I have wanted to write for weeks. I keep telling myself, sit down and write a blog. Honestly, we have been so insanely busy. Each time I sit down on the couch (typically around 9 pm), I last about thirty minutes and then I’m ready for bed. J’s in the same boat. We’ve got so much ministry stuff happening and keeping it all straight has become interesting. My planner has started to look like Rainbow Brite sprayed some rainbow magic on the pages. All the littles have their own color, J has his own color, the ministry has its own color…its beautiful actually.
So is the life we continue to build here on the Rez.
In the past two months, I’ve driven to multiple churches across the Rez, solo. I know. Amazing, right? No one who knew me this time last year and knew the struggles I was having with being here, would’ve thought I’d be driving across the Rez to reach the people I’ve grown to love so dearly.
The truth is, seeing the smiling faces of the children at each church, the pastor’s and their wives (who have become some of my favorite people), and ironically, the drive to each church have started to fuel me. The drive time and the distance between churches and our house are long and tiring. Oh, the joy though, when I pull in and those beautiful babies greet me. The confirmation in hearing Mrs. Verna share her Bible story and the children respond. The sheer effervescent presence of the Holy Spirit meeting with Mrs. Hilda and Billison during their prayer time before service. Watching my children walk into a “new” Sunday School room, introduce themselves, explain where we’re from, how we got here and what we do, creates an overwhelming sense of pride. It’s the coolest thing to observe.
What’s even better is the way we’re seeing God move in the communities and people. The reality of what the churches on the Rez face in reaching their own people, is seemingly unbelievable. Yes, we live in the United States. Yes, WE have ACCESS to running water and electricity but many of our churches don’t even have that luxury. And yet, some of our pastor’s drive four hours round trip EVERY. SINGLE. SUNDAY. Every Sunday, these warriors drive to share the Gospel. I say warriors because they ARE Kingdom warriors. There is Kingdom work being done and still to be done on the Reservation. The Inspired Learner’s Co-op is growing by leaps and bounds. I am watching as my fellow home school mama’s take ownership of our co-op and are leading, each in their own strengths and gifts. I am seeing first time “teacher mama’s” step into their new role with grace, with increasing patience and a fierce determination to educate the kiddo’s in their house. Our partners, Pastor Mary and Roland and their congregation, were out this weekend visiting some of the most remote parts of their communities. They were taking coal, food, and gifts to elders who felt they’d been forgotten, delivering gift boxes to children who may not otherwise receive Christmas gifts and all the while sharing the love of Jesus Christ. This is Navajo reaching Navajo. This is what we dreamed of when we established Beautiful Harvest Project.
We are so excited about what we’ve seen and been a part of in 2018. Oh, but the excitement of 2019…well, it’s almost palpable. We know God has big plans for BHP and for our family here on the Rez. If you’d like to partner with us and stand in the gap as we work alongside the Navajo, please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly donor by clicking on the donate button.
Hang on tight, friends…it’s just getting good.
Beautiful Harvest Project 