- My God is Mighty to Save!

• Aug. 6, 2008
My God is Mighty to Save!

We just got back from Arizona. God really worked there. The Indian village that we worked at last year is the same one that we were supposed to work at this year. Sunday night (the day we arrived) Lane received a phone call saying that there had been some drive by shootings and a stabbing made as threats on the woman whose home we were to use there and that the pastor there didn't know if it was safe for us to come...the threats were made because of us coming again. There is a lot of heavy gang activity in the area, but the men decided that they didn't want Satan to get his way in "scaring us off" and to us, this was just a sign that we were definitely supposed to be there, so we found another location on the reservation at another woman's home. It was a blessing that we moved, and God knew exactly what He was doing! We ran about 25 kiddos each day compared to under 15 for the past 6 times we've gone at all the different reservations. This would not have been the case at the other location because of where the kids all lived.

Each day, Will drove to the other side of the village and picked up 5 or 6 of the kids that came from last year, that are now involved in the gangs there. They broght along some of their younger siblings, but all of them stayed back from the rest of the group, as the gangs are pretty much one side of the village against the other and it's all family based, kind of like the Hatfields and McCoys, I guess. Many of the kids who came were older, many were very young. I would say our oldest was 17 or 18. The youngest several were 2.

It is a blessing to be able to see the hearts of these kids. I told Will, there's just something about them that's different. They aren't like most kids. ALL of them, were happy all week, they never argued, they all included one another, shared, and so on. I wouldn't contribute it to the way they are being raised, because most of them have parents and family who are in prison, for drugs, violence, or murder and live with relatives who aren't their parents because of that. We had kids that were 4 or 5 years old tell us that their dad was in jail for having his neck slit and trying to kill the lady who did it. There was one family with 8 kids living in a house, probably smaller that Will and I's...not that that's a horrible thing...who knows, we may have 8 kids living in our own home someday!...but they were all there for one reason or another due to their birth parents making very wrong choices, one boy, was an uncle to the other kids. His mom had kicked him out because she didn't want him...he's 5 or 6, pray for Marcus. Most of the others were siblings who lived there with their grandma and dad, their mom was in jail, and had just delivered a baby boy, in jail, the baby was now living with their aunt. Pray for Alyssa, Neil, Elijah, Lilly, Liza, Junior and the rest of their siblings. It's just a messed up situation out there, but everyday, they met us with smiling faces. Several of them would run out to me with their arms open for hugs wanting me to hold them...some were older. There is a lot of work to be done on the reservations. I think they are so starved for love and attention that they are ready to soak up anything from anyone who cares about them. There is a white pastor and an Indian pastor who will be working hand in hand to reach out to and minister to these kids.

On the last day, Kyle, a 14 or 15 year old guy told Will that he needed to talk to him. He told Will that he didn't want to live his life the same way anymore. He wanted to change his life. This is one of the boys from the other side of the reservation who was involved in one of the gangs. He said, he wasn't sure if he wanted to give His life to Christ yet, but he definitely wanted to change. When we left, he was talking to Cameron, the indian pastor who is there (from another tribe) who used to be involved in a lot of gang activity himself. Pray for Kyle. Will got me a new digital camera!! Yeah! No more film! So I will have pics to post soon!

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• Aug. 7, 2008
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Posted by OldSchoolMarm

I have a good friend that is full-blooded Navaho Indian that grew up on an indian reservation in Arizona. She went back a couple of years ago for her father's funeral and ended up staying a year leaving her son here. She lives here now but is thinking on moving back permanently leaving her son, now 14, here with his father who is not a suitable parent. I say all this because I just don't understand her reasoning and she always comes back with it's her peoples way. I know she's a christian but just don't understand how she can get around her God given responsibility as a parent. Did you see that much of this kind of attitude there? I know it's spiritual, but just don't know how to pray for her...even though I do of course. I'm so glad God has given you and your husband such a heart for Him. Your boldness and energy is refreshing. I'm sure you're glad to be getting back and into a routine with the kiddos. Take care and blessings, Julie

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