Coming Home

The team just arrived on California soil and will be back at VBC this evening around 10pm. Come to the church to welcome the team home! Sarah and Allison just sent these pictures of the creatures they smuggled across our border. Kristi sent a pic as well.

Sedona to Kingman!

The group arrived in Kingman around 6:00 tonight. They spent the first part of the day in Sedona, where they did baptisms and had some recreation time together. Enjoy these pictures from today.

QUICK CATCH UP. . .

Hello my fellow blog followers. Sorry for not updating the blog since Tuesday because we have been extremely busy!!! So since our last post we have finished up our work projects on the mission and off the mission. Wednesday we put the finishing touches on the projects and went to our Navajo families houses for the last time and invited them to the pizza party last night (thurs.)

On thurday we finished our projects by noon and started preparing for the pizza party later that night. We were all anxious to preform our dramas and interact with the Navajo for our last night serving them. This night was a great success!!!! We had a huge turnout from the community that came to our party. The dramas were preformed perfectly and really showed the message of Jesus in an interesting way. Jerry (one of the mission staff) gave a gospel message while our very own Cody used his amazing drawing skills to give a visual on what Jerry was talking about. We ended our night by saying our goodbyes to our Navajo families and got all their contact info. This was an epic night that God provided for us to further his kingdom.

Earier today we left the mission and headed to our recreation options. As I type right now we our in a church in Sedona that overlooks the beautiful red rocks (but its night so I cannot see anything). Our agenda for tomorrow is we will head to Grasshopper Point where we will perform baptisms and have our morning devo time. We will then head back to Kingman and have our last night together as a team.

We will try to update or send pictures to Dan and he will update it because of a lack of Internet connections.

Pics to follow. . .

On the Road Again

Hello everyone. Here are a few pictures to tide you over. The team was not able to update the blog the last couple days but they sent me some pics today (Allison and Charlie). Everything went really well and tonight they will stay in Flagstaff after a day in the Grand Canyon and Sedona. Check back tomorrow for more.

A Look at Today by Two of Our Own

YAH AH TAY!

So today was a great day! God blessed us with nice cool weather. Many of our offsite projects consist of building and painting things. The basketball staff and some of the Navajo had a very competitive but God-focused basketball game after lunch. Right now we’re having free time and some people are showering, playing basketball, and taking a nice nap. Anyway we’re getting ready for dinner and after dinner we’ll all be heading to our kids club sites. By the way - this is Patrick Colin Espiritu and sitting to my right is the amazing Rachel Howden. As I am typing right now she is making me a bracelet. This morning, I and five other people, gave a devotional on what focusing on God looks like and how we can have a heart that thrives for the Lord. Kirsten Kline supplied a testimony that a lot of other people found encouraging! The blog admin team is booting me off because I am typing too much! But I hope everyone is doing well in CALIFORNIA!!! Can’t wait to come home! Miss you and love you guys!

Greetings Valley Bible community! God is so good. Thus far the trip has been absolutely incredible. God’s love has been poured over all of us and the blessings are countless. With servants’ hearts, we are all giving up ourselves in many ways, hot and tired we press on. As we encounter personal struggles, we continue to learn and grow, seeking God despite any physical and emotional circumstances. (“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” James 1:12.) For God works greatly through out pain and difficulties. I’m so amazed by the work God is doing in his children here in Arizona. Everywhere I look I see the Spirit moving and there is nothing more exciting and encouraging to me than that. Continually smiling down on his people, God has provided us with more and more testimonies that acknowledge His awesome power. He has healed many of us physically and emotionally, forever holding true to His promises. Thank you so much for all your prayers and please continue to pray for all of us here, our journey, and the Navajo.

Attention James Foster – Hey Pop! Thinking of you today – wanted to wish you a very, very happy birthday! We are Soooo glad that you were born. “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Phil 1:3). Bless you, Dad.

FOR THE WIFE

Hi My Love,

I am having an incredible trip. It has been great getting to know the students, leaders and the Navajo families that we have been working with. Last night we went to the Clark family home and had a time of fellowship and bible study. I was able to share the story of how God’s leading brought me on the trip at the last minute.. it was great. God is definitely at work in my life through this opportunity.

I miss you so much. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday night when we return.

Hi Jackson! Hi Helena! I miss you too! I hope you are all having a great week and have a great time at Grandpa Matt’s and Grandma Kris. Jackson, I have been taking good notes and pictures every day. You are going to love to hear about the trip when I get home.

Hugs, kisses and my Love to everyone!

Love,

Dave

Working Day One...

Hey Everyone!

Today is July 20th, and the first day of our work crews. I'm painting a house with a couple of people, it's pretty fun. The family we painted for was great; they told us this fantastic story of spitting guard llamas... random I know! But today was great, no major injuries sustained! I hope all you don't miss us too much!

Love you all!

Aspen

Candice Harvey:

Chello madre! just letting you know that i am still alive and well. Ive been putting sunscreen on everyday so I'm perfectly fine. its been a lot of fun, and i got to play with puppies today and met a lama who spits poisonous acid. its been great. Say hi to lulu for me and I'll see you on Sunday or whenever we get back.

love you,

Nicole

Tonight was the first time we met our at our kid club sites. We are all amped to see what God will do with these families. Tonight's' crafts surrounded David and the Lions den. On our way home from kids club we had an amazing light show by God in the form of lightning.

For the Wives

SPECIAL HUSBANDS ONLY POST. . .

To my honey,

I miss you. I love you. And I will see you soon I’m having a great time up here.

Lots of hugs and kisses to my grandkids!

Love your honey,

Kaleo

____________________________________________________________________

Hi Becky,

I cannot tell you HOW MUCH I am missing you. Mission trips are a lot easier when you are along; particularly the sleeping. You cannot believe the snoring. Our trip has been totally amazing. The Navajo are so gentle and humble. We could all be better Christian if we learned a few of their ways. Can hardly wait to share all the stories.

Love,

Mark

Sunday Sunday Sunday. . .

our day started off this morning with a wonderful breakfast! shortly after we loaded up and drove off to a place called Green Valley. it is a beautiful sight where God's majesty and creation are clearly displayed. there we had an amazing time of devotions, worship, and communion. the fellowship and setting couldn't have been better. on the way back we did have a few technical difficulties (mini vans stuck in the sand, one of which, 4 girls had to push out) but all turned out alright. our day then proceded with lunch, drama practice, free time, dinner and a hike. the hike was to the top of a mesa where we watched the sunset. it was yet another beautiful sight! today 6 more of our team members drove 14 hours straight to meet up with us at the mission. we are having such a great time getting to know all of the wonderful people God has placed on this trip with us. we greatly appreciate your prayers, they have been SO effective already!! we can't wait to be assigned our work crews and kids club teams tomorrow and begin serving the Navajo people.

authors note: we would try to be wittier, however, we are tired, sweaty, and in great need of a shower. PS: HI MOM!! (love, Rachel and Kortney)

UPDATE: The Late Group

A group of 6 students and leaders (Jason Hicks, Kaitlin Sill, Chad Clelland, Charlie Meng, Chantal Clark and Becca Howden) left Pleasanton last night at midnight and headed to the Rez. They had various prior obligations that held them back from the rest of the group but they made it to Kingman at 8am, had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and should be at Immanual Mission around 6pm. Pray for them!

UPDATE of the UPDATE:
The "late group" made it to Flagstaff at noon and had lunch and should be to the mission around dinner.