New Mexico Missions Trip- Day 5

July 28,2009

It’s hard to believe we are at the end of day 5 of this amazing journey.

This morning we continued on with our construction efforts. The students have given themselves clear goals for what they want to acheive while here and they are very determined to acheive them. Today Joe and I were able to really step out of the way and let the students take ownership of their jobs. The building we are working on is being restored so it can be used as a community center. Our students know that their work here is going to have a direct effect in reaching this community.

After lunch, I was invited to sit in on a conference call between World Vision, local ministry leaders and a solar power manufacturer. The purpose of the call was to discuss bringing solar power energy to the reservation to help create jobs and lower energy cost for people who are struggling to make it. It is an effort to empower the Navajo people to help them support themselves while reaching out to them. These parties realize they need to reach out to the whole person to be an effective witness. It was an honor to be on this call and was very inspiring.

We held the second day of our basketball clinic today. In the morning we prayed for more kids and God was faithful. Today we had 22 kids show up for the camp. Basketball skills were not really developed but these kids sure had fun! We are realizing more and more that just providing SOMETHING to do for the kids and families on this reservation is one of the best ways to reach the Navajo people. Our students displayed a great attitude and just loved on these kids. At the end of the clinic Kyle Provost gave his testimony to the kids.

During the clinic a lot of adults showed up athe gym wanting to play volleyball. We weren’t expecting this but didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to build relationships so we played volleyball for a few hours and had a great time. Again, our goal is to connect people to this community center so that they will continue to come back long after we leave to be ministered to.

After dinner, we took the night off. We all played a few games of volleyball and some full court basketball. We finished the night with ice cream. As I type this, the students are laughing and playing games. Pranks have been running rampent among the guys. The most common is the deflating of air mattresses. Today I came back to find my airmattress replaced with luggage with a sheet over it. The idea was for me to think that this was my bed and to jump down on it. To bad for Sam, Kyle, Connor and Robby I am much quicker than them and saw it coming. This group of students did not know each other very well before we left but they have all become very close.

Yesterday in my email I talked about one of the factors of why people cannot escape poverty is because of a “loss of hope.” I would ask you to pray for our cooks this week. They are starting to open up to us and today shared with us that their cousin committed suicide this past week. They shared that he had just lost hope and saw no future. Again, this is very common on the reservation. Our hearts go out for them.

Please pray for Pete Balon of Cornerstone Ministries. He is a man with a great vision and heart for his people. He shared with me today that he feels as if his people are the forgotten people in the United States by both the American government and Christians. This would fit into the first cause of poverty, a “marred identity.” You are going to get an opportunity to meet and hear Pete on October 25. He will be speaking at a World Vision conference in Cincinnati and we have asked him to come spend the evening with us at ccc sharing about his ministry. You will not want to miss this.

Parents, you have a fantastic group of students who are chasing after God with a great passion.

Until next time,

Jon Biggs
Sent from my BlackBerry device