Happy late Thanksgiving!

Yesterday was fun. We went to thanksgiving at Ray and Oleta's son's in-laws. It was fun we had the traditional turkey and such but there was frybread and mutton stew also. It was fun we played some music ray played guitar and banjo and his son played the mandolin and guitar I played harmonica. Well I hope ya'lls thanksgivings were good too.


Well a little note to my classmates who read this my computer crashed and I lost all my electronic notes from Lubbock. So if you have electronic notes please email me at least a little bit of the notes. I appreciate it a whole bunch. Love ya'll

A while.

Yá'át'ééh

Since I've last updated I have been quite busy. Things seem to be moving like we're in a well organized tornado lately. Things have moved in a blur.
We went to Lubbock, TX to recruit more AIM students. There were a bunch interested in our field, pray that GOD blesses us with more AIMers. Lubbock was great I got to see my parents, got to see my brother Donovan, and his family. It was amazing being back around people who I knew but at the same time weird not being around my Navajo friends for a even a couple of days.
Our programs are going well. Our preschool has 6 students now, our afterschool care program hasn't had any students in a while. But our teen nights seem to be growing. Our preschool kids are great and are starting to show tons of improvement in their education.

Pray for us out here that we may be blessed in influencing people. I pray the same for all of you. For all my classmates that read this I love you very much and I pray all is well. To all my supporters I love you and thank you so much for all you do. To my family it is amazing to have such awesome people support you so much when not even everyone in my class has that. Thank you and I love you. GOD bless all who read this is my prayer.

Hágoónee'

Our house

Yá'át'ééh

The exterior construction on our new house or shack if you will is finished and has been for awhile. We are trying to think of a name for it, I thought of "Squatter's Run" because I'm a hillbilly and we use to squat or live on land that wasn't ours a lot. I thought of this because as an AIMer the land I live on isn't mine and being a Christian I know it also isn't mine because my home is somewhere above. Well if you have any suggestions feel free to send 'em my way. GOD bless.

Hágoónee'

Comfort

Describes my new moccasins I don't know if I'll ever wear anything else ever again. Guess I'll just have to learn how to ride horses in mocs now.

Ahi'hee'

Fun adventures.

Yá'át'ééh

So yesterday was the day we (Marvin, myself and his brothers) were going to go to look for the sheep, which actually turned out to be goats. Well Marvin's brother had been tracking them and figured them to be going to the river down in the canyon for water during the middle of the day. So yesterday morning he rode down there to see if they had been back in the last twenty four hours. What he discovered was sad, his goats about 2 or 3 had been killed by coyotes. So after being informed of that we knew we didn't have to go look for them obviously. But Marvin had recently bought a mustang (wild horse) and we were going to take it to his brother's house. Well they put me in the pen with the horse and a lasso. Well I was using the lasso to make myself wider so the horse wouldn't try to run by me. I was trying to get him into the corner where he couldn't jump out and so the other guy could grab the rope that was on him. Well Marvin moved for a second from standing by the spot where the horse could jump. The horse and I noticed this at the same time. I tried to run over there quick enough to stop the horse but not so fast that the horse would get spooked. Well the horse won the race, jumped the fence and tripped over it. He landed on his back got up and started to run. So Marvin ran to cut it off so it wouldn't run to the highway and I ran to the side to keep the horse from going that way. Well after about 45 minutes or so of this we get the horse back in the pen then about 15 to 20 minutes after that we finally "convince" the horse to get in the trailer. Well it was a fun and eventful morning. Please continue to pray for Marvin and his family that we might influence them to CHRIST.

Hágoónee'

Sorry it's been so long.

Yá'át'ééh

We have been extremly busy. Last week we had a funeral to perform, Elsie Blackgoat a member here passed away from cancer. Funerals on the Rez last a while because the family has meetings to talk about it and to raise the money for it for about 4 days. Then on Saturday we had a wedding to go to. So we had a "fun" filled week of being extremly busy. So in most likely two Sundays I go to chase cows on horseback with Marvin. He wants to teach me how to break horses, I think that would be fun.

There has just been so much going on. We start construction of our house today it is actually a shed that looks like a barn. I'm sure all ya'll have seen them at home depot or lowe's. It's gonna be nice.

Thanks for being patient on waiting for a post. I would love to see comments from everyone who reads this blog. Thanks and GOD bless.

Hágoónee'

Preschool and such.

Well we now have two students enrolled in preschool but only one has been showing up. I felt that today working with him was really productive. Also our teen night is starting to pick up the first night we had only one, the second night we had two, and last night we had four teens. The program is starting to pick up and I thank GOD for that. Thank you for your prayers for these programs.

Update on my usage for this blog...

I have decided since I am able to sit down and jot down a small update about once a week and will start doing picture uploads once a month that I will use this for my newsletter. I have been working on one a little every night, but alas I do not have the time to sit down and write one for all the time that is taken up. I feel I am doing my supporters an injustice and that needs to end. I apologize and want all my supporters to know that this is my newsletter.

I thank you so much for your support. It is paying off for me and the LORD.

Why such a late post???

Well the neighboring Ute tribe have a dance called a bear dance. In the summer it is done in Colorado once to wake up the bear. Then this past weekend including tomorrow the Utah Ute tribe does the bear dance to make the bear go to sleep. Now you would think if we were trying to make the bear go to sleep then it would be quite music and slow dance. This is what I thought at least, well it is quite on the contrary actually it is loud music and fast or slow dancing depending on the age of your partner.

Well the ladies of all ages pick out the guy who they want to dance the song with. The guys go sit on a bench near the singers and patiently wait to be chosen. I sat through the first two or three songs then was chosen. I ended up dancing so much that my legs burn and I'm really tired but for some can't go to sleep. So I figured, "Hey why not write a blog right now!!!" so that is what I'm doing. It was quite fun and I do believe since I can't sleep that I will go ahead and get started on some of the work that I need to do tomorrow. In order that I can go dancing at the bear dance again tomorrow. The interesting thing about this dance is you can be chosen by several girls at once, yes for the same dance. The most I danced with tonight was two.

Now for those who picture beligaana' dancing (that white people dancing) it's nothing like this so don't be worried. You hold on to her shoulder which is cover by a shawl over her traditional regalia. Then she holds onto your wrist and you waist then you put your other hand on her hand and the dance is quite simple. You stay on your toes most of the time but its just a back and forth walking type motion for that one song.

Well since I had an eventful night I will continue it with painting the new church/ preschool sign that I have been working on.

Also while at this dance I couldn't help but not be a missionary I met a young LDS man who asked where I was from. So I explained AIM to him, he thought it was cool. Asked if I would like to go on an LDS mission I told him not at this time (being polite) and he asked if I would be willing to study with him. I said most definitly and we exchanged numbers. I ask for prayers for this to go smoothly and for the both of us to grow more in knowledge about GOD and the Bible. Yes I did tell him that I would want to share my faith and bible with him also. He agreed so I said let's study and encourage each other. He told me I wasn't like a lot of "church of CHRIST" people he's met. I told him that that is because I think we can all gain from each other and that actually most church of CHRIST people would actually agree with me. I ask for prayeres for this young man's mind to be opened not just his heart and feelings that he is judging his faith on right now. Also pray for the knowledge that I have to be on the tip of my tongue, in my heart and my mind at all times. I truly experienced what it means to be ready in season and out of season, not sure I was as ready as I could have been but then again will we ever be????

Peace and grace to you my brethren from our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST!!!!

Still a little sick but better.

Yá'át'ééh

I have been pretty sick the past couple of days but used a bit of lemon magic (boiled lemon juice) and sweat the sickness out in my sleep last night. So I'm glad that I am feeling better.

On Wednesday we start our preschool this is going to be a big challenge for me. I really need prayers since I'm not the most patient person in the world. I know that after this year of preschool is over with that I will have more patience.

Along with the preschool we start a tutoring/recreation program for the elementary kids and then an evening teen night for the Jr High and Sr High students.

GOD bless all of you.

Hágoónee'

My kitty.

This is Nizhoni.

A little bit over a week.

Yá'át'ééh sk'ish. Hatish banenah? Do banah shahada'.

That's Navajo for "Hello my brothers. What are you doing? I am doing nothing." The reason I say what are you doing instead of how are you doing, is because there is no question for how are you only how is your health and then a Navajo will tell you about everyone in their family. Therefore Navajos don't even ask each other how is your health.

This past weekend was the American Indian Missions workshop which was held in Colorado Springs this year by the Pikes Peak church of Christ. The four Navajo Preachers on the Rez spoke to us. So did two of the Anglo preachers one of those being my coordinator Ray Whaley. The other being from Kayenta, AZ. It was very good and I learned quite a bit about evangelism on the Rez.

We have started Navajo classes with our coordinator and they are going pretty good. We have to talk to at least one person in Navajo everyday to help improve speaking it.

That's all for now.

Hágoónee'

Please pray.

Yá'át'ééh

I do not know if any of you have heard yet but there is a group of miners trapped here in Utah. But there are six miners trapped more than 1500 feet below the surface. They say it may take more than 48 hours to rescue them but the longer it takes the more chance for another cave in to happen and the longer they are trapped the less are they have. Please pray their safety and the comfort of GOD and HIS people to their families. GOD bless.

Hágoónee'

Desert animals.

Yá'át'ééh

I was getting some tools for fence building ready and noticed something move. The thing I saw was a snake that I almost stepped on but instead of this snake trying to get away from me it came right at me hissing and so i grabbed a hoe from the shed and killed it. Turns out that the snake is a non-venomous snake that thinks it is loaded with venom so it is super aggressive. It is a cousin of the rattlesnake and looks very much like a rattlesnake I thought it was a rattlesnake thats why it startled me. Well I'm glad I didn't get bit by it. We are still not positive that is not poisonous. Ya'll have a great day.

Hágoónee'

Sorry its been about a month.

Its been quite awhile. A lot has happened its kind of in a blur. We had a week furlow since I posted last that was quite relaxing. Then I went to another week long church camp this one was in Dolores, CO. We had showers and everything of the modern world so that was nice. I was a counselor for a cabin of 11, 12, 13, and 14 year old boys it was fun. I met some really cool guys that just graduated from high school and are actually getting ready to move to lubbock to go to LCU. So I got to tell them all about the cool hangout places. Well we are gearing up to start an after school tutoring program in august.

One thing though to pray for is in August my coordinator's wife's mom is having her 80th birthday and she lives in Stillwater, OK which is about 75 miles north of OKC. So if they get to go visit her for that then Greg and I may go along and then I will get to see my parents but I haven't told them yet so this is the first they will hear of it. So they will be excited.

Please continue to pray for the work out here. It is very tough and different than most places. Also continue that we may get another AIM team out here from this coming up years class. Also pray that we can build some sort of house out here preferable a hogan since they are easy to build and maintain. GOD bless!!!

Prayers...

I am in the process of trying to find someone to help me learn to build a hogan (pro. ho-gahn) on the church property. Currently my teammate and myself are living in the church building but would like to have our own place. I am hoping that through this I will be able to build a relationship with the person that GOD leads me to and that I can have bible studies with them. The picture at the right is a picture of a traditional hogan that would be similar to what we would live in. Also pray for another opportunity I may have which is getting the chance to learn to make and play a ceremonial drum. I would love to be able to have an influence on the guy that will be teaching me this. I appreciate all your prayers. GOD bless!

It's been awhile...

Yá'át'ééh

Sorry for taking so long to update. The past weeks have been extremly busy. I have been working to wrapup VBS with the tennessee group from MTSU that was here. It has been getting hotter every day. I have a kitten now her name is Niezhone' (pro. knee-zh-oh-ne) which means pretty. At camp we had 3 baptisms. That was really exciting. My teammate Greg and I are officially starting our own work since the other group is gone now. I will be hoping to do some substitute teaching at the middle or highschool. Also we hope to do a 2-day-a-week preschool, and after school tutoring 2 days a week. We plan to also have a night where the teens from the community can come and hang out with us just having fun. I hope all of you have a fun and safe 4th of July. GOD bless!!!

Hágoónee'

Ps if you would be interested in knowing more about my work by recieving a newsletter please feel free to email me at airforceman101@yahoo.com.

A first for me...

Yá'át'ééh

Well I've been sun burnt for two days now and it hurts. I have never been burnt in my life so I've been trying to cope with it and hoping it will go away soon. I don't think it will since here on the Rez the sun burns hotter or at least feels that way and I'm always in it. Well I now will never laugh and say well glad I'm indian when another person around me is sunburnt. Well ya'll take care and GOD bless!!!!

Hágoónee'

PS I wont be able to write until next thursday because we will be at navajo camp down in Fluted Rock, AZ.

So one week...

Yá'át'ééh

Well it's been extremly hot everyday. But about 50-65 at night the extremes of the weather are not so fun. When I go to sleep I am sweating so I don't want to cover up but then about 1am I am waking up reaching up for blankets. We are doing VBS with a group from Murphesboro, TN right now. That's been fun. The frybread is good but different than what I'm used to eating. The people are amazing when I first meet them they are kind of stand-offish but then I bring up their culture and tell them how much I look forward to learning about it because I am half native. Then they open up to me so it is definitly a benefit being choctaw. I definitly think that Dine (what the Navajo call themselves) kids are the cutest kids I've ever met.
The other day in VBS in the class I was helping with the kids started to educate us about Skinwalkers. The skinwalkers are witches that walk around in animal skin at night and kill people. It's kind of like a werewolf but they can be a lot of different kind of animals. The witches though surround themselves with things of death. They even use a thing called corpse dust. What it is, is crushed up human bone then they blow it down the pipes of hogans of people they don't like. Supposedly before you know it you're sick as a dog and no one can fix it. Well there's a little bit of native myth for you.
Pictures will be up later. GOD BLESS!!!

Hágoónee'