Today started as usual with team devotions over breakfast. Our journal always seems to be in line with things that are happening on the mission or a challenge to individuals on the team and so tense times are important as they equip us and strengthen us and keep our focus on why we are here.
After breakfast we had an hour free to visit the small mall downtown before we headed out onto the Rez. We stopped in Window Rock to go into Ace's Hardware Store which didn't just sel hardware! We'd been told about the store by some ladies at the flea market who told us that is where you could buy traditional native material. Sure enough you could! It was really hard to choose from so many fantastic designs. We bought a sample of several ... Plans afoot to make some items to sell and raise money for ongoing missions.
Then we went to meet Ella, a member of JGFG, and is chief prosecutor who showed around the courthouse and we met the judge.
We had lunch and then carried onto St Michael, Arizona and STP which is the 'Summit Training Post' - it used to be a trading post and is now a church and Christian centre run by Bishop Herb Hutchinson (Herb was one of Bill Haley's Comets).
It is a beautiful place with fantastic views. They keep several horses too and have an open air stage which is where set up for the evening service. We practised and planned the service before having Navajo tacos under a large canopy. (Part way through the afternoon things got a bit crazy as the lads had a bit of a comedy moment ... Bobbie did a stand up set with CJ punctuating each joke with a drum roll. I think we nearly lost Mark who couldn't breathe for laughing!)
The service was great - our team did an amazing job doing drama, Bobbie shared his testimony, the worship was great and Richard preached really powerfully. There was a real sense of celebration as the sun went down out there in the open air stage.
We left to drive back to Gallup stopping off along a side road to star gaze as the sky was full of stars with little light pollution. Stopped also for 'gas' - only the second top up this mission as so far we haven't done much out of town stuff. Then we did 'drive thru ice cream' at Sonic. Only in America! You drive up and press a button and place your order, pay by card out of your car window in a card reader on the menu board and they bring your ice creams or shakes out to the car.
We ate them in the cars, the boys car was full of laughter whilst the girls was somewhat quieter ... we are very tired. Please keep us in your prayers for next couple of days as we go east up to Grants to the prisons and first thing in the morning we are off to see the mayor again. Photos to follow. Thank you again for reading and for your support.
Thursday, 13 August 2015
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
Another busy and fruitful day ...
We headed out to the Christian hospital this morning to sing in the lobby and in the corridors and prayed in the icu with the hospital chaplain. It was so good to hold hands with family members and pray for their loved ones facing some pretty difficult life threatening illnesses.
We were treated to lunch in the staff cafeteria before meeting up with a group of pastors to pray in the hospital's solarium which was this really large room overlooking the most stunning views in all of Gallup. You could clearly see Pyramid Rock and Church Rock in the distance. The scenery is unusually green this year. It has rained a lot after four years of drought and all kinds of vegetation has sprung to life.
The meeting was powerful with very real encouraging words and expectation of what God is doing in Gallup and a heavy endorsement for us as a team coming as a blessing to the city. Prophetic words were exchanged and we left feeling very uplifted.
We had to scramble to get over to our next appointment which was at the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home and Gallup Christian School. The campus is down old Route 66 just outside of town. We were welcomed by the staff and children whom we've become familiar with over the past couple of missions.
We sang, did some drama, told stories, did craft and balloons and games and then went to see where they live. We really love these guys and although we only get to see them briefly each visit we love that we can see them growing up and developing and we do keep up with their news through Facebook.
We headed back to Joshua Generation to regroup before the evening meeting downtown at the Pueblo de Dios church on '66. Richard gave testimony and Josh preached, Julie sang solo and the team led worship and we did drama. Afterwards the church laid on pizza for us all.
It rained heavily on and off today punctuated by hot sunshine. Tomorrow we head onto the Rez to Window Rock to minister at Herb and Lois Hutchinson's place. But for now I'll say goodnight!
We were treated to lunch in the staff cafeteria before meeting up with a group of pastors to pray in the hospital's solarium which was this really large room overlooking the most stunning views in all of Gallup. You could clearly see Pyramid Rock and Church Rock in the distance. The scenery is unusually green this year. It has rained a lot after four years of drought and all kinds of vegetation has sprung to life.
The meeting was powerful with very real encouraging words and expectation of what God is doing in Gallup and a heavy endorsement for us as a team coming as a blessing to the city. Prophetic words were exchanged and we left feeling very uplifted.
We had to scramble to get over to our next appointment which was at the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home and Gallup Christian School. The campus is down old Route 66 just outside of town. We were welcomed by the staff and children whom we've become familiar with over the past couple of missions.
We sang, did some drama, told stories, did craft and balloons and games and then went to see where they live. We really love these guys and although we only get to see them briefly each visit we love that we can see them growing up and developing and we do keep up with their news through Facebook.
We headed back to Joshua Generation to regroup before the evening meeting downtown at the Pueblo de Dios church on '66. Richard gave testimony and Josh preached, Julie sang solo and the team led worship and we did drama. Afterwards the church laid on pizza for us all.
It rained heavily on and off today punctuated by hot sunshine. Tomorrow we head onto the Rez to Window Rock to minister at Herb and Lois Hutchinson's place. But for now I'll say goodnight!
Just to add from yesterday ...
Dave was interviewed by the local press and we had a group photo taken and so we are probably going to be in the local newspaper at some time this week. We are really breaking into things here and we have had such a welcome and being much appreciated for our approach here. Proving to us that our bringing a regular team out here really pays off.
Monday, 10 August 2015
A fantastic day!
Wow! What a great day we have had today. Major challenging in many ways but also such a blessing.
We had our breakfast and devotions a little earlier than usual as we had an early appointment at the detox centre. Our devotions were about joy, hope and peace and we had a great discussion around this.
We set out to the centre and spent two amazing hours there - we signed confidentiality papers and so we can't share anything but suffice to say it was a powerful morning and we thank God for your prayers.
We came back to the church for lunch which was brought in by a Mexican lady and was homemade taco salad - delicious!
Then it was a scramble to pack the cars for outreach at the adult detention centre. We weren't sure what to prepare for or what we would be allowed to take in so we took our drama props, speakers etc and headed down there.
It turned out to be a group of 14 women who had been convicted of being DUI (driving under influence). We had an awesome time with them for over two hours singing, Margaret and Alice shared testimony, Helen told them about her healing, we did dramas and Julie sang solo ... Hearts melted as Julie sang 'I look to you'! We won't forget those girls in a hurry!
From there we headed back to church again to pack the cars for Sunshine Canyon and tea and a chat at the ceremonial dancing.
Sunshine Canyon was amazing! You kind of feel like the Pied Piper .. as we drive in apart from a couple of kids on bikes it is like a ghost town with no sign of life with the windows with blinds drawn but in no time out the kids came at the promise of a free balloon animal. We set up the gazebo, and heated up some hot dogs and the kids surrounded us. We face painted, kicked a ball about and generally had a great time.
Sadly we had to keep it short due to another arrangement so we invited them to JGFJ for the kids party we are having on Saturday.
We then headed straight to the town hall where we set up the tea stand whilst Dave went off to be interviewed by a local journalist.
Then the heavens opened and the whole event was called off, not before we had had some folk come for tea and Hobnobs. We ended up ministering to a lady who was in a desperate state ano making tea for a few other folk who came over.
It's been a great day and I wish I could go into greater detail but put it this way this kind of day is what mission is all about!
We had our breakfast and devotions a little earlier than usual as we had an early appointment at the detox centre. Our devotions were about joy, hope and peace and we had a great discussion around this.
We set out to the centre and spent two amazing hours there - we signed confidentiality papers and so we can't share anything but suffice to say it was a powerful morning and we thank God for your prayers.
We came back to the church for lunch which was brought in by a Mexican lady and was homemade taco salad - delicious!
Then it was a scramble to pack the cars for outreach at the adult detention centre. We weren't sure what to prepare for or what we would be allowed to take in so we took our drama props, speakers etc and headed down there.
It turned out to be a group of 14 women who had been convicted of being DUI (driving under influence). We had an awesome time with them for over two hours singing, Margaret and Alice shared testimony, Helen told them about her healing, we did dramas and Julie sang solo ... Hearts melted as Julie sang 'I look to you'! We won't forget those girls in a hurry!
From there we headed back to church again to pack the cars for Sunshine Canyon and tea and a chat at the ceremonial dancing.
Sunshine Canyon was amazing! You kind of feel like the Pied Piper .. as we drive in apart from a couple of kids on bikes it is like a ghost town with no sign of life with the windows with blinds drawn but in no time out the kids came at the promise of a free balloon animal. We set up the gazebo, and heated up some hot dogs and the kids surrounded us. We face painted, kicked a ball about and generally had a great time.
Sadly we had to keep it short due to another arrangement so we invited them to JGFJ for the kids party we are having on Saturday.
We then headed straight to the town hall where we set up the tea stand whilst Dave went off to be interviewed by a local journalist.
Then the heavens opened and the whole event was called off, not before we had had some folk come for tea and Hobnobs. We ended up ministering to a lady who was in a desperate state ano making tea for a few other folk who came over.
It's been a great day and I wish I could go into greater detail but put it this way this kind of day is what mission is all about!
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