She Put Them Under Her Pillow

I struck up a conversation with one of the custodians at my school a few months back. She was anxious because her daughter, expecting her second baby, was over due. When she was out of work a few days, I surmised that the little one had finally arrived. And when I found out it was a little girl, I put together a gift bag of hand knit booties, a blanket and sweater and brought it to school. I hadn‘t done the knitting. Some blessed women, from another state sent a bunch of such cozy items to the mission. We still haven’t built up a very large congregation. Some people still believe the place to be abandoned. But I’m not going to just let those donations sit and collect dust. I told the grandma the gift was from our church. A few weeks later I was given a thank you card and small gift bag from the baby’s shower. Then she brought the little family in to meet me. Three generations. Proud Grandma, Stoic Mother, beautiful baby girl with thick black hair and bright eyes. And, hiding behind grandma was a cute little, barely three year old sister. So another gift box came. More donations to the Indian Mission. This time there were several pairs of children’s shoes, and some brand new socks. Sometimes new babies get all the attention, so I decided that a nice new pair of shoes and socks might be a nice gift for big sister.
I checked with grandma first. I didn’t want to offend them. Then I put together another gift bag, with the shoes, socks, and a little story book. Yesterday Grandma told me that the shoes were a little big, growing room, and that the little girl was so excited about them that she insisted upon sleeping with them under her pillow.
The 7th grade English teacher had the students write a journal entry about a gift they received that they didn’t like. Most of the class was pretty confused. A gift they didn’t like? How could there be such a thing? Give thanks with a grateful heart! Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

First Sunday of November

Hard to believe we are starting our fifth month at 1275 Bisti Highway. It is slow going. We are dealing with years of poor stewardship and Ezekiel 34 shepherding. Our average attendance is 14. We have had our first Baptism. We are praying and singing and trusting.
Getting reading to send out a newsletter. Putting signs up in the Laundry Matts. Lighting the lights and opening the doors and trying to be faithful with the little so that God will give us the more. More sheep and more shepherds.
Yesterday was a wonderful day. It was clear and crisp, blue and gold. We haven’t had very many people coming to our Tuesday food distributions. So I asked a sweet Christian gentleman, who is a substitute teacher at my school, if he knew any families that needed some groceries. He gave us three names and we delivered food boxes Saturday morning.
The families lived on the reservation. It was a blessing to give.
One of the young ladies in one of the homes, where three generations lived, was wearing a tee shirt from my home town - Rochester, NY. She let me take her picture and I’ll post it when I get the film developed. One of the churches in Farmington, that we fellowship with, and worship with at their Saturday evening services, donated $300 to our Church. They also collected food for our food pantry. My granddaughter helped me put out hats and mittens for our distribution after church today.
I’ve recently realized something. We were at an event sponsored by Passion Play Ministries International (PPMI) which has its headquarters in Farmington. We’ve been part of the ministry for the 9 years that we have been in the area, and we were discussing its value and uniqueness. Passion Play gives a lot of people a chance to minister through drama. People who might not otherwise be offered the chance to minister. I think our little church will be like that. It already is. The people who stuffed our treat bags for the parade, and rode on the float, or walked beside it handing out candy and singing praises to the LORD aren’t the type of people found ministering in most churches. The family of women, deep in poverty, to whom we delivered a food basket, have volunteered to make fry bread for a fund raiser, Navajo Tacos (yum) probably will be part of our Christmas outreach. Our “poor” people bring food for the food pantry, and show up to serve when called upon. We have a small core group who want a chance to do something for the LORD. Widows, orphans, captives, prisoners, who will be called oaks of righteousness, who will help rebuild the ruins…Isaiah 61.
It is slow going, but we are not discouraged. We need prayer - we continue to pray for wisdom, provision, shalom, and people. God knows full well what people we need and where they are. We will pray that they will find their way to us, and trust enough to commit. God’s will be done. And so, tis almost time for our evening service. It is usually just Pastor Art and I praying. And that is ok. The lights are on and the doors are open. To God be the Glory!