HELLO FROM THE REZ!!
We have just finished our first part of our missions trip in WLS. The past week flew by so fast and we are now in Hard Rock, Arizona. Yesterday, we flew in from St. Louis to Phoenix. Today, we spent the day debriefing and just trying to get our thoughts together. This past week was definitely very stretching, both physically and spiritually. I think in the beginning of the week, we were still trying to figure out our role at WLS—were we there to be their friend or counselor?
The second night of WLS, Katlyn and I were asked to lead cabin time and while we initially felt discouraged that the girls were not focused the way that we wanted them to be, we soon realized that it was part of their culture and they weren’t necessarily being disrespectful. It was so encouraging to hear the girls in our cabin share and be vulnerable to one another, even in the midst of two strangers who were leading the time of sharing. Overall, the past week was good in that we were able to build relationships with the Navajo and to better understand their beliefs and culture. As in any missions trips, there were struggles and discouraging moments. This moment came near the end of our time in Missouri. During a time of debriefing, we learned that one of the Navajo leaders felt that our team was not meeting expectations. While we are not against criticism, we felt that we were doing what God wanted us to do. So, it was hard to hear someone tell us the way in which we were ministering to the Navajo was wrong. It was so easy to feel like giving up and just hardening of our hearts, especially as the week was coming to an end.
Despite a rough end to the week, we were able to appreciate being able to live with the Navajo and being immersed into their lives. This week, I learned the reality of the pain and abuse that these people go through and the overall effect of the never-ending cycles of abuse. We were also able to see how early drinking and drug use started in the lives of the Navajos and also how these people are very much like our (Chinese) culture in that they show a great amount of respect of the older generation. Being able to spend the week with the Navajo, we were able to have more “organic” conversations with them versus squishing whatever conversations we could have in the short couple of hours of VBS on the Rez.
I personally learned that despite telling myself to be uncomfortable, I’m not good at actually being uncomfortable. I learned that it’s hard for me to let God take control and to have faith. I think the most spiritually challenging part of WLS was remembering to find rest in God and not to rely on myself for strength. It’s so easy to be caught up in doing God’s work and pouring into His people and to forget to allow God to pour into me. So far, I’ve learned that there is always a bigger picture when it comes to mission. We often time get caught up in looking for immediate and tangible fruit from our work and forget that our role may be to simply sow seeds and build relationships. I also learned that pray is so important and is so powerful.
So as we begin the next part of our missions trip, please pray for:
1. Strength and Energy: I think I can speak for most, if not all, of our team members when I say that we are tired. Please pray for renewal of physical strength and also for spiritual strength. Please pray that we will continue to seek that energy and strength from God through prayer and through quiet times.
2. Humility: I think through this week, I feel that a lot of the discouragement that I felt from being criticized came from pride in myself. Please pray that throughout this next week, we would humbly seek after God’s will.
3. Unity: When we are not united, it makes it so much easier for the enemy to come after us and to successfully attack us. Please pray that we will be united as we do the Lord’s work.
4. Spiritual Protection: Please pray that we would feel the Lord’s presence here and that He would bind Satan’s hands. Spiritual warfare is so real, especially with the Native people because they are so in touch with the spiritual realm. Please pray for protection for the team and also the Navajo attending our VBS.
Thank you for continuing to support us!
-Melissa
Hearing courageous testimonies from Navajo Christians and an FCBC collegian at WLS and VBS
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