Definatly "NOT" the city life.....

       Many ask us what sort of obstacles we face out here.  Well, we all have our burdens to bare.  

       The first things that comes to mind though has got to be the Native American ceremonies.  As you can see in the picture to the right, the old meets with the new out here.  You can see a peyote tent (tee-pee) a hogan and a Navajo College in the back ground.  So although they have moved on in technology, they have nice cars, satellite Television and computers...they still lean toward the old way when it comes to religeon.  They take a haluccinating drug called peyote and look for visions.  They truly believe its is of God....but we know that its of the devil.   

       Another concern is primitive conditions.   We have some folks who do not have cars, and can not come to church unless we pick them up.  (not a problem for me)   We have some who do not have electricity, and several who only have outhouses for their bathroom.  

     This is not so much of a problem as it is an adjustment.   They live a simpler life, and in some ways it is more of a blessing then a curse.

       Roads are a constant problem for us.  Although we do have a lot of paved roads on the main stretches, the back roads are a killer. 

       This is a wash (right) that we have to cross to get to our church.  It has never been very full because of the lack of rain....but we will have to go the long way around if we ever get a good amount.  :o)

       Another problem we have is that there are no addresses out here.  They do not have street signs like they do in the city...so it is hard to find people.  They give indian directions and we have to try to figure out where they live.  I try to make maps so that I can find them again...but it makes for a challenge.    

     Another common problem we have out here is that there are dogs EVERYWHERE.  Everyone owns a dog...everyone has a stray hanging out around their house...everyone has dogs that come through riffling with their trash at night.  ect.  You can not get out of your car with out a few dogs nipping at your heels.  

      Several of our people have been bit at one time or another.  So this makes soul winning a challenge.  In the picture to the left, I was picking some kids up on the bus when a pit bull tried to bite me.  It was only by chance that my friend had his camera with him.

       But the Lord protects us and we have learned to carry a big stick.  

     This is an average sheep coral.  They put them together themselves...made roughly because they move around a lot. 

         To the left is a hogan made of logs.  Typical for most families.  Even the folks who have nice houses still have a hogan on the property...just because it was an old family home, or tradition.  They use them to tell coyote stories now.  But some still choose to live in them.   

       Although found less often, the hogan to the left can still be seen on the reservation.  Made of mud and thatch.

        The little building you see in the background is our church building right now.    It is 17 x 14...and very small.

      I amI am not complaining though, the Lord was mighty good to let us meet the Yazzi family who allow us to meet here.   But some will not come back because of the road they have to go on.  You can not get a good picture of it from here...but that part in the forfront is solid stone.  Very bumpy and hilly and if you don't have a truck or vehicle well off the ground then you will scrape bottom.  I have had folks tell me that they would not come back until we pave the road.  ha!  But then there are a faithful few who are used to these roads and never complain.  Praise the Lord

            The picture above is an old uranium mine.  The one to the left is the mine that is behind our house.  Back during the war they hired the Navajo people to dig in the mines and paid them a meager wage.  Now that the men are older they are dying of cancer.   

       Cancer is really bad here among the people.  It leaves the men sick and dying and many elderly widows.   I am not sure how safe the water is, but I know (from a report) that many of the people put their sheep in the empty mines (for cheap shelter) and they become contaminated and then they eat the sheep.  So its a never ending cycle for them.   This is why they need to be told of the great love of God right away....we are losing many of them fast.