Friday, July 15, 2011
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Thursday, July 23, 2009
2009 (LAST YEAR) SHARING
"Navajo Week", by Robert Morales
The trip to the Navajo nation was an amazing, awesome week that I
can't help but wish it was longer but that is not nearly enough to
describe the trip. The purpose of the trip was to host a Vacation
Bible School (VBS) for the Navajo people so that they could learn
about who Jesus is and God's love for them with prayers that they
would love Jesus back and accept Christ knowing that he forgives you
for the bad things we do because we do bad things and that has
separated us from God.
My main role in the VBS was to run the Olympic games for the
elementary school children. I had to come up with the games
we would play each day and make sure that all the kids had fun.
Before playing the games, the kids were assigned to one of
twelve people (others who went on the trip) who were their family
leaders. These leaders were the ones would be with the kids
throughout the week wherever they had to go such as the place
where the Olympic games were held. The theme for the VBS was
the early church that existed in Rome after Jesus's crucifixion.
The other places the kids went to besides the Olympic games
were a shop where they could spend coins that they earned
throughout the week to get drums, bracelets, and other stuff and
they would also go to the chapel learning about the apostle,
Paul, and what he had to say about Jesus to this guy who would
persecute Christians. The guy Paul was talking to was a guy
named Brutus.
On the second day and the days after that, all the kids would
gather around this area to find out the news of the day since
there were no radios or tvs back then in Rome and a drama
would happen with Brutus and others. On one of the days,
Brutus arrested me for being a Christian since I wouldn't say
that Caesar was lord of lords. When he was telling me to say it,
it was awesome hearing all the kids shouting, "Don't say it,
don't say it." Then all the kids put their coins together to buy
my freedom.
When the VBS would end each day, we would take the kids
back to their houses in vans where like 15 kids would squeeze in.
I went in the vans with the kids on the first and last day of the
week of the VBS. When I was on the van the second time, I
bonded with a little girl named Felicia who was really nice and
funny. I later learned that she had accepted Christ which
brightened my day.
After all the kids were taken home, we had the rest of the
day to prepare for the next day, hang out with each other,
and we would all meet up in a room for the pastor to give
a message. Each message was great such as not living a
mediocre Christian life, to serve out of love, and to pursue
God earnestly. On Wednesday night though, we had a
fun talent night where we got to do things such as juggling
and skits.
Each day, there was also a memory verse to memorize
which was fun because we had to know all five to go to the
Watering Hole for a good time where he roasted marsh-
mallows, sang worship songs, and shared how the week
went. We also had a quiet time each day to just spend time
with God which was really helpful in tackling the day.
The people who went with me on this trip were so awesome
too. Preston was an excellent person to work with in the
drama (he was Brutus) and he is so hilarious. The skit he did
would prove that statement. His skit was about Christian
stereotypes but credit must also go to Dannie, Kevin, and
Peggy who also made the skit great.
I learned a new game from the people from California who
went on the trip called Ultimate Ninja. The trip was really
awesome and I ask that everyone who reads this prays for
the Navajo people that they come to Christ, that although
we are only there for one week of the year, that they not stray
away from Jesus in that other time we're not there, and
that Jesus be with them since it's not easy to be follow God
and be a Navajo at the same time and being Christian is
already difficult for all of us in this world.
The trip to the Navajo nation was an amazing, awesome week that I
can't help but wish it was longer but that is not nearly enough to
describe the trip. The purpose of the trip was to host a Vacation
Bible School (VBS) for the Navajo people so that they could learn
about who Jesus is and God's love for them with prayers that they
would love Jesus back and accept Christ knowing that he forgives you
for the bad things we do because we do bad things and that has
separated us from God.
My main role in the VBS was to run the Olympic games for the
elementary school children. I had to come up with the games
we would play each day and make sure that all the kids had fun.
Before playing the games, the kids were assigned to one of
twelve people (others who went on the trip) who were their family
leaders. These leaders were the ones would be with the kids
throughout the week wherever they had to go such as the place
where the Olympic games were held. The theme for the VBS was
the early church that existed in Rome after Jesus's crucifixion.
The other places the kids went to besides the Olympic games
were a shop where they could spend coins that they earned
throughout the week to get drums, bracelets, and other stuff and
they would also go to the chapel learning about the apostle,
Paul, and what he had to say about Jesus to this guy who would
persecute Christians. The guy Paul was talking to was a guy
named Brutus.
On the second day and the days after that, all the kids would
gather around this area to find out the news of the day since
there were no radios or tvs back then in Rome and a drama
would happen with Brutus and others. On one of the days,
Brutus arrested me for being a Christian since I wouldn't say
that Caesar was lord of lords. When he was telling me to say it,
it was awesome hearing all the kids shouting, "Don't say it,
don't say it." Then all the kids put their coins together to buy
my freedom.
When the VBS would end each day, we would take the kids
back to their houses in vans where like 15 kids would squeeze in.
I went in the vans with the kids on the first and last day of the
week of the VBS. When I was on the van the second time, I
bonded with a little girl named Felicia who was really nice and
funny. I later learned that she had accepted Christ which
brightened my day.
After all the kids were taken home, we had the rest of the
day to prepare for the next day, hang out with each other,
and we would all meet up in a room for the pastor to give
a message. Each message was great such as not living a
mediocre Christian life, to serve out of love, and to pursue
God earnestly. On Wednesday night though, we had a
fun talent night where we got to do things such as juggling
and skits.
Each day, there was also a memory verse to memorize
which was fun because we had to know all five to go to the
Watering Hole for a good time where he roasted marsh-
mallows, sang worship songs, and shared how the week
went. We also had a quiet time each day to just spend time
with God which was really helpful in tackling the day.
The people who went with me on this trip were so awesome
too. Preston was an excellent person to work with in the
drama (he was Brutus) and he is so hilarious. The skit he did
would prove that statement. His skit was about Christian
stereotypes but credit must also go to Dannie, Kevin, and
Peggy who also made the skit great.
I learned a new game from the people from California who
went on the trip called Ultimate Ninja. The trip was really
awesome and I ask that everyone who reads this prays for
the Navajo people that they come to Christ, that although
we are only there for one week of the year, that they not stray
away from Jesus in that other time we're not there, and
that Jesus be with them since it's not easy to be follow God
and be a Navajo at the same time and being Christian is
already difficult for all of us in this world.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Personal Reflections of Navajo Mission Team Members --------------------------------------- QUESTION: How Did The Navajo Mission Trip Impact You?
ANSWERS...
The mission trip this year has impacted me a lot. I learned a lot about myself. My life has changed so much from going on this mission trip. Not so much as the last one but, still quite a bit. I have grown relationships with the people who live there that I will never forget. I also have learned to enjoy nature and and God's creation a whole lot more. I find myself looking up at night a lot more looking at the sky. That song we learned has also given me a lot as well. The only thing I don't like about the Navajo Mission Trip is how short it is.
---
I learned a lot about stretching yourself and going
out of your "comfort zone" in relation to serving God.
I had to do a lot of things that were not very
natural to me, but as others reminded me, God would
provide whatever abilities needed for those serving
Him.
----
It's been a while since we've gotten back. The first couple days post-Navajo I had a list of things that God had taught me on the trip. But time has done something to that list, I think it has set it aside.
The night before we left St. Louis I was so scared. I didn't want to go, I kept thinking about how small and messed up I was. I wasn't a "good Christian." How could I go with the intentions of ministering to children and teaching them about Christ when I myself felt so far from him? But my mom said, "How can you think that you can mess this up? Who are you to mess up God's plan?" And so I went, and I was touched, and I was broken, and God was good. So So Good.
I came home and I was so excited to tell people about what He had done, what He had shown me. I was so small and in my smallness He was Great! I was so small He had to help me see, and when I let Him help me I grew. I was fortified by Him, I was alive again. I could feel again....
-----
hm...i'm not exactly sure what to talk about so i'll
just pretty much say what i said at the flame meeting
in which we shared.
this missions trip was unlike the other two which i
participated in. i had no idea why i went the previous
times but this time, i had more a direction: missions.
i wanted to make sure my focus wasnt on myself but
fully on the kids, in the aspect of trying to spend as
much time with them as possible and trying to get to
know/bond with the kids in my group. throughout the
week, i enjoyed the majority of the trip, but it
seemed like i didnt really "get" anything out of the
trip when i got back. instead, i focused on some of
the problems that bugged me, how much i missed the
environment/people, and was overall negative for the
trip. it wasnt until a couple of days later did i
realize my attitude was completely wrong. i had the
greatest opportunity of witnesses and leading a child
to life, and much like the stories that were told at
the vbs in jesus going after the lost sheep and much
rejoice afterwards, so should my attitude be. though
there werent hundreds of kids like i wanted, the few
that came to christ are just as good and hence, there
is much rejoice.
---
I can't even express how thankful I am for being able to go on this past year's mission trip. This was my third year going and what I learned this year is nothing like I've learned on the previous mission trips. It's amazing how much God can show you each year and how there is still so much that you can learn. I was really encouraged by our team and how everyone seemed to adjust really well and take on any challenge. The love I felt from those around me and how people really took care of me, helped me realize that I took some relationships for granted and helped me see that God has blessed me with so many loving people. I also saw God's provision on this trip through almost everything. For example, the late flight, the buses, food,etc. All I can say is God is GREAT and that nothing would have been possible without his guidance.
---
This last mission trip was very good for me. I learned how to relax but still get things done. The two years before that I got things done, but was very uptight about them. I also realized how little hardship we actually went through compared to what could have been. I received a new awareness of suffering for Christ. I also learned much about serving, all the time at home not just every once in a while. I learned how little I have to complain about and how much more I can go through or do for others before I start complaining.
---
I was speechlessly blessed on this mission trip. I was not only blessed by the incomprehensible beauty of the land(unlike last year), but also by the opportunity that I had to serve God and not myself. For the majority of my life, i have been so focused on myself and my needs. However, on this trip, God allowed me to experience altruism. I not only experienced it but i enjoyed it. it felt like a taste of the kind of heart and attitude that God wants for my life. It helped me realize God's desire for me and that i can only attain that which he desires one step at a time. I also had the opportunity to lead two young boys from my flock to the Lord. What a blessing that was! To be part God's kingdom building in that way! It was really awesome. It not only encouraged me to praise God for his unconditional love for me, it helped me realize how much i ignorantly take advantage of God's love and forget to praise him for it.
---
The trip was overall a great experience and i am so grateful that i had the privilege to go. It was definitely different from last year, but thats what makes it so great. Why on earth would God allow it to be the same each year? How else is God going to teach us NEW things about him.
---
what i really liked about the mission, as all types of things like this, i love watching the youth put their hearts in. they are willing to give up saturday nights, sunday afternoons and other random times during the week to work diligently for the trip. when we are there, they are so willing to do whatever it takes to serve. i get so blessed by seeing them serve in that capacity.
also, i learned (or was reminded) that the bible is ALIVE!!! that God's Word transcends all cultures and age groups, and that it is living and active. it was such a challenge to remember that but once it clicked it was awesome to see that God actually SPEAKS to us through the bible!! it's so awesome. to see the kids actually coming to an understanding about what the bible says was so incredible.
---
Growing up in a modern civilization with numerous buildings cluttering the land has prevented me from enjoying true nature, God's creation. The Navajo reservation was beautiful. From the rocks to the stars, it was the natural world. The Navajo people on these lands were extremely welcoming and generous, the textbooks only covers them in their perspectives, not the Navajos. The first day of VBS, I was slightly discouraged, assigned a few teenage boys and an eight-year-old girl who seemed to lack enthusiasm. Mr. Sing's voiced rang in my head, "Pray about it." Prayer is truly powerful, some things people just have to experience themselves to understand the greatness of God. And Ezekiel 11:19 the verse of the trip says that God will do the "converting", but we have to do the planting of the gospel. And it takes love, above all else, to carefully sow the seeds in the people's hearts.
---
During my second year in Navajo I learned alot about myself and the group members. I grew to love each member and really appreciated them for their unique characteristics. I also learned that I had become an adult. For the first time in my life I felt like a role model and i felt a responsibilty to lead by example. I learned that the teenagers really looked up to us and if we stayed up late then they did too- it was amazing to me how much the young adults (21+) had grown from teenagers ourselves to role models.
I also realized the impact we made in these childrens lives. Since it was my second year, i realized how much i wanted to see each child and how much i really missed them. I learned that children's love is so unconditional and they just want a friend. I hope that we were able to love them and through that show them God's love.
---
Well, if i were to say one thing that I had learned, it would be something that Mrs. Manning said to me one night while talking to Karen and I. She said that if we were to take one thing away from the trip, it would be to step out from from our boxes. These boxes were our "bubbles" or our comfort zones. To be open and tell the heart of the scriptures were what the kids needed. Helping Karen to teach Bible was a great encouragement to me. With help from Mrs. Manning, I saw that teaching wasn't just telling a simple story or reading through facts. Instead it was making that simple story come to life and make the kids able to envision it, where they could put themselves in the story as if they were just another character in the story witnessing it. When teaching children, all that is needed is to tell the story from our heart. Put ourselves in the characters' shoes and imagine every emotion and every feeling as if it happened to us. What would we do if our savior and role model was just brutally executed?? What would we do once we had denied and abandoned our greatest friend in his most vulnerable moment?? What would we say to him when we saw him once again three days later?? Just putting myself in others' shoes brings a whole new perspective on things and allows for me to be able to understand others and appreciate so much more... Realizing how stubborn i am shook me to try and be more considerate and understanding.
---
For me this trip was more challenging in a different
way. Last year, it was exhausting because of all the
planning we had to do during the week. This year
there was so many people that it was challenging
behind the scene. I loved how we were able to have
bible study groups that kept us accountable and
allowed us to encourages each other through. I loved
how we had the bible study (God's words) to encourage
us as we were doing our mission work (even though we
couldn't possibly compared ourself to the disciple).
What I gain from this experience was "to serve". This
mission trip helped me learn or rather reminded me
that it is so important to serve God's people. I took
things for granted and I realized God needed me to
serve His people and to share Him with others. That
means wherever I am I need to ask "How can I serve
God's people?". Amazing that I am now devoting my
year to a school that is very needy and I pray that I
may serve him this school, and that I may serve Him
though relationships with my friends, and my family.
That is what I got out of the mission trip and how it
snowballed! Praise God!
---
Before I went on the Navajo Mission Trip, I didn't really know what to expect. What were the people like? and what if I offended them? When I was put in recreation, I was afraid that I wouldn't get close to the kids. Despite the fact that I wasn't a flock leader, I still got close to the kids. When there were only a boy and a girl left, they would always want to pair w/ me instead. These kids were unusually trusting. If it were me, I would have gone with someone I didn't like rather than a stranger. The innocence of these kids was amusing and it made me happy. I was happy to be able to leave the world to distrustful people and go back a couple of years. But the truth is, the Navajo Mission Trip didn't change my world or my life, but it did teach me one real important thing. Satan has a very strong hold on these people and God really needs to be in these peoples lives. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own world and happy church going life, that I forget that other people need God too.
The mission trip this year has impacted me a lot. I learned a lot about myself. My life has changed so much from going on this mission trip. Not so much as the last one but, still quite a bit. I have grown relationships with the people who live there that I will never forget. I also have learned to enjoy nature and and God's creation a whole lot more. I find myself looking up at night a lot more looking at the sky. That song we learned has also given me a lot as well. The only thing I don't like about the Navajo Mission Trip is how short it is.
---
I learned a lot about stretching yourself and going
out of your "comfort zone" in relation to serving God.
I had to do a lot of things that were not very
natural to me, but as others reminded me, God would
provide whatever abilities needed for those serving
Him.
----
It's been a while since we've gotten back. The first couple days post-Navajo I had a list of things that God had taught me on the trip. But time has done something to that list, I think it has set it aside.
The night before we left St. Louis I was so scared. I didn't want to go, I kept thinking about how small and messed up I was. I wasn't a "good Christian." How could I go with the intentions of ministering to children and teaching them about Christ when I myself felt so far from him? But my mom said, "How can you think that you can mess this up? Who are you to mess up God's plan?" And so I went, and I was touched, and I was broken, and God was good. So So Good.
I came home and I was so excited to tell people about what He had done, what He had shown me. I was so small and in my smallness He was Great! I was so small He had to help me see, and when I let Him help me I grew. I was fortified by Him, I was alive again. I could feel again....
-----
hm...i'm not exactly sure what to talk about so i'll
just pretty much say what i said at the flame meeting
in which we shared.
this missions trip was unlike the other two which i
participated in. i had no idea why i went the previous
times but this time, i had more a direction: missions.
i wanted to make sure my focus wasnt on myself but
fully on the kids, in the aspect of trying to spend as
much time with them as possible and trying to get to
know/bond with the kids in my group. throughout the
week, i enjoyed the majority of the trip, but it
seemed like i didnt really "get" anything out of the
trip when i got back. instead, i focused on some of
the problems that bugged me, how much i missed the
environment/people, and was overall negative for the
trip. it wasnt until a couple of days later did i
realize my attitude was completely wrong. i had the
greatest opportunity of witnesses and leading a child
to life, and much like the stories that were told at
the vbs in jesus going after the lost sheep and much
rejoice afterwards, so should my attitude be. though
there werent hundreds of kids like i wanted, the few
that came to christ are just as good and hence, there
is much rejoice.
---
I can't even express how thankful I am for being able to go on this past year's mission trip. This was my third year going and what I learned this year is nothing like I've learned on the previous mission trips. It's amazing how much God can show you each year and how there is still so much that you can learn. I was really encouraged by our team and how everyone seemed to adjust really well and take on any challenge. The love I felt from those around me and how people really took care of me, helped me realize that I took some relationships for granted and helped me see that God has blessed me with so many loving people. I also saw God's provision on this trip through almost everything. For example, the late flight, the buses, food,etc. All I can say is God is GREAT and that nothing would have been possible without his guidance.
---
This last mission trip was very good for me. I learned how to relax but still get things done. The two years before that I got things done, but was very uptight about them. I also realized how little hardship we actually went through compared to what could have been. I received a new awareness of suffering for Christ. I also learned much about serving, all the time at home not just every once in a while. I learned how little I have to complain about and how much more I can go through or do for others before I start complaining.
---
I was speechlessly blessed on this mission trip. I was not only blessed by the incomprehensible beauty of the land(unlike last year), but also by the opportunity that I had to serve God and not myself. For the majority of my life, i have been so focused on myself and my needs. However, on this trip, God allowed me to experience altruism. I not only experienced it but i enjoyed it. it felt like a taste of the kind of heart and attitude that God wants for my life. It helped me realize God's desire for me and that i can only attain that which he desires one step at a time. I also had the opportunity to lead two young boys from my flock to the Lord. What a blessing that was! To be part God's kingdom building in that way! It was really awesome. It not only encouraged me to praise God for his unconditional love for me, it helped me realize how much i ignorantly take advantage of God's love and forget to praise him for it.
---
The trip was overall a great experience and i am so grateful that i had the privilege to go. It was definitely different from last year, but thats what makes it so great. Why on earth would God allow it to be the same each year? How else is God going to teach us NEW things about him.
---
what i really liked about the mission, as all types of things like this, i love watching the youth put their hearts in. they are willing to give up saturday nights, sunday afternoons and other random times during the week to work diligently for the trip. when we are there, they are so willing to do whatever it takes to serve. i get so blessed by seeing them serve in that capacity.
also, i learned (or was reminded) that the bible is ALIVE!!! that God's Word transcends all cultures and age groups, and that it is living and active. it was such a challenge to remember that but once it clicked it was awesome to see that God actually SPEAKS to us through the bible!! it's so awesome. to see the kids actually coming to an understanding about what the bible says was so incredible.
---
Growing up in a modern civilization with numerous buildings cluttering the land has prevented me from enjoying true nature, God's creation. The Navajo reservation was beautiful. From the rocks to the stars, it was the natural world. The Navajo people on these lands were extremely welcoming and generous, the textbooks only covers them in their perspectives, not the Navajos. The first day of VBS, I was slightly discouraged, assigned a few teenage boys and an eight-year-old girl who seemed to lack enthusiasm. Mr. Sing's voiced rang in my head, "Pray about it." Prayer is truly powerful, some things people just have to experience themselves to understand the greatness of God. And Ezekiel 11:19 the verse of the trip says that God will do the "converting", but we have to do the planting of the gospel. And it takes love, above all else, to carefully sow the seeds in the people's hearts.
---
During my second year in Navajo I learned alot about myself and the group members. I grew to love each member and really appreciated them for their unique characteristics. I also learned that I had become an adult. For the first time in my life I felt like a role model and i felt a responsibilty to lead by example. I learned that the teenagers really looked up to us and if we stayed up late then they did too- it was amazing to me how much the young adults (21+) had grown from teenagers ourselves to role models.
I also realized the impact we made in these childrens lives. Since it was my second year, i realized how much i wanted to see each child and how much i really missed them. I learned that children's love is so unconditional and they just want a friend. I hope that we were able to love them and through that show them God's love.
---
Well, if i were to say one thing that I had learned, it would be something that Mrs. Manning said to me one night while talking to Karen and I. She said that if we were to take one thing away from the trip, it would be to step out from from our boxes. These boxes were our "bubbles" or our comfort zones. To be open and tell the heart of the scriptures were what the kids needed. Helping Karen to teach Bible was a great encouragement to me. With help from Mrs. Manning, I saw that teaching wasn't just telling a simple story or reading through facts. Instead it was making that simple story come to life and make the kids able to envision it, where they could put themselves in the story as if they were just another character in the story witnessing it. When teaching children, all that is needed is to tell the story from our heart. Put ourselves in the characters' shoes and imagine every emotion and every feeling as if it happened to us. What would we do if our savior and role model was just brutally executed?? What would we do once we had denied and abandoned our greatest friend in his most vulnerable moment?? What would we say to him when we saw him once again three days later?? Just putting myself in others' shoes brings a whole new perspective on things and allows for me to be able to understand others and appreciate so much more... Realizing how stubborn i am shook me to try and be more considerate and understanding.
---
For me this trip was more challenging in a different
way. Last year, it was exhausting because of all the
planning we had to do during the week. This year
there was so many people that it was challenging
behind the scene. I loved how we were able to have
bible study groups that kept us accountable and
allowed us to encourages each other through. I loved
how we had the bible study (God's words) to encourage
us as we were doing our mission work (even though we
couldn't possibly compared ourself to the disciple).
What I gain from this experience was "to serve". This
mission trip helped me learn or rather reminded me
that it is so important to serve God's people. I took
things for granted and I realized God needed me to
serve His people and to share Him with others. That
means wherever I am I need to ask "How can I serve
God's people?". Amazing that I am now devoting my
year to a school that is very needy and I pray that I
may serve him this school, and that I may serve Him
though relationships with my friends, and my family.
That is what I got out of the mission trip and how it
snowballed! Praise God!
---
Before I went on the Navajo Mission Trip, I didn't really know what to expect. What were the people like? and what if I offended them? When I was put in recreation, I was afraid that I wouldn't get close to the kids. Despite the fact that I wasn't a flock leader, I still got close to the kids. When there were only a boy and a girl left, they would always want to pair w/ me instead. These kids were unusually trusting. If it were me, I would have gone with someone I didn't like rather than a stranger. The innocence of these kids was amusing and it made me happy. I was happy to be able to leave the world to distrustful people and go back a couple of years. But the truth is, the Navajo Mission Trip didn't change my world or my life, but it did teach me one real important thing. Satan has a very strong hold on these people and God really needs to be in these peoples lives. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own world and happy church going life, that I forget that other people need God too.
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