Wow! Sunday was our first full day on the reservation, and it turned out to be a day that answered many of our prayers and exceeded all of our expectations! We joined Window Rock Christian Reformed Church for worship at 10:00 a.m. Team members who attended the trip last year were able to reconnect with some familiar faces (including Rev. Will & Sue Kempkes) and the entire group was blessed with the opportunity to meet many new people. Several of our team members led the church in singing during worship, and we were privileged to have the Navajo people lead us in singing several hymns in Navajo.
The Navajo people were very welcoming to us and invited our group to join them for a potluck lunch at the church. Some of the girls on our team even had the chance to help make the fry bread for the Navajo tacos. We had the chance to eat with the Navajo people and shared some great conversations. We also invited many of our new friends to join us for an evening meal at our home.
After lunch, we went to the see Window Rock – an incredible rock formation that the capital of the Navajo Nation is named after. Later in the afternoon, we traveled 30 miles to Ganado to visit the historic Hubbell Trading Post, a historic Indian trading post that is now a National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. The trading post still sells goods, jewelry, rugs and other crafts made by native tribes, including the Navajo.
Our prayers were answered Sunday evening when more than 25 guests joined us for a time of fellowship and authentic Mexican food (including mole chicken, enchiladas, rice, black beans) prepared by our friend Barbara. Our guests included some amazing Navajo people – including the Harrison family who presented us with a beautiful carving as a “thank you” for our help.
We had nearly 50 people in our house – eating, sharing stories, playing games, laughing and sharing time in fellowship. Barbara also showed us some handmade beaded necklaces and gave us the chance to buy some of her work. We even sang happy birthday (in Navajo and in English) to celebrate the many recent/upcoming birthdays in the group, including Janelle, Jessica, Sydney, Greg and several of our Navajo friends. Two of the Harrison boys also sang the Navajo pledge with the group which was wonderful. There was so much emotion and love in the house – it was truly a blessing! Despite the poverty and oppression that exists here, the Navajo people are full of love and very welcoming to our team. We can all feel God’s presence here with us and are looking forward to what He has in store for the rest of the week.
--Allison Lycke
1 comment:
Julie Wiemann said...
This morning I was reading Janelle's post on her facebook and now reading yours I think it's so awesome to see how your trip lines up with the 600 people at PRC who are going through "40 Days of Love" and truly living out Jesus command "love one another, as I have loved you". You are all actively engaged this moment in loving those whom you are serving with, and those whom you are serving. As God commands. Bless you!!! JULIE
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