We watched several hawks swoop up and down between the walls of the Grand Canyon.
After church-hopping for a few weeks, we have found a church home! We feel like God provided us a perfect fit at Mountain View Church in Flagstaff. The girls love the awesome children’s programs, and I am helping lead student ministries every Wednesday night. I help with middle school and high school age youth.
Leaders meet at 5:45 p.m. to pray for students and the evening’s program. Then at 6:30 p.m., the chaos begins! First games, then snacks and fellowship time, then the pastor or a leader gives a message, and we break into smaller groups and discuss.
I had an awesome group of middle school girls last week. I was so inspired by their openness and their young knowledge. I wanted to scream at my friend in Thailand, “Hey, Steve, this is what I signed up for!” (But I didn’t. Everyone would have thought I was nuts.)
I’ll join a women’s Bible study group that will begin next week. We’ll be studying and applying God’s Word regarding emotions in a series called “Unglued.” I’d like to say I don’t need any help controlling my emotions, but, um, I would be a big fat liar now wouldn’t I?
God sends help from the oddest places
I was driving one of our Hopi friends to Flagstaff last week to pick up her truck, which was being worked on. She was telling me how she was so fortunate to have the finances to pay for the work because she and her husband do not have a lot of money.
She told me she tries to sock back $5 or $10 here and there, and eventually it adds up. She had saved almost $600 when the alternator in the truck went out. The bill to repair the truck was $368, and she had to use the remainder of the money to travel to Farmington, N.M., to pick up her son, who has been in jail.
She was a little bummed that she had to spend all her savings in one weekend, but she was thankful to God for supplying her with the money she needed. When I dropped her off, she handed me a $20 bill. I told her no, I would not take it, a million times, but she insisted, and finally stuffed it into the cup holder in the console. I expected nothing from her for giving her the ride. I had to go to town anyway. I’ll be honest, though, after staring at the $10.17 balance in my checkbook a couple weeks ago, that $20 brought me to tears. God provides in the most humbling of ways.
$10 is $10 is $10
That was tough looking at that balance. God provided well for us financially when we were in Thailand, but He has really put us to the test regarding our finances since we have returned to the U.S. I was throwing a pity party for myself and asking God why He brought us here. I thought He promised to take care of us. Isn’t it funny how we relate being taken care of to money?
God blew a cool breeze through my hair at that moment and told me to look up and around at my surroundings. There I sat on a beautiful mountaintop beside a nice house we now call our home. It has a comfortable, warm bed and a pantry with food on the shelves. We have way more than many people. And we have $10. Do you know how many people we met just a few months ago who would have loved to have had $10? Thank you, Lord, for our $10.
Wilderness awareness
Jaynee came running into the house Friday morning screaming, “Mom! There’s a baby donkey in the front yard!”
“A what?” I said.
“A baby donkey!” she yelled. “Well, its ears look like a donkey. They’re like a foot long! But its body looks like a rabbit!”
What she saw was one of Arizona’s famous jackrabbits. Some people call them jackelopes. And yes, they are as big as a baby donkey! This particular one came to about my thigh. Our base dog, Zoe, loves to chase them. She would have a seven-course meal if she ever caught one, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.
Last weekend, we took a volunteer from Holland and two new staff members to see the Grand Canyon. We had a great day of adventure and fellowship. My favorite stop wasn’t even at one of the Canyon views. It was at a museum and ancient ruins left by the Tusayan tribe. The museum contained history about the Hopi and other tribes of the area, and the ruins outlined what life was like hundreds of years ago.
I walked around rubbing all the trees and bushes and then smelling my hands. What wondrous scents God made! My favorite is sage. I like to give the sage brushes around here an extra hard rub and then carry the smell with me throughout the day. Mmmmmmm. It smells so good.
We stood for probably 30 minutes at one viewing area watching hawks swoon up and down between the canyon walls. That was such a beautiful sight.
Then we made it to the famous observation tower just in time for sunset. The sunset over the Grand Canyon – how could I be so blessed?
Discipleship Training School Getting Closer
We have seven applicants for DTS, which starts at the end of January. We prayed over the applications last week. We have one from Japan, two from England, and others from various spots in the U.S. We have officially accepted two and expect to accept others in the weeks to come.
We are starting to prepare for DTS by talking about different ways we can teach the students. I am so excited to begin this school. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for all of us.
This is the time when your support will be vital. We take many outreach trips to minister and reach Native tribes. Sometimes those outreaches take us to California. Sometimes they take us to the Aborigines in Australia. Teams from here have ministered in Micronesia, Canada, and places throughout the Pacific Rim region.
I dreamed of being the kind of missionary who never had to ask for contributions, and as thankful as we are for $10, we probably are going to depend on a little more than that. I was praying and asking God why our funds are running so low, and He said simply, “Humble yourself.” It’s humbling to ask for support, but I’m asking. Your support is crucial to this ministry. We are willing to go. Will you help send us?
We ask that you pray about supporting us monthly. If that is not a possibility, we ask that you pray about a one-time contribution. And if that is not possible, we ask that you just pray. Please pray for our mission, the Natives we will reach, and for our entire team’s financial needs to be met.
“Then he said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.’” – Daniel 10:12 (NKJV)
Sunset over Grand Canyon – worth way more than $10. God’s wonders are priceless. I am blessed.
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