talking to them. The offering is taking by laying out a blanket in the circle and the money is laid on it. After this we all shared a meal together, everyone had brought something.(potluck) They share a meal every week.


The Navajo have something about having worship in a church. So the Mission uses the church for the School (K-12 with 13 children). The Mission has a gym that is separate from the church and that is were we meet.

The School

As I was thinking about some of the things that are done, or not to do at the First Nations Gathering, I realize in most of our churches that is the way it is. Sometimes it is just keeping with traditions, sometimes its what other people might think, sometimes it is what God has laid on our hearts. Sometimes we do/or not do, to get non-believers to come to our church so they can see God and want Him in their life. So they can have a family that will love them no matter what!

The Gym

So from 6 men beating on a drum and singing in Navajo and English, Old Order Mennonite singing with just their voices, Southern Baptist saying AMEN, PRAISE THE LORD when they agree with the preacher, full band playing, a professional worship team, and many more. We all have our own style of worship. Let's just remember it is to praise God, to have a relationship with Him. To share His love with all people! So they will have a relationship with Jesus!

Somethings about the Mission

The top 2 are equipment Mark gets to work on and run.
The next picture is one he wants to run, but it doesn't belong to the Mission.

The yard that gets mowed. (Where is the grass?)
We do have some trees.

In the distance is the Over comer's. They can hold up to 8. The closes is where we wash our clothes.(Siding). I think the other building is called the conference building?

As you pray for us please pray for our safety as there are many snakes, good(if there is such a thing) and bad. Mark is doing okay with this, as you guess I'm needing to trust God with each step I take. For real.
Church isn't until 1:30 in the afternoon and run to 4:00. Every Sunday is potluck after church. I will let you know how that goes. Mark and I are looking forward to it but, at the same time wondering what is it like!

Sunrise and Sunset

When we were in Minot the one thing I missed was the sunrises and the sunsets. Some was due to being in the city. But mostly it was because I was helping with the cooking and we were in the basement.

Our first sunrise in New Mexico. "This is the day the Lord has made, lets us be glad in it"

Our first sunset in New Mexico. Thank you Lord for a wonderful beginning and ending to our first day.