Rejoicing in the warm days!

Here it is again...over a month since I last posted anything. There has been a lot of things happening here it seems, with ministry and visitors we've had.

Here is a nutshell version of some of the ministry happening around here.

• We spent an afternoon praying and talking with a family in the middle of a crisis concerning their daughter. The battle is not over but we have seen some good things from it and we continue to pray.
• I was encouraged to see a mother who is struggling a lot, make a right choice in the midst of temptation in her home. Praise God!
• We had an opportunity to sing and pray outside a home, while others were able to share and minister inside, to a man who has fallen.
• A lady who has fallen away stopped in. She was sober and we were able to have a good talk with her. We are praying she will continue to be drawn to God.
• A lady shared with a broken heart, her sin and desire to serve God wholly. She repented sincerely in brokenness and cried out to God for mercy. We are praying that she will continue to seek Him amidst a difficult environment in her home.

These are some of the things happening ministry-wise. God is certainly at work in our hearts too. He has shown me so many things lately it seems. Things I need to change in my heart, things I need to do differently and a new desire to serve Him with everything I've got, every minute. Not just when we meet with other believers, but in the day to day mundane tasks of life.
These verses have been my prayer...
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23,24

Here are some pics from the last month.

Tony and Tiki getting ready to go rock climbing. A 3-5 minute walk from our place.

Seth climbing.
Bryce, almost to the top.

Tara

Men's choir from Moody sang at the Hopi Mission School. We so enjoyed them, especially the fact that we got to see Chris from our church in IN. He is playing the banjo below.
Chris and his room-mate got to spend the night at our house. So the 3 played together.

We were in Phoenix the same time as my brother-in-law was in town for a seminar and he brought my sister with him. That was a treat for us.
Tara playing with Bryn in the Hotel room.
I spent 5 days in IN visiting with friends and family. A big thank you to my friends who made this possible for me to do that. I was able to see my niece Jodi at Bethel College while I was there.
And fellowship with the ladies at Women's Group. What a blessing. Thanks for the surprise birthday party...was that for this year or last year?
We were able to spend the last couple days with Jim's brother and his wife from OR. Nate and Deb. It was so good to see them again...it has been 2 years.

What do you get....

...when you combine snow, rain, sand, clay and warm weather?

MUD!

What a welcome home. It's worse than when we left.


We just got back from Denver, CO. last night - as some of you already know. We spent the week there, in order for me to see a Dr. for my TMJ. (Many thanks to all of you who were involved in giving and praying in order to make that possible. It was so unexpected and such a blessing!)
It is a process to correct it, so I'm not seeing big changes yet, but Lord willing we will come back in April for some more treatments. God has provided in so many ways for this to happen. Last summer a family that none of us knew, wanted to stop in at Bacavi Church and stay overnight. So we got to know this family with 2 children from Denver. I contacted them to see about inexpensive lodging, and they offered their house. What a blessing! Then we found out they lived just 15 minutes from the doctors office. It is so amazing to me how God orchestrated all of that.

Here we are with the Hannah family that we stayed with in Denver.

This weekend Bacavi had their Bean Dance. It is sort of the 1st dance of the ceremonial season here. The dances/ceremonies will continue on various weekends, through August.

We have a busy month coming up. With various visitors coming and some of us traveling too.

In just a couple of hours we will be getting visitors. My sister and brother-in-law will be stopping in for a couple of days with their 2 youngest children. Bob and Laura Kulp from WI. I am looking forward to that. And then a day after they leave another one of my sisters will be stopping in with her husband for a couple days. Keith and Deloris Clugston from PA.

And now I need to go clean up the disaster of suitcases on the living room floor.

Below is a paragraph that Tara wrote for school.

On Monday, we were all doing school inside the house, when all of the sudden, we heard a loud whirling noise outside. All at once, everybody ran outside, shoes or no shoes, to see what it was. We were able to find out very soon that it was a helicopter. At first it just circled around once and was gone. So, we all went back inside. But then, we heard it come around again, so we ran outside once more. It kept circling around, and then we saw it go towards Hotevilla, so we ran behind our house (which was in that direction), to see it better. Everybody else had been there awhile when I finally came, because I had stopped awhile to play with Choco. But when I did get there, Mom was just saying, “Maybe it’s time to get the mail!” I didn’t know what she was talking about at first. But later when she asked, “Who wants to go get the mail with me?” I understood a little bit better what she was talking about. Later, she told us to all get in the van (minus Dad, plus Melissa, because she had just happened to be at our house that morning), because we were going to get the mail and see the see the helicopter, which I forgot to say landed right beside the Youth and Elderly Center in Hotevilla. When we arrived, sure enough, there it was! Nathan and Mr. Toews had come in a different vehicle, so Nathan and Bryce were taking pictures. We figured out from Melissa (who found out from some body else), that somebody was missing and the helicopter had been sent out to look for him.

By Tara

Amidst the hardened soil...God is working

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived

Isaiah 35:5-7




It seems there has been an epidemic of the flu here on the rez. We have heard of so many sick recently. The Health Care Center has been swamped with people coming in and lots of businesses are short of help because of all those out sick.

I know satan is hard at work during this ceremonial time here. But we know that God is more powerful than any of satan's schemes. We spend lots of time praying as we go through this season here. There are those who blindly continue to carry out their rituals. Then there are some that we see, even at this time, who are reaching out for the truth, knowing that what they have been doing is not the truth that will set them free.

Tonight we are all anticipating Jim's arrival after having been gone for 1 week. He and Russ spent a week in PA at a leadership conference. I'm glad they were able to go, and I think they both really enjoyed it....but I am ready to have him back home.

The days here have been getting above freezing and with all the snow melting it is getting quite muddy. It's always a question whether or not we'll get up our driveway or not...so far we've made it - we just spin most of the way. The other night when I went to pick up in Hotevilla for Women's Group I thought I was going to be stuck there in one of those deep ruts going back in the village.

Well, I have a few things to do yet before Jim gets here in 1 1/2 hours so I will leave you with some random pics from around here.

Tara sitting at the edge of the mesa on a recent hike.

Hopi sunset

Burning dead weeds and brush. Seth by the fire.

Sharayah

Tara with some friends.

A pic of us from last fall.

I am trying to sleep, but I keep hearing this noise that won't stop. I finally pull myself out of my subconscious...it is the sound of the drums and chanting...it is 12 something am. The ceremonies have begun and we sense the spiritual battle that rages.

Our family has been sick with the flu for about a week. It seems life has come to a screeching halt. Thankfully Jim has remained mostly healthy and able to care for us sick ones. I think we are near the end of it now though and I am thankful for that.

I keep thinking of several things that need prayer so I guess I will mention them here so you can pray with us.

• A family walking through some hard things relationally. That they will continue to turn to God and be willing to follow His leading.
• Two children (4 yrs and 1 month) that are living in an unsafe environment. For their protection and opportunity for us to check in on them.
• A girl starting a dating relationship. That she would not be distracted from her relationship with God and remain pure.
• The young girl we were helping to school that now went back to the High School. That she would not forget all that she has learned about God. And that she would apply His truth in the situations she faces.
• For the church body here, that we would be unified and continue to grow together in the Lord.
• During this ceremonial time that Satan's activities will be bound and eyes will be opened to the truth of God's word.

Thanks for your faithfulness in prayers. They are so needed.

Blogger isn't letting me post pictures right now so maybe next time.

times at Bacavi

Well, we are back at school again here. It seems like the kids are glad to get back into a routine again. I am enjoying it too. Melissa is teaching a writing class to Bryce and Tara 3 times a week. That is really helpful since writing is not my strong point. She has also offered her assistance 4 hours a week for whatever needs doing around the house here. I feel very blessed to have that commitment from her.

It seems that in the last few months, that the local people that come consistently to church here has dwindled...yet it seems the few core people here, are very committed to following God even through the difficulties they face. That is a real encouragement to us.

At the moment I am operating on little sleep as we have spent several hours walking beside a couple that is dealing with some very painful things right now. God is so good in the middle of this. She was ready to give up on their marriage and as we prayed, cried and laughed together, God has done a mighty work in both of their hearts. Although their hearts are broken and painful they want to focus on God and do things His way. What a praise! He can work in ways that seem impossible to our human minds. Please help us in praying for this family; the next days, weeks and months will not be easy for them.

Also, if you think of it please pray for protection over a small baby boy (about 1 month old) who is living in an unsafe environment . In one such situation there recently, the baby's Aunt happened to stop in and was able to protect him, but what goes on when he's alone with his mother and/or her friends?

Thank you so much for all you do.

Here are some recent pics.

The guys using teamwork to get the driveway shoveled.

Tara tubing.
Seth coming up after a toboggan run.
The Toews' came out to enjoy the sledding/skiing.Nathan and Russ have also found used skis, so we have had some times to ski out back. It's quite a workout when there is no lift. But we are enjoying it...even Jim I think.

This is one of the projects I finished recently. The wall hanging and painting the dining room with a gallon of mis-tint paint from Home Depot. This pic does not show quite the true color. but you get the idea. It really warms up the room.

time keeps moving on...

and I'm finally taking the time to post again.

We have had a relaxing time the last few days. Together as a family and some time in the community with friends. I have really enjoyed this quiet time here the last week or so...at the same time I wonder how some that we have walked beside recently are doing. I have this sadness and burden for some of what I know is happening in their lives.

Jim and I have had a tough decision to make in the last couple weeks about whether or not to continue schooling these children. God made it clear to us, that last week before Christmas break, that we would not be able to continue with their schooling at this time. We have a peace about that and at the same time it has been very painful for me. They are hurting so much and we hate to see them back in the schools here. It seems like such cruel world out there for them. I wish I could take their pain away. We are praying that the Bible knowledge we were able to give along with the discussions we had about right and wrong while they were here will stick with them and give them some hope as they face different situations. And also that we will be able to maintain our relationship with them.

There are a couple of people that were just baby Christians here, that have fallen in the last week. It has been a sad thing and I have felt this heaviness for them...I guess it is a reminder for me to pray for them. We have not been able to contact them and don't really know where they are. So that leaves us with praying and I know God can work in ways that seem impossible to us.
There was a mother that had a baby just before Christmas. The situation that this baby was born into is not good. But with her having the baby she has seemed more open to us coming around. I would like to have the opportunity to meet with her regularly in her home in the next several weeks. I am praying that those doors will open as I stop in to see her.

It has been a painful time of year here for some who have lost loved ones recently. We continue to pray for them and keep in contact with them through this time.

Amidst all of this it has been a blessed time for me. I still have to work on giving all these burdens to God and not try to carry them on my own strength.

But we have had some enjoyable times together recently and I will try to add some pics below.
Blessings to all!

Jeremy, Nathan and Bryce had a chance to play together while Jeremy was home.

Sharayah with her hat and gloves from Tara.

Jim decided to brave the icy, rough hill with the kids. Not the most comfortable ride. He could tell the next day.

Tara

Seth a couple weeks earlier after a wipe out on skis.

I think he took a wrong turn somewhere.Look out!

These are friends that came to see us in November. Larry, Sherry and Larry. (Let's see if I can confuse you) Larry and Sherry on the left (husband and wife) are from CO. and Sherry and Larry on the right are twin brother and sister. Larry on the right is from Phoenix. And the Larry and Sherry on the right grew up near Ft. Wayne, IN and have an Amish background. And their last name?.....Miller. We have enjoyed these 2 families and really appreciate all of their prayer support. It is amazing how God brought them into the Toews' life just over a year ago.

winter snow

It has snowed here and we are enjoying it! At least some of us are. It may all be gone by the week-end but the kids are enjoying it while it lasts. They did some skiing today. Over the summer we were able to get used ski equipment for all of us.

The Christmas season is upon us. The Toews headed to Phoenix today to pick up Jeremy, their son. And we are looking forward to the break from school in 1 1/2 weeks.

Here are some random pics. I was going to put more but blogger quit uploading pics just now. Maybe more later.