Home Sweet Home

Well folks, we made it home! We missed you all and it is great to be back. Having said that, we all look forward to going next year. Jason Hicks is working on a video and Justin Bowen (among others) took a bunch of amazing pictures that you all need to see! Check out these blogs for some more reflections and pictures from the trip:

Daniel Bowen
Tony Santoro
Angela Blake
Elise Muetterties
Justin Bowen (pictures)

We will try to use this blog for each mission trip that we take. Everyone seems to have been really encouraged by the updates. We were happy to supply them!

See you next year...Hopefully you will be with us!

On the road again...

Today we hit the road. You probably knew that from the post that you likely just read. We are not sure if we will have internet access for the remaining days of the trip but we will do our best to post something in the next couple days. Everyone is pretty tired but in good spirits. We will be leaving Immanuel Mission at around 11:00 am and head to our various recreational endeavors. Laura White signed up to go shopping but regrets her decision. Emily Updegraff is going to the Grand Canyon and is anxiously anticipating viewing the gaping hole that God created. Thank you for praying for us and for leaving comments. We miss you guys too!

Thursdays big PIZZA NIGHT!

Hi everyone! This is Angela Blake, Christina Burke, and Meghan Marell. First off, thank you for everyone who has been praying for us! God has been blessing us in many ways. Tonight was the big pizza night where everyone was invited to eat pizza, watch our skits, watch us bust some moves with our dance, and just hung out with the local navajo people. The people who came were people from our work sites, kids clubs, and anyone else who wanted to come! The gym and play ground was filled smiles and kids. So pizza night started at 6:30 and lots of people came in around 5ish... they really wanted that pizza. we didn't get any haha. Everyone sat down on the bleachers and the skits began! We started out with the skit "Stomp," which was directed by Ryan Weber. The stomp crew improved a lot since wednesday night and blew the navajo out of Sweet Water. After stomp we had the wonderful repeat skit of "Creation," which was directed by Dan Bowen and Tony Santoro. The whole message about creation was just sharing what God created- like the moon, stars animals, water, adam and eve... and everything else. Next up we had "Sin Struggle" which was directed by Justin Bowen and Jason Hicks... It was an intense drama that showed how sin can take over someones life and how Satan can get a hold of it. Thanks to Jesus he came into the picture and saved these people from sin. And finally we did the dance! It went really well surprisingly because all of us couldn't stop laughing during it. The Navajo people loved it! After all of that we gave all the basketball kids awards for their hard work and we also gave them brand new basketballs! After our last day of hard work we said our goodbyes to the Navajo and we are looking forward to our recreation activities tomorrow...We love you guys and we thank you again for your prayers!

Day Four: A Day FOR Fun and Festivities

Well folks, our time on the Reservation is almost complete. Tonight we will have our Pizza Night, which is always a treat. All of the families that we have been ministering to throughout the week are invited to the mission for dinner and to check out our dramas. John Bloom will be sharing the Gospel as well. We are excited to see what God has in store. We completed our work projects with speed and valor. Ok. Perhaps those words were a bit of an exaggeration, but nonetheless, the work portion of our trip is complete. Basketball camp ended today as well. We had about 20 campers in and out of the camp throughout its duration. Jerry Nininger coached the camp and led the staff and campers through a regiment of drills, scrimmages, and games that virtually killed all parties involved. The campers and staff really worked hard this week and should be commended on their efforts. Maybe I'm a bit biased? Ashley Clark made it safely last night as our final mystery guest. People wept with joy and embraced one another in jubilation. She bought her plane ticket last Friday after watching the group leave from the church. The Navajo families have been really welcoming to all of us and even had a few of the kids club groups over for dinner last night. The groups ate fry bread and again danced with jubilation. Everyone was pleased. This morning Ryan Weber and Jason Moog were again asked to slaughter a sheep (a goat actually) at their kids club site. They were excited to be able to participate in such a unique cultural experience. Ryan may even make a hat out of the fur. The kitchen crew and hospitality teams really stepped it up this year. Not that they were bad last year but they were quite the team this year. Dean DeBlasio, Christina Burke, Lisa Richardson, and Julia Johnson have anchored the kitchen staff. They have cooked food that rivals Emeril himself. We miss everyone and cannot wait to share more stories and pictures with you. I am glad that you have enjoyed all of the pictures that Justin Bowen has taken. Tomorrow we will leave the Reservation and head to Flagstaff. On our way we will split up and participate in various recreational activities. Our options include visiting the Grand Canyon, the Slot Caves, Slide Rock in Sedona, or shopping and visiting boutiques in Flagstaff (Tim can't wait to buy some new nicknacks).

my first blog. title: wednesday. subject: it happened.

hey readers. it's sarah. this trip has been amazing so far. last night we spent devo's (devotionals for all you non-fluent in christianese) underneath the open sky of the reservation in the midst of an incredible lightening and thunder storm. we all flew kites with metal keys attached to the end and played this game called "who will be the next ben franklin?".

just kidding. we were all very safe and away from the lightening. we actually opened up the time with stories about how the Lord has been moving in the midst of our work projects and kids camp. it's has been two days and already lives are being changed. how awesome is our God? one story in paticular was about a medicine man (navajo spiritual leader who practice healing rituals and summoning spirits etc..) who for years would not have anything to do with Christ. and just yesterday he was at a kids club asking questions and showing a huge interest in understanding how to accept Christ. CRAZY!

after stories we worshipped through music with the incredible view of God's power in the lightening storm and ended the time with proclaiming outloud His majesty through definitions of who He is. it was awesome. as we ended the night, each of us grabbed a piece of tanbark (that's what we sleep on) and brought it inside to the gym. there was a bbq set up and we were asked to think of one thing in our lives that is seperating us from God. after an inspiring testimony/talk from Ryan Weber we were given the opportunity to throw our tanbark into the bbq. each piece was burned in the fire as we prayed and released those things. a very powerful activity. we topped the night off with rootbeer floats and prayer partners. who could ask for more? (i was kidding about sleeping on tanbark. it's actually more like a soft red dirt..)

so that brings us to today. wednesday. which is not in my title or subject. so i will leave you with this.

wednesday is going well thus far. it has not yet fully happened. but what has happened has been good. i'm on the hospitality team and we cleaned showers and toilets and moppped our red dirt floor. it was glorious. its amazing that in the midst of God's presence and power any job seems like the best job ever. even if it means cleaning up after gross boys.

ok. i'm out. love you guys.

p.s. if darlie is reading... chan is missing you. only 725 1/2 days to go.

Day Two (Creatively Titled)

Yesterday Nick Breitbart shared with you all some of the day's highlights. Hopefully you enjoyed the pictures and stories. Today was the second day of our work projects. The weather has been pretty good. I would estimate (and I am no meteorologist) that it was 90 degrees today. Moving on. One work group is assembling an autobody shop on the mission compound that will one day serve as a vocational school (the picture with the large metal structure from yesterday's post). Another work crew is at the Chee's house (Ryan Weber & Tyler Conley pictured).
They built a fence, hiked, and rolled in the dirt. They enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Basketball camp has been an adventure as usual. Steve Collard's team is busily laying insulation at a Navajo family's home (group picture) The rest of the teams are working hard and seem to be encouraged by what they have accomplished.
There are 20 kids total and they are keeping the basketball staff on their toes.
God has really taken care of us during our time here. The group has meshed really well together and the first-timers have really adapted well. The team is younger than the teams we have taken here the past couple years, but nonetheless we have been able to serve well. Everyone has enjoyed hearing all of your blog comments so keep them coming. On a personal note, Melissa "Is Pregnant" Bowen is staying in an air-conditioned villa that is the envy of all who enter it. Needless to say, not all of us are suffering for the Lord.

First day of work projects

Today was the first day of work projects and things got off to a great start. We have four groups working off-site among different Navajo families and five groups working on-site at Immanuel Mission. Our jobs range from pulling weeds to painting, from destroying buildings to putting them up. We will be working on these projects for the next three days and will hopefully make a lasting impact not only with the work we do but with the relationships we are forming.

Arizona has some of the most amazing weather that we have ever seen. We worked all morning in the blazing heat but thankfully the Lord cooled us off with afternoon showers. The cloud formations are unreal and have taken the breath of most of us on the trip. God's creative beuaty is clearly seen on the reservation.

Today was also the first day of Kids Club. Kids Club is a ministry were members of the team are split up into teams (groups of 5-6) and dispersed throughout the reservation to various Navajo families. Navajo culture places a huge importance on children and we use the avenue of kids club to reach out to the whole family. During our time with the family we eat snacks, make crafts and share Bible stories with the kids. Tonight we shared the story of David and Goliath and the awesome truth that God is our helper and strength. Tomorrow marks day two of the work pro and we will fill you in on the adventures to come.
Also Natalie Moog would like to wish Jim Foster a big happy birthday and to let him know that herself and Jason are praying for his surgery.

WE'RE HERE!!!

Sorry for the lack of updates folks. Actually, I (Dan) just got here and will now be able to be a bit more prompt with the blog updates. It has been great to read all of your comments and I will give everyone your updates tonight. The whole group is together now (save a few mystery guests that will be showing up throughout the week) with Jake Siewert, Matt and Jenna Pine, Melissa and Dan Bowen (Me!) arriving safely by plane today. Farmington, New Mexico is a wild place to fly into.

Today the group went to a place called the Green Valley for a Sunday communion service. Everyone enjoyed the experience. It is a really great way to begin our time on the Reservation. Tomorrow we will break in to various work teams and will split up throughout the surrounding areas to do various jobs for local people. We will also be running a basketball camp at the school, where kids will come and stay the night for three nights and do Bible studies, play basketball, and have fun. At night we will also be running kids clubs at various people homes. 17 in all.
Pray that we serve the Navajo people welll and that new bonds are made. The group has been really positive so far and everyone has been getting along really well. We have a fairly young team compared to year's past so it is good that things have started off on the right foot.

Thank you for reading this and for thinking about us. We miss you all! But really, you should just come with us next year. It's way better than reading a blog!

Another Day, Another Drive

Kingman was splendid as usual. After our morning Cracker Barrel run, we hit the road again. We excpect to be at Immanuel Mission at about 8pm tonight (though we made it their earlier last year!). Thank you to everyone that has been praying for us and left us comments. It is fun to read what everyone has been saying and hopefully this blog has been a nice thing for you all to read (especially all of you parents out there!). Everyone is doing great and we are all anxiously anticipating our arrival at the mission. It's hard not to have an enjoyable ride when you are with close to 100 of your friends in cars that are barely off the lot. Of the life we lead!

And We're Off!

Today is the day. The Caravan (15 cars in all!) left VBC at 6:40 this morning. Everyone showed up bright and early (4:30am) and did the last minute sign-ups and preparations before hitting the road. Actually someone slept in and showed up at 6:30 but we won't name her, as to not embarrass her! The drive down was smooth and uneventful. As you can see, we represented the proud nation of Canada on the way. Spencer Colvin and Peter Rapine attached the flag to the Durango at VBC this morning, and contrary to popular predictions, the flag made it all the way to Kingman! Speaking of Kingman, we got here at 7:15pm. The drive was great and we made it safely without a hitch. Well, technically some of the cars have hitches but they were built that way and caused no problems en route. Borax, one of our favorite stops along the way, was unseasonably mild (only 100 degrees or so) and was a nice refuge for our lunch stop. Tony and Nick can be seen basking in the majestic beauty of Borax's pristine wilderness. We will be spending the night in Kingman and will hit the road early tomorrow morning. Thank you for praying for us! We love you guys and miss you all!

Training & More Training

This week, as we prepare to leave for Arizona, we are attending training sessions where we get to know each other better, practice our dramas, worship and get ready for the trip. I wanted to let you all know that you can leave comments, prayer requests, thoughts, or words of encouragement by clicking on the "comments" button at the bottom of each post. This will be a great way of staying in contact while we are on the Reservation. Also, try to come Wednesday night at 9pm so that you can see our drama presentations before we head out. Until next time!