This past year has been amazing! In my short time in this new job (December 1st was one year—unbelievable!), I’ve had the opportunity to travel to: Toronto, India, Nepal, Spain, Thailand, Montreal and some other states in the US. It has been a whirlwind of a year; but a great time of learning and connecting with our team all over the world. It is such a huge benefit and blessing for me to be able to travel and connect with our teams whenever possible. Nothing is better than seeing things first hand. It helps me to communicate more clearly to those who ask about our areas of ministry. I am so thankful for these opportunities! What an adventure!
Last week, I had the opportunity to travel to New Mexico and Colorado. I didn’t have a chance to blog during my trip, but thought I’d update it since I’m home.
We have a team of 3 families serving in New Mexico. Some of the ministries include reaching the Navajo people, working with drug and alcohol addiction groups, church planting, and prayer ministry. Our team was having a team retreat in Colorado, so Sandy (another person from my office) and I joined them there.
Sunday, December 4
After arriving in New Mexico late Saturday night, we attended Desert Light Christian Church (a BIC church in NM) on Sunday morning. They were so welcoming! It was a small church, but they have big hearts for God. I especially loved the worship music—there was a 10 year old boy playing drums (for the first time in the band). He did an awesome job! I loved seeing his involvement. We had a great time connecting with Pastor Eric and his team over lunch. I was able to share with them about our BICWM programs and ways they could get involved. They were also able to share some of their needs with us as well.
After lunch, we started on the 4-hour drive to Durango, CO, to join our team at the team retreat. The landscape was beautiful! The team told us that we would be arriving to about 1-1/2 ft. of snow! It was kind of crazy—we didn’t even see any snow until we were about 10-15 minutes away from the resort!? That’s how it works with the higher elevation, I guess. We arrived in time for dinner with the team.
After dinner, we enjoyed a Bible skit portraying the story of Joseph put on by Ben, Brian and the children.
Monday, December 5
Well, due to the time difference, Sandy and I both awoke around 3 am. So, we had some time to get on line and get some work done J. A few hours later, we joined the team for breakfast. Due to the high elevation, we were told (before we went) that we should be drinking a lot of water. So, Sandy and I kept tabs on each other each day to be sure we kept drinking. I felt like I was going to float away! But, I didn’t have any major issues with the elevation. I could definitely tell a difference in getting my breath in doing the stairs and in my running later in the week.
Sandy and I had our first session with the team that morning. We updated them on our roles at the office and just had a great time sharing together. We also took some quiet time to listen to God. When we regrouped, it was awesome to see and hear what God did among each of us during that time. God works in such cool ways!
We had a bit of free time on Monday after lunch. This allowed the children (and adults! J) to take a nap before our team building activity later that afternoon. I facilitated the team building activity—a cardboard derby for Barbie! The three teams (including both adults and children) had to each build a cardboard sled for Barbie. They would be judged on creativity, originality (in naming) and speed. The teams were given two hours to work on the sleds. They could only use the supplies that I provided them with. It was fun watching them put things together!
After the activity, we had dinner as a team and spent some time worshipping together.
Tuesday, December 6
I think Sandy and I woke up around 4 am…we’re getting there! J After breakfast, the team gathered together for a devotional and prayer. Then…it was time for the races! I was hoping to share a video of the races, but we had some technical difficulties. So, the photos will have to do. The sleds didn’t go as fast as I thought they would, so we ended up awarding a prize for distance, rather than speed. The results:
Team “Lightning McBarbie” – for distance
Team “Cascade Barbie Mobile” – for creativity
Team “Everqueen” – for originality in naming
After lunch, all of us travelled back to Albuquerque. On the way, Sandy and I stopped in the town of Durango to sightsee for a bit. We had Melissa and Melissa with us (they were some young girls that had stayed with the team to help with child care during their retreat). They were our tour guides for Durango. What a cute town! We shopped for a bit and then walked on the “Riverwalk.” It was a quick stop, but we were so glad to have an opportunity to do it!
We arrived at Jason and Rebekah’s house mid-afternoon. We spent several hours with them, walking in their neighborhood and hearing about their specific area of ministry. There are so many hurting people in their neighborhood. Jason also drove us around to some of the surrounding areas as he talked about their ministry. Jason and Rebekah also have some sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits. We got the little tour of their farm, and I held one of the baby bunnies. So cute!
We had dinner with Jason and Rebekah and their girls. One of their neighbors also brought over some Navajo fry bread for us to enjoy. It was tasty—sort of like funnel cake.
After dinner, we travelled to Brian and Rochelle’s house for the night. We spent some time visiting with Rochelle and the children (Brian had another appointment) before heading to bed.
Wednesday, December 7
I think I slept until 6-6:30…amazing! Brian and Rochelle had told me that I was the first person to ever sleep in that top bunk on that mattress. I have to say—it was awesome! J We joined the family for breakfast and spent the next few hours just hearing from Brian and Rochelle. They shared their hearts and their specific ministries. It was a great time of sharing and encouraging one another. I was able to go on a quick run—I really wanted to see how I would do running in high altitude and in 20 degree weather. I love to run whenever I can in any of the locations I get to. The sights are beautiful!
We left their home late morning and travelled to Ben and Eunice’s house for lunch.
During lunch, I had the opportunity to visit with one of our MDP candidates. Denise is going through our Missionary Development Program. She’s almost completed and is looking forward to serving with us. We left late afternoon to visit a Navajo shop in town and then enjoy some Navajo food. Our meal consisted of a sheepherder’s sandwich, a Navajo taco, and a grilled Spam sandwich. Everything was actually very good—even the Spam, which surprised me!
After dinner, we visited a Navajo family with Ben and Eunice. It was an elderly lady, Ernestine, and her daughter, Loretta. I really enjoyed the visit. Ernestine, Ben and Eunice sang quite a few songs together, in Navajo. It was beautiful!
After our visit, Sandy and I travelled to the BIC Navajo Mission to finish out our week.
When we arrived at the guest house on the Mission, we met four other ladies (3 from PA and 1 from MA) who were there for the week serving at the Mission. They were packing Christmas bags/boxes for the children.
Thursday, December 8
After breakfast on Thursday morning, Duane took Sandy and I on the grand tour of the Mission’s property around the reservation. One of the programs offered at the Mission is called “Overcomers.” It’s for help with drug and alcohol addictions. It’s offered two times each year and goes for six months—3 months on site and 3 months of after care. As part of the program, some of the sessions are held in a “sweat lodge.” Duane pointed out one of these on our tour. The people in the program have an opportunity to share with each other and they seem to open up more in this type of setting—it’s not as threatening.
Another thing Duane pointed out on the tour was a “Hogan.” This is traditional living quarters for the Navajo. They typically dig a hole about 3’ down in the ground and then build the Hogan up and around that. Living in that hole is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. One of the Navajo men we met, Oz, actually lived in that Hogan for four days after he was born. You can see us together on one of the pictures.
After lunch, we had the opportunity to join the other ladies there (from PA and MA) and do a quick sightseeing trip to see “Angel’s Peak.” Oz (who I mentioned earlier) said that at one time, Angel’s Peak really looked like an angel. But, over time, part of it had broken off. He said now it just looks like Snoopy laying on his doghouse! J Cracked me up—but he was right! We spent some time viewing the amazing landscape, mountains and valleys. It was beautiful! There was another rock formation that was called “The Castle.”
Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to learn more about the Navajo culture (between Oz and Duane). It was very interesting! I wanted to jot down what we learned:
- The Navajo always believed in creation and God; they just didn’t know about Jesus
- The white man misunderstood the Navajo and tried to convert them and change them—caused many problems.
- The Navajo do not worship the eagle, sky, etc.—they honor them – or really ANYTHING God has given them
- Navajo means “horse thief”
- Navajo people live in a Hogan; sometimes on the reservation they may live in a broken down bus or something like that, and have lots of dogs
- Navajo are sheep herders and live off the land. They typically have no running water or electricity.
- There are many “clans” within the Navajo. They go by the Mother’s family. The family lines continue through the mother’s side, not the father’s like we do.
- Any major decisions for the family are all done through the entire clan.
- Alcohol and addictions are a huge issue for them.
- At one time, there was a hospital on the Mission. However, if a baby was born at the hospital, the Navajo would leave the hospital quickly (didn’t trust it) and stay in a Hogan nearby for a few days before travelling to their home.
- The drum is used for worship. It is considered sacred. Typically, men play the drums and sing. The women stand behind the men and sing an octave higher. Children and women are not allowed to play the drum—women must be invited to play and the men must all agree on it. The drum is kept covered up when not in use. When the drum is not in use, you must not walk between the chair and the drum--typically, they push the chairs in very close to the drum.
After dinner on Thursday evening, we were blessed with the awesome opportunity of some of the Navajo men playing the drum for us. It was so cool! I’ll try to attach a video if it works! After they finished, women were invited to play the drum (all of the men agreed upon it). I had the opportunity to play, along with two other women, and two of the men. How cool is that? I was very thankful for that opportunity. I have to say, though, I was a little nervous that I would inadvertently disrespect their culture by doing something wrong! All went well, though.
Friday, December 9
(l-r) Lightning McBarbie, Cascade Barbie Mobile, Everqueen
Team - Lightning McBarbie
Team - Cascade Barbie Mobile
Team - Everqueen
The Riverwalk in Durango, CO
Trying the Navajo Fry Bread
Sandy and I had an early morning start to drive to Albuquerque, NM, to catch our flight. We arrived back in Harrisburg around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night. It was a great week, but it’s always great to come home!
Enjoy the pictures!
