Miller happenings...

Hmmm....where to start?

Life has been challenging for me here in the last while. It is amazing how much I learn about my own weaknesses and shortcomings, when ministry seems to be so constant at our doorstep. How many times is His light hindered from shining because I have my own "agenda" and "to do list", that seems more important than just taking the time to talk or listen or just be with them. And then when I take the time for ministering (and I don't really want to interrupt my day), how often do my selfish desires show through to them? I guess I never really thought about how selfish I am until I came here. And how often does that selfishness come through in the way I respond to our children throughout the day?

We have had thunderstorms here the last couple of afternoons. I love to hear the thunder and the smell of wet sand. The first thunderstorm came through a few hours after I got my garden and some wildflowers planted, so that was a blessing. Our garden is planted where our gray water can be directed, so I can keep it watered by turning the valve to water the garden as needed, then turn it back when it has enough.

Some flowers that the kids planted in their small garden plots.The vegetable garden with cucumbers, lettuce and onions planted so far...oh, and one strawberry plant. I want to plant tomatoes and peppers yet too.


We had some visitors here from Iowa last weekend. (friends of the Toews and now friends of ours too) We really enjoyed our time with them.















The Elvin Martin family




The Mark Ebersole family












The kids eating behind the village. We did some hiking and had a campfire.


A couple tired hikers.


We are getting ready to head to Colorado in about a week to see some friends of ours and have some family time together. I am really looking forward to that time together. Some days around here it seems we just see each other in passing. After we get there, Raquel will be flying out from there for home. It's hard to believe she has been here almost 8 months already. Wow, time flies.
I'm sure we will miss all the help she has been around here.

Please pray for a young lady that seems to be going through a really difficult time. We stopped in last night to drop something off and she didn't really talk but just hung on to me and cried. I checked in on her this morning and she wasn't there but found out she had a real rough night. She has shared enough with me in the past that I know she has had a lot of painful things in her life and is not making the best choices as she tries to cope. My heart is so saddened by her despair.

On the other hand, there is a young teenage girl that is finally letting down her walls and letting us into her world. It is so exciting to see her heart softening. We are seeing that she is such a sweet girl behind that hard ugly shell she has used for so many years to protect herself. We continue to pray for her father to turn to God. We see her crying out for his love.

We are so grateful to all of you for your prayers. I know we could not be a light here without the mighty work of God in our lives and the lives of those around us.

visitors, ministry...

We have had a really full last couple of weeks. We had the Carpenters here from Indiana visiting during that time. It was so nice to see some from our church back in Indiana. Right on the heels of there visit we hosted a CHIEF conference, "School Without Walls"

The last 2 1/2 days have been full time ministry to a certain young girl here, from about 9-10am to 7 or 8pm daily. By yesterday afternoon I was growing weary in well doing. I guess I was trying to minister on my own strength and becoming quite overwhelmed in the process. Not to mention the selfishness factor of wanting to get my own thing done. I need to remember Gal. 6:9 We really are seeing past her hard shell at times when she lets down her guard. So I know God is working.

Here are some pics from the last while here.

Messing around on bikes one Sunday afternoon.




Some of the wildflowers that are blooming here right now.









Learning to crochet.

Playing in the caves behind the village when the Carpenters were here.
These three girls had lots of fun together.
Playing in the sand down in Coal Mine Canyon.
Everyone loved Rebekah. She was so smiley.

Seth is wide awake. Can you tell?

Well, that's all for now.
btw, this is posted by me (Roxane) not Jim.

Busyness....and more

Sometimes it is hard to sit down and post, because it is so hard to convey what is really happening here... It seems too hard to put into words. So I will do my best to share the happenings around here.

A few weeks ago we had some struggles and misunderstandings with a family from church. It was an extremely painful week for me as I cried out to God for wisdom and humility. There are so many different ways that people handle conflict and I learned some things that I need to change. We are praying that God will continue to work through that situation to bring us closer together. I have to continually remember to "give it to God" and not try to fix/carry it on my own.

At the end of that week there was a Women's Retreat at the Kykotsmovi Church. Jeanne Dennis from Valentine, AZ was the speaker. She shared her testimony and then spoke on forgiveness. God's timing is so perfect. I was so blessed by her teaching and so refreshed. Honestly, words cannot really express here, (it would get to long) what all it meant to me.

We have been encouraged too by the growth we are seeing in some of those that come to church here and by some of the boys that come around. One boy, that is close to Bryce's age and tends to be the leader among his friends, has shown some interest in talking to Bryce without ridiculing him. Jim and Bryce have now had the opportunity to work with him on a wood project at his request. That has been exciting.

We have had a full week this last week. We had services in the evening on Good Friday and then Sunrise service this morning at 5:45 am. It was about 45 degrees out.

We sent Russ and Cyndi off to a bed and breakfast this afternoon for their anniversary for 2 nights. They will get back on Tuesday. And then Russ, Jim and Garald will be flying to Canada on Wednesday for a meeting there. They will get back late Sunday night. Raquel will also be leaving for Taiwan and will be gone for a total of 2 1/2 weeks. So life is looking pretty busy around here for the next little while.

I would add some pictures but that feature does not seem to be currently working...so maybe next time.

News from around here

Life has been racing by here. We have had some warm days that felt like summer for a couple weeks. One Sunday we went hiking in the canyon since it was so nice out. I also spent most of a Saturday weeding in the front of our house and hope to get some things planted there soon. It has been somewhat cooler the last few days, in the 50s.

Some random hiking pics.





















































It seems like so many things have happened around here, but I will try to give somewhat of an update.







As of March 12th we now have a teenager in the house and so far it has been great.















The Hayah's moved to Winslow last week end, (we are so sad to see them be so far away) but they had been looking for housing anyway and then some opened up in Winslow. They want to be back up this way when they can find housing up here. So we are praying that God will show them His plan for their family.

We have have a couple men coming to church here, which is encouraging. One of them used to come but had fallen away. It is good to see him back again. Another one has not been here before but is trying to change his life and is really seeking the Lord and seems to be very sincere. So that has been exciting to see. Please pray for them, with us.

We have seen some answered prayers around here and that has been exciting. The young boy I mentioned in my Feb. 24th post has really come around recently. We have seen such a change in him, it has been a real encouragement. This week end Jim will have a chance to spend some time with him at the boys cook out that the guys will be having.

Thank you for all your prayers. God is so faithful.

thoughts...

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary 
Pure and holy, tried and ture 
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living 
Sanctuary for You 

Lead Me on Lord 
From temptation 
Purify me 
From within 
Fill my heart with 
You Holy Spirit 
Take away all my sin

This was very thought provoking for me today. Am I a sanctuary for the Lord?
Have I been tried and true? Is it "with thanksgiving" that I will be a sanctuary?
Am I really thankful for all that, that entails?

On another topic... this has been a different week here. Jim spent 3 days in
Shiprock, NM helping with a furnace project there. He got home Thursday
night. Friday morning Seth and Jim both got sick with some sort of stomach/flu
bug. (Seth was kind of dealing with it all week on a smaller scale) Then
Sharayah had it on Saturday and Seth seemed to be better and then he got
sick again tonight. We are not sure what it is exactly, but would certainly
appreciate your prayers for health here.

The pleasant surprise here tonight was, that my sister and her husband
showed up here. Bob and Laura Kulp from WI. Just for tonight and part
of a day tomorrow, but it is exciting to have family here.

The Battle Rages....

The spiritual warfare has become more real to me in the last several days and I am becoming more and more aware of this glass bowl we seem to be living in. But is it just here? or is it that we just didn't notice or think about back in Indiana. People are watching and noticing little things that we don't even think about. How we respond in different situations, how we interact with each other, how we treat each other...what are they seeing? is it good or bad?
What is there in my life that is hindering the Light from going out? hindering seeds from being planted? People are watching. People that are hurt and scared and looking for answers. What are they seeing in me? Do they see the average person? or do they see something more? do they see Jesus?

These are the questions that are bringing me to my knees, asking God for wisdom and guidance. Alone, I am so inadequate.

A young boy, who seemed to have befriended Bryce in the last while has changed drastically in the last couple weeks. He has been acting up when he comes and has been mean towards Bryce. Bryce has been pretty disappointed in loosing that relationship and acceptance he sensed from him. Come to find out, besides spending time in the kiva in preparation for the bean dance, he is pretty worried and scared. His mother has been drinking again an he's afraid that he will get put back in foster care. My heart breaks for him and the weight he is carrying.

This is just one of the many struggles we see here almost daily. Thank you so much for all your prayers. I know God is faithful.

The faint beat of drums, or the "god of HP"

Tonight as I stepped outside to fill a bucket with coal, I could hear a faint thump,thump, thump...... this weekend is the "bean dance" in this village. The men are down in the kiva practicing, I'm told. Also the young boys or anyone that has been "initiated" is there late into the night.
In the last several days we have noticed a difference in the 12 year old boys that come here in the afternoons. obviously they are being affected by something. They are playing rough, showing disrespect to adults and other kids, and just in general hard to manage.

This is one of those weeks when it is very evident that we need help. What can we do that will make a difference in the lives of those around us? Who are we besides needy sinners, unless we are fully dependent on the LORD GOD...... the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and Jacob

It used to be that when I thought of people getting together, beating drums and dancing, I only thought of some remote people groups in the jungles somewhere....but look - they are doing it right here! I could walk over and peek down the opening to the underground kiva, but of course I won't do that.

By the way, you know, it's not the actual beating of the drums that is a problem - but, why are they doing it? They are trying to please, or pretend to please, their "gods"..... they are slaves to all of this, they have to do it..... what if the bean crop doesn't grow? what if the drought continues? what if they stop all the rituals and .... and ... loose their cultural identity?

It seems fairly obvious here in this place that something is not right - I mean, look at them, they are for sure serving the wrong "god".....but what about the rest of us? We were reminded in a recent sermon that there are many things in our lives that can become "idols" or little "gods" to us. What is it that you will not live without? - you depend on it, cling to it, get defensive if someone confronts you about it...... you get the picture. Recently I have been having quite a bit of trouble with my 13.5 month old HP laptop computer..... I depend on this thing a lot. My life is better because of it (maybe). Of course, the warranty has expired, because I did not pay the extra money for a longer warranty, so I am left a little peeved....just a little, mind you, this thing does not have control over me......no, no it doesn't..... Not that the computer cares how I feel about it. Just a worthless chunk of plastic that I put way too much confidence in.

That's how idols are - just worthless something or other that suddenly gains power because we choose to give it a high place in our lives - a place that the LIVING GOD wants in our life. He is a jealous God. Let's not make Him share our hearts with some worthless chunk o' junk or ritual, or.....

Anyway, there's my thougths for the week. Would you join us in praying for the local people this weekend as they go about these rituals and ceremonies? They are people just like you and me - ten fingers, ten toes, red blood, hurting hearts. Thanks again to all who prayed during the "bean dance" ceremonies for the village across the highway from us several weeks ago. We know that God cares, and we appreciate it too as you remember us and the team here.