by Janie Geibelhaus, EM Summer Staff on the Navajo Reservation
Post written earlier this summer!
We loved having two mission trip teams this week: Holy Cross/ Mountain Trail from Colorado and First Presbyterian from South Carolina. They combined to create a lively and servant-hearted dynamic. Throughout the week, we got to partner with House of Joy Church in Black Mesa and with the families in the community to work on a total of six projects. After the full days and tar-stained pants, the 60+ of us were blessed to attend one of the community's tent revivals.
When I first arrived on the reservation, I kept hearing "tent revival" being thrown around in conversations. Soon enough, we realized that a "tent revival" is a church service held in a circus-like tent, and the tent made its way to House of Joy's front lawn, where Grace, Andrew, and I were immersed in the tent revival environment. The tent moves around to different locations for the whole summer. In speaking to J.R. (the House of Joy Pastor and EM Community Partner), I learned that the tent environment seems more welcoming for many Navajo. He said that while some feel strangely about going to church, they are usually more willing to go to a tent revival. From there, they may even start going to church regularly.
This week, the revival was held around an hour away from House of Joy, so J.R., Mary Lou, Al, his sons, and the awesome service teams all piled into vans and headed to the service. We enjoyed worshipping all together, making Navajo tacos, and relishing one very special last moment.
After we packed up to leave, a few of the boys from the community and a few boys from the visiting service team picked up a football, made intermingled teams, and decided to share in a beautiful football game. With the sun setting behind the tent, the boys sprinted in the orange dirt, completely free from the cares of the world. In a moment, the full vision of this week's glory came to life: the people living on the reservation and the people visiting, joining together and working together.
We saw this throughout the whole week. While working on Pearl's home, Pearl and her boyfriend were there to work. While working on Al's house, Al was there to work and to lead. Working together was a beautiful theme of this trip. We focused on Philippians 2: 1-2: "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind..." We saw further examples of how God loves unity in Spirit. We worked together as people from different environments, upbringings, and customs. We got to practice unity in our teams, and also with the community.
So, of course, one of our last moments of the trip was this picture of unity. We bonded over God's word, fry-bread, and the great American sport of football. And while we all left tired, we had smiles on our faces and new friendships in our hearts. The theme of unity felt somehow more solidified and as we gazed at the football flying into the lowering sun, relaxing into the fact that we all really are the same despite our differences. Thank you Jesus for this beautiful moment.
LEARN MORE | 2017 Mission Trips to the Navajo Reservation
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