Up at O'Dark Thirty

This morning, we woke up early to go out to the Rehoboth Cemetery to see the sunrise with Stanley Jim, a Navajo who works with Home Missions. It seemed like a good idea to get up and walk on the frozen solid deep red clay ruts in 16 degree temps in the dark through the frost-covered sage bushes and go up to a cemetery in the dark. It was unforgettable! We sat on the top of Resurrection Rock and listened intently as Stanley told us stories of the people and shared with us his own story of coming to know Jesus. He came back and had breakfast with us and we prayed for one another. It was such a blessing for all of us!

The sun rose over the mountain. The little buildings on the top are hogans where the Navajo used to live. Now they are used only for ceremonial purposes.

After breakfast, I helped out with a couple of math classes, Scott helped with history class, and Betsy worked in the kindergarten. John cleaned up the paint mess, while the other guys set up for chapel. We met before chapel and put our last thoughts together on what we wanted to say. The theme of the week was about purpose and we wanted to talk about rejection and how that gets in the way of our purpose. Betsy did an introduction and started with prayer.

Scott talked a little about his own rejections and John preached about some notable Michigan people (Thomas Edison & Michael Phelps). I read Psalm 53. Jeremiah and Eric led worship with some great music.

In the afternoon, we helped at the Church Rock Academy after school program, and after supper, we went to see the Rehoboth Middle School Choir Concert, so it was another full day. Tomorrow, we are heading to Zuni. Keep us in your prayers!