Monday
Jun282010

New Mexico Mission Trip: Updates with Follow-Ups

We arrived safely in Jemez Springs, NM last night. The drive out here was absolutely beautiful. Huge vistas and canyons, elk and mule deer. Today, Sunday, we divided up the team and half worshiped at Jemez Valley Baptist Church and the other half went to Tinian Navajo Baptist Church. I went out to Tinian, which is two hours through a lot of wilderness and the occasional goat herd. The Navajo service was entirely in the Navajo language, which is beautiful and unique to listen to. No wonder the army used them as code talkers in WW2. We also met up with our missionary on the ground there, Rose Ignacio. She is such a great Christian lady who has a heart to see the Gospel reach her people. The North American Mission Board recently did an article on her and a video. You can view it at www.namb.net and search her name in the video archives.


After our men got set up to begin to work on the construction projects at the Navajo church, Chris and I headed back to work at the basketball camp and block party. We met in the Jemez school gym, and it went really well. We had a good group of kids and parents show up. The children are all very sweet and open to our team. We are working with pastor Daniel Clymer and his wife here. He has done a fantastic job of setting things up for us here on the ground, as well as teaching our team about the spiritual and cultural climate of this area.


This region is unlike anywhere I have ever been in the US. It really reminds me more of India. There is a spiritual darkness here that is palpable. In this valley alone is 2 Wiccan temples, a satanic worshiping group, two Buddhist retreat centers, a New Age church, plus the Jemez Pueblo,--which is the community of Pueblo Indians who for the most part worship peyote and follow the traditional Indian beliefs. Oh, and there is also a strong Catholic presence here left over from the Spanish Conquistadores. Everyone here is spiritual. Most, however, do not have a relationship with Christ.


Please pray for our team this week. For safety, for open doors to share the Gospel, and for a sweet spirit as we work. More updates to come!