We started the day with devotions and prayer. We prayed for Chris Govus who was feeling a bit breathless this morning and for our last service here at Joshua Generation.
It was a great service. We did two dramas, Margaret shared testimony, Steve, Colette and Julie led worship and Julie sang a solo. Dave preached up a storm!! It was really great to see a lot of folk come along today and for opportunity to pray for a few at the end.
What really blew us away was a film that they had made for us about our mission! Without knowing it Peewee had taken photos and film on her phone and they put it together with music to say 'Well done and a thank you!' It brought tears to our eyes. It was very precious.
Then we had to say goodbye to the church. Calvin Robinson came over to say goodbye to us too. But it was not goodbye just 'au revoir' as we will see them again!
We set out with Dennis and Peewee north to St Michael on the Rez to meet up with Herb Hutchinson (one of Bill Haley's Comets) who is now a Bishop and has a mission on the Rez. They hosted for lunch of Navajo Tacos. It was really good to share some time with him and his wife before our final goodbyes with Dennis and Peewee. We set off cross country to Phoenix arriving at almost 11.00pm Arizona time, midnight New Mexico time. Think we are all pretty exhausted! But we can hopefully recharge our batteries a bit tomorrow before our flight home on Tuesday.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. We have had some amazing answers to prayer - looking forward to coming home to share it with the folks back at TCC.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Two days into one!
Well that's how it feels right now. We had to be up at 3.00am today hence no blog last night. Sorry to all our regular followers.
Yesterday began early too, we were on radio being interviewed and Steve, Mark, Julie and Colette also sang the song that they had written earlier in the year at the TCC worship day. We then left Farmington for Gallup taking a different route (one of the Indian routes recommended to us). It was a really stunning route across country.
We got back to Gallup, had lunch at Wendy's, freshened up back at the church and then went to the Indian Hospital to sing in the foyer and then on the next level. It was a different experience from the Christian hospital but very worthwhile, we felt that they had really appreciated it and will definitely try to come again on a return visit.
From there we split into several groups, one to Walmart, one back at church to sort our things out and one to check out the cafe in town to see if we can go in to do music again.
Sadly the cafe was shut due to a burst water pipe so we had to adjust our plans. This was just as well as the proposed Nerf gun wars with the Joshua Generation and firework show turned out to be more of an event than we expected when several church families arrived with Nerf guns. And so we really went to town with face paints and had a fantastic evening. It wasn't a very late night but considering we needed to leave the church at 4.00am for the Navajo Nation Fair we were pretty shattered!
So today we left Gallup at 4.00am in the dark heading north into Arizona on the Rez to Window Rock. It was hard to find our spot to set up our stand along the parade route. There were hundreds of people lining the route and sleeping in their cars or just by the roadside. Cars everywhere several deep with no space between. We had to be there early as the road was due to close for the parade. Eventually Peewee got us a place and we drove the cars off road and we were able to set up our tea stand.
We made tea and balloons for the people around us. The kids were all over us. Then when the parade eventually started we took a break to watch it go by.
The parade was amazing! It went on for a vey long time. We even got a mention several times on loudspeakers from the parade from people that had met us and knew about us! We were the only 'Anglo' people there. It was awesome.
After that we took everything down and headed into the fairground where there was traditional Navajo dancing, Fry Bread contest, art and crafts, food stalls, rides, stands, a pow pow and much more. It was very hot though and so we came away at 3.00pm pretty exhausted.
Back in Gallup we set about packing up our stuff as tomorrow after the morning service we head off to Phoenix on the first leg of our journey home. It feels as if the time has flown by but on the other hand it also feels as if we have been here forever. And even now new opportunities are opening up and fresh ideas for outreach are coming to us.
We will be taking part in the service tomorrow and will be on the Rez for lunch hosted by one of Bill Haley's Comets! Looking forward to that!
Yesterday began early too, we were on radio being interviewed and Steve, Mark, Julie and Colette also sang the song that they had written earlier in the year at the TCC worship day. We then left Farmington for Gallup taking a different route (one of the Indian routes recommended to us). It was a really stunning route across country.
We got back to Gallup, had lunch at Wendy's, freshened up back at the church and then went to the Indian Hospital to sing in the foyer and then on the next level. It was a different experience from the Christian hospital but very worthwhile, we felt that they had really appreciated it and will definitely try to come again on a return visit.
From there we split into several groups, one to Walmart, one back at church to sort our things out and one to check out the cafe in town to see if we can go in to do music again.
Sadly the cafe was shut due to a burst water pipe so we had to adjust our plans. This was just as well as the proposed Nerf gun wars with the Joshua Generation and firework show turned out to be more of an event than we expected when several church families arrived with Nerf guns. And so we really went to town with face paints and had a fantastic evening. It wasn't a very late night but considering we needed to leave the church at 4.00am for the Navajo Nation Fair we were pretty shattered!
So today we left Gallup at 4.00am in the dark heading north into Arizona on the Rez to Window Rock. It was hard to find our spot to set up our stand along the parade route. There were hundreds of people lining the route and sleeping in their cars or just by the roadside. Cars everywhere several deep with no space between. We had to be there early as the road was due to close for the parade. Eventually Peewee got us a place and we drove the cars off road and we were able to set up our tea stand.
We made tea and balloons for the people around us. The kids were all over us. Then when the parade eventually started we took a break to watch it go by.
The parade was amazing! It went on for a vey long time. We even got a mention several times on loudspeakers from the parade from people that had met us and knew about us! We were the only 'Anglo' people there. It was awesome.
After that we took everything down and headed into the fairground where there was traditional Navajo dancing, Fry Bread contest, art and crafts, food stalls, rides, stands, a pow pow and much more. It was very hot though and so we came away at 3.00pm pretty exhausted.
Back in Gallup we set about packing up our stuff as tomorrow after the morning service we head off to Phoenix on the first leg of our journey home. It feels as if the time has flown by but on the other hand it also feels as if we have been here forever. And even now new opportunities are opening up and fresh ideas for outreach are coming to us.
We will be taking part in the service tomorrow and will be on the Rez for lunch hosted by one of Bill Haley's Comets! Looking forward to that!
Friday, 6 September 2013
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Photos - Thurs.
Navajo Ministries
We have had a busy day today with an early start - pastor's prayer at 8.00am in the centre here. Our guys led worship and we heard a presentation about a sponsored event raising money and awareness about hunger. Dave then shared about our mission and prayer needs at home. Afterwards we had coffee and cake with pastors before heading down to meet the children in the education centre.
We presented the Notebook computers to them and would you believe we had 11 and there were 11 children in the class!
We answered questions about England and then left as we had an afternoon off before coming back to have a meal with them and do a programme in the evening.
We headed out and had lunch at Taco Bell before driving over to Navajo Lake where we hired a motor boat and had a couple of hours down time. Steve, Chris J and Chris G, Mark and Alice all got in and swam. It was a lovely time to relax briefly before heading back to do ministry.
The meal was great. We sat at different tables and got chatting to the staff, house parents and children. We then led about 45 minutes of kids ministry with drama, songs etc and showed our films. There were more questions about us and our culture. They sang to us in Navajo and also did their pledge of allegiance to the flag in Navajo.
After that a local Navajo artist came with some prints that he was selling with some proceeds going to the ministry here.
Tomorrow morning we will be on Vertical Radio FM which is broadcast on the Internet if you want to tune in - it will be 9.30am our time which is about 4.30pm your time back in the UK. Then we will head back over the Rez to Gallup where we have some more ministry possibilities.
We presented the Notebook computers to them and would you believe we had 11 and there were 11 children in the class!
We answered questions about England and then left as we had an afternoon off before coming back to have a meal with them and do a programme in the evening.
We headed out and had lunch at Taco Bell before driving over to Navajo Lake where we hired a motor boat and had a couple of hours down time. Steve, Chris J and Chris G, Mark and Alice all got in and swam. It was a lovely time to relax briefly before heading back to do ministry.
The meal was great. We sat at different tables and got chatting to the staff, house parents and children. We then led about 45 minutes of kids ministry with drama, songs etc and showed our films. There were more questions about us and our culture. They sang to us in Navajo and also did their pledge of allegiance to the flag in Navajo.
After that a local Navajo artist came with some prints that he was selling with some proceeds going to the ministry here.
Tomorrow morning we will be on Vertical Radio FM which is broadcast on the Internet if you want to tune in - it will be 9.30am our time which is about 4.30pm your time back in the UK. Then we will head back over the Rez to Gallup where we have some more ministry possibilities.
Photo's - Wed.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
We have crossed the Rez!
Today has been another fantastic day. We began with a meeting with the mayor and fed back to him all the things we have done over the past week or so. He was very encouraging and we are really praying that when he goes up for election that he will succeed so that he will be place on our next mission.
After that we went back to the church to rehearse and pack so that we could leave early afternoon to cross the reservation and go to Farmington. The journey took two and half hours and it was great to arrive at Navajo Ministries and see the welcome sign outside on the main road.
We are staying in a bunk house on site which is really comfortable.
We had a meal at a Chinese restaurant in town with Nathaniel and Rosandra from Gallup - a lovely couple who have blessed us so much on this mission. They came up from Gallup to see relatives.
We had to be at the Riverside Bread of Life church outside town by 6.30pm to take a service. It was a lovely church with great facilities and so we could show our film, project words and they had a good sound system, drums etc so we set up and did worship, drama, testimony etc. it was a really good evening with ministry time. The pastor led in English and Navajo.
We have just got back to the bunk house after a compulsory visit to Walmart - we rated this one better than the Gallup store! We even had ministry in the shop praying for a few folk whilst doing our shopping.
Tomorrow we are taking part in the pastor's prayer meeting, then to the school on site and later having tea with the kids and doing a programme with them. We are hoping to visit Navajo Lake in the afternoon.
When we got out of the cars to tonight at 10.45pm it was still overt 80 degrees F! Going to be hot night!
After that we went back to the church to rehearse and pack so that we could leave early afternoon to cross the reservation and go to Farmington. The journey took two and half hours and it was great to arrive at Navajo Ministries and see the welcome sign outside on the main road.
We are staying in a bunk house on site which is really comfortable.
We had a meal at a Chinese restaurant in town with Nathaniel and Rosandra from Gallup - a lovely couple who have blessed us so much on this mission. They came up from Gallup to see relatives.
We had to be at the Riverside Bread of Life church outside town by 6.30pm to take a service. It was a lovely church with great facilities and so we could show our film, project words and they had a good sound system, drums etc so we set up and did worship, drama, testimony etc. it was a really good evening with ministry time. The pastor led in English and Navajo.
We have just got back to the bunk house after a compulsory visit to Walmart - we rated this one better than the Gallup store! We even had ministry in the shop praying for a few folk whilst doing our shopping.
Tomorrow we are taking part in the pastor's prayer meeting, then to the school on site and later having tea with the kids and doing a programme with them. We are hoping to visit Navajo Lake in the afternoon.
When we got out of the cars to tonight at 10.45pm it was still overt 80 degrees F! Going to be hot night!
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Variety is the spice of life!
Today has been another busy and varied day and another day of 'firsts'. After devotions we set out to a residential home for the elderly run by the Sisters of the Poor. It was in a lovely area of the town and it was a really lovely facility. We were shown into the room where there must have been about 30 people, mainly Native either Navajo or Zuni. We sang and shared testimony and they responded to us. It was really worthwhile. One of the carers translated into Navajo for us. One man called Robert was particularly blessed.
After that we returned to Joshua Generation for more prayer and devotions. We then set out to do some admin downtown, get lunch, go to the cultural centre and then head back to the church to grab our gear and head out to Sunshine Canyon. We set up our canopy at the dead end and started kicking a ball about and blowing up balloons and cooking hot dogs. Sue and Alice went door to door and a crowd of kids and a couple of adults joined us. A lady came up with a little child that we had prayed with when we'd been in the area before to tell us that she had walked further than she had in months and that she had noticed an improvement immediately after the prayer. So we were able to pray again with her for further healing.
We stayed for about an hour just blessing the kids - one lad said it was the best day of his life! So humbling.
Then after Enchilladas and Frito pie made by Peewee we went down to the Coffee House to sing in the cafe. Again we were joined by folk we'd met in the town square when we did tea and a chat and whom have had an answer to our prayers today! God has provided work for them!
God is blessing our mission! We feel so very blessed. Tomorrow we head up to Farmington Navajo Ministries.
After that we returned to Joshua Generation for more prayer and devotions. We then set out to do some admin downtown, get lunch, go to the cultural centre and then head back to the church to grab our gear and head out to Sunshine Canyon. We set up our canopy at the dead end and started kicking a ball about and blowing up balloons and cooking hot dogs. Sue and Alice went door to door and a crowd of kids and a couple of adults joined us. A lady came up with a little child that we had prayed with when we'd been in the area before to tell us that she had walked further than she had in months and that she had noticed an improvement immediately after the prayer. So we were able to pray again with her for further healing.
We stayed for about an hour just blessing the kids - one lad said it was the best day of his life! So humbling.
Then after Enchilladas and Frito pie made by Peewee we went down to the Coffee House to sing in the cafe. Again we were joined by folk we'd met in the town square when we did tea and a chat and whom have had an answer to our prayers today! God has provided work for them!
God is blessing our mission! We feel so very blessed. Tomorrow we head up to Farmington Navajo Ministries.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Kids Fun Day!
We were up early to set up the church for the kids find day and soccer school. We welcomed about 50 or more kids.
Julie and Alice went off to buy food for lunch, Margaret set up hot drinks for the adults and Mark went to pick up some of the people we had met for tea and chat at the ceremonial dancing. The kids went off to the park with Chris J, Steve, Richard, Colette, Dave and Sue to do soccer.
After an hour or so they came back to the church for ice lollies and then Chris and Sue did some kids teaching and Steve, Colette and Julie did some kids worship. We showed the 'I am a Christian' video too.
Then there was craft and face painting and other fun stuff. We fed them all lunch and then had a huge water fight! That was great fun. They went off happy with some goodies. It was a successful day.
We then tried to get out to a rodeo event but only caught the very last event. So we went back to Gallup and had a meal and checked out the coffee shop in town that we are hoping to do some live music in tomorrow.
Thank you for your prayers, although tired we know that we are being strengthened. Hoping to add some more photos tomorrow.
Julie and Alice went off to buy food for lunch, Margaret set up hot drinks for the adults and Mark went to pick up some of the people we had met for tea and chat at the ceremonial dancing. The kids went off to the park with Chris J, Steve, Richard, Colette, Dave and Sue to do soccer.
After an hour or so they came back to the church for ice lollies and then Chris and Sue did some kids teaching and Steve, Colette and Julie did some kids worship. We showed the 'I am a Christian' video too.
Then there was craft and face painting and other fun stuff. We fed them all lunch and then had a huge water fight! That was great fun. They went off happy with some goodies. It was a successful day.
We then tried to get out to a rodeo event but only caught the very last event. So we went back to Gallup and had a meal and checked out the coffee shop in town that we are hoping to do some live music in tomorrow.
Thank you for your prayers, although tired we know that we are being strengthened. Hoping to add some more photos tomorrow.
Sunday Services
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