Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving Robert and I cooked up a fabulous turkey (he said he thought it was out best one ever), his best mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, dressing, etc. More importantly we gave thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ in our lives. He has truly blessed us with 3 amazing kids, Wayne's girlfriend Jamie and Mom, Cathy; an incredible family. I so missed my parents who were suppose to come down from the central valley but were unable to make it.

Robert and I have been so blessed in our lives as you can see.

My 45Th birthday was the week before Thanksgiving and Robert gave me at my surprise party the best gift he has ever given me. 23 years ago we asked for a song to be sang at our wedding and were told the night before that she could not do it. So for my birthday Robert sang it to me! (it is called "without your love") It was the sweetest most heart felt gift, I was overwhelmed. He is an amazing man, I love him so much and thank God daily for him.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

HAIKU

For the last couple of weeks something inside of me has been saying "haiku". I don't know why. I didn't even know what a haiku was. So I looked it up. A haiku is an un-rhyming verse form, conveying a complete image or feeling in three lines of syllables, and are usually about nature or natural things.

OK, now what? What am I supposed to do now. So today I asked KC about it and she said she likes sonnets better. We looked up some of Shakespeare's sonnets. For the first time I really read them. Holy cow are they awesome. So I started thinking, maybe I should try and write one. But "haiku, haiku" kept running through my head. So as I was watching TV, the following words kept running through my head.

"The sun sure does shine
look at the sky getting black
it's starting to rain"

So that's it. what do you think?

Robert

OK!

So it's been a couple of weeks since we went to Arizona. I think I have my thoughts together.


I get back from this trip each time and know this is where God wants me and my family. To look around and see a once proud people living the way they do breaks my heart. My head says what difference can you make? What difference can 10 people make? What difference can 21 people make? The answer? I don't know. How is that for an answer?


I know, I know. I really don't know what can be done for the thousands of people struggling just to survive. Look, we worked on a house for a guy named Ricky. Pretty soon he will be in a house instead of sleeping in a tent in the back "yard".(it's just dirt) I know it will make a difference for him. It will also give us the opportunity to share Christ with the entire family. After all isn't that the point?


Our government could throw money at the situation and we know all that would happen is more drugs and alcohol. What they need is Jesus. It sounds simple but the reality is the real problem is the spiritual darkness on the Reservation. And for the few people I can spend time with and show Jesus to, that is how I can make a difference. show them the love of Christ through my actions


1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.


Robert

Calling...

So as the days pass, and the trip is behind us-the permanent move ahead, I have been very reflective about this trip. So many blessings in each persons life who went.


I have had someone tell me that she needed to see for herself why God was calling us there when there is so much to do where we are. And now, she understands and sees where God can use her there as well, in constant prayer. Thank you Wendy.




One team member has decided to start collecting items on ARM's wish list (http://www.azrez.com/) and sort and store and drive them to AZ herself. She is making flyer's to hand out to each bible study in our church to ask for their help. Thank you Joell.




An amazing couple who recently moved from our church to Phoenix joined us and now plan on getting involved with ARM on their own! As well as offering their home to us when we move if we ever need to get away. Thank you Dick and Lee.





Shelby is more convicted than ever that God needs her and can use her there. It also looks like her best friend Sarah will be spending summers (and any extra time she can convince her parents of) with us. - Sorry Rob and Jeanne:) Thank you Shelby and Sarah.




Kathryn, still undecided but said these words to Robert and I our last night there, "I think I understand why you need to come here." Needless to say I cried. Thank you God.





We were joined by two women from Pennsylvania who were there checking things out for their congregation and making a video to take home and show. They asked us (Robert, Mike, Anthony and myself) to speak about our experiences there and why we go in their video. Thank you Anthony, Mike, Sue and Sandy.




Many other stories similar to these happen on a trip like this. I have been blessed by this team and the giving of their time and hearts. I continue to pray that God will stir them to respond to Him, in whatever manner that is. Not everyone is called to go, but we all are called to serve Him in ways we never imagined. Serving a warm meal to someone who is hungry, praying for those hurting, smiling at a stranger living on the streets, a change in our hearts, what is God calling you to do for His Kingdom?


Isaiah 61:1
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners..."



Liz

KC's day at the Youth Home

Here is a small snapshot from Kathryn's viewpoint when our group went to the Youth Home on the reservation. This is where kids are sent who are removed from their homes either temporarily or permanently.

"Hello everyone,
Its K.C. here and I wanted to talk about the trip my family (excluding Wayne) had just gone on to Globe, Arizona. Every time I go there, I just want to cry. Not only because of how the Apaches are treated but because I cannot fix it on my own. I was privileged to go to the children’s home on Friday the 7Th. All of the kids ran out and I wished that I could play all day with each of them, but it just was not possible. A little girl, Celeste, was swinging as high as she could and I asked if I could swing with her. At first, she did not want to talk to me, which, I understood because I do not like talking to strangers either but, she let me swing with her. I know it was not much but, it meant a lot to me that she would let me be near her. We started to swing at the same time and she would count down to when we would start and it was the cutest thing ever! She smiled when I could not stop and I got dirt everywhere, which made my day because normally, I would have called home from wherever I was so my mom could drive over to give me new clothes (she probably wouldn’t but that’s how weird I am) but it did not matter to me that my shoes were ruined and I had huge ants crawling all over me or that I was sweating and dirt was sticking everywhere. All that mattered was that Celeste and I were having fun.
After we swung backwards, forwards, at the same time, at different times, on different swings for what seemed like an eternity, Celeste wanted to look for her friend. I thought that this was the end of our fun and I had a great time but still, I wish I could do more. Then, she got up and looked at me and said, “We need to look either on the bus or in her room. Where do you think?” I was so happy that I was included and I ran with her to the bus. We went inside and saw her friend building with legos trying to reach the top of the bus. Now, I have played with legos about a million times in my life, but I have never seen a more beautiful tower before, ever. A little boy was trying to put legos on top of the tower but could not reach it, so he just kept building support on the bottom and still was excited about it. Right when we reached the top of the bus, (with the help of standing on chairs) it was time to go. I could not believe it. I didn’t want to go. The swings were empty, there was a whole box full of legos, there was so much more time in the day, in the week, in the year that could be spent with these children, but I couldn’t do it. I had to go. And that was the worst part of the trip: saying bye."

First Day...

Our amazing team of 21 did a great job working together, laughing together and crying together. The first day we had orientation and then half of us went on the bus and the other half to a work site on the reservation. I was suppose to be on the work site but at the last minute got shifted to the bus. (God blessed me because the next day when the other half visited the youth home (where I was to go), I was in bed with a pretty nasty flu.) We picked up several kids on the way and stopped at a park for some worship time, a story about Joseph and forgiveness, and then playtime! There was a sweet girl, very shy who wanted to skate so I asked her if I could help her put her skates on. Naomi and I became fast friends after that! She asked me to help her and hold her hand while she skated on the basketball court covered in trash and broken glass, how could I resist! She has all of about 6 teeth and the most beautiful smile I have seen. Our time there is so short, I long for the time when we are there everyday with Naomi and the other kids. When we are there with the adults sharing our lives and Jesus with them, when we are there...

Home again

I just want to say Arizona was awesome.

We spent a lot of time working on two houses. One was for an Apache man who is living in the back yard. I posted about it the other day, I just wanted you to see where he is living. It really breaks my heart when I see something like this. The good news is he will be in a house very very soon. Liz and I are trying to figure out a way to be there for the dedication. What a great day that will be.


The other house was an existing house that is being upgraded. The family will also be moving in soon. It's a two bedroom house with a new bathroom and kitchen. It feels good to know they will be in a home soon.



I haven't mentioned the kids on the bus or at the "Youth Home" because I don't know where to start. I went to the youth home on Friday and played basketball with a couple of Apache kids. I don't know who had a better time me or them, probably me. KC spent her time with the younger kids and came back almost in tears because she couldn't spend more time with them. It truly was an amazing time.



Liz went on the bus Thursday so I will let her tell you about that later.

When I first sat down to write tonight I was going to tell you about what happened on the airplane when we landed at John Wayne airport. But I think I'll save that for another time. Suffice it to say I didn't punch him in the face like I wanted to. He deserved it, but I didn't do it. If you are really interested you can call me or wait a couple of days and I will write about it.

Robert

Arizona

Every time I come to Arizona I am heartbroken. I see the poverty, the hopelessness and anger and I know I am supposed to be here.

This time we were able to work on a house for a man named Ricky. As you can see by the picture it is almost finished. Some paint, a floor, some cabinets and a toilet and Ricky will have a home. And not a minute too soon. You see he is living in a tent in the back "yard" of his sisters house. He can't live inside because she already has her entire family inside. It isn't uncommon to have 20 people in a house on the Reservation. His tent is under a small lean-to. Last night it was around 40 degrees.

Please pray for Ricky. I know I will.

Every time I come to Arizona I am heartbroken. I know I am supposed to be here.

Robert

AZ Trip!

As we prepare to GO! please keep our team in your prayers. Robert, Liz, Kathryn, Shelby, Mike, Joell, Wendy, Gypsy, Rob, Jeanne, Sarah, Emily, Anthony, Anthony Jr., Raymond, Chris, Susan, Barb, Ira, Dick, and Lee.

We will be serving Nov 6-9Th with ARM (http://www.azrez.org/.). Watch our blog for updates. Also check out Knott Avenues GO Team website http://kaccgoteams.blogspot.com/ for team updates. We are so grateful for your prayers and partnership with us!