Sherry Hemsoth - Serving The Kingdom

The Reality Of The Invisible

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Rick and I are sitting in a hotel in Albuquerque this morning, taking a day to just chill before flying home tomorrow, having just finished hosting a Winter Basketball Camp at the Navajo BIC mission base in Bloomfield, New Mexico along with two very special Navajo friends. It was a joy filled week of pouring Jesus into the local Navajo that participated in the basketball camp as well as the staff of the BIC and the students of the Nizhoni Christian School there as well as having Jesus poured into us. Each day was filled from morning til night with relationships. No TV, no DVDs, no interuptions of life, just being in relationship and sharing lives.

It was an incredible week of blessings from our God, whom we cannot see in the flesh, but we know the reality of because we see Him in our precious Navajo friends and ministry partners. An incredible week, yes, but also a weary week, especially for Rick, who endured the high altitude challenges and persevered through the week of demonstrating basketball drills during the camp. When you are used to playing basketball at an elevation of 500 ft. and then suddenly are playing at an elevation of 7,200 feet, it wears you out.

This morning in my devotion, God took me to Hebrews 11:27, which says, "...Moses persevered because he saw Him who was invisible." When I read that, I realized that that is exactly what Rick and I lived this week, through our weariness.....perseverance.....because "we saw Him who was invisible." And we realize that that is what our Faith is "seeing Him who is invisible." Every time we see Jesus in our ministry partners and those God has called us to be Jesus to, our Faith grows, we forget the weariness and look with anticipation to the next time that we will get to "see Him who is invisible".

Explaining basketball plays and giving our testimonies were a big part of the Camp.

Running a drill for the adults produced lots of huffing and puffing.

Superbowl Party with the Nizhoni youth who made a Colts flag from a napkin and a broomstick stuck into a 100 lb. sack of potatoes. They are so creative. Fun, fun, fun!

A game of flag football at the Superbowl Party. So much laughter.

A morning of bowling with the youth and teachers of Nizhoni.

These youth are amazing and love the Lord. They are a blessing to us.

Frustration *#@!!!

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I have been struggling for months with a frustration that just doesn't seem to get any better. In fact, it only seems to be getting worse and I have just had to walk away so many times and put it out of my mind. This morning, it really hit me hard, and I found my frustration beginning to turn to anger. And of course, the anger only made the frustration worse.

Shortly after the anger began to rise up in me, I sat down at my desk to do my daily devotion. And God, in His nuturing Fatherly way, wrapped me in His arms and began to speak to me in discipline and love through His word. The scripture with my devotion for the day was Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." That is so God! Meeting me right at my point of need when I go to His Word.

Then, as I began to read out of my devotion book, the words that God intended to be just for me at just that moment, jumped off the page and right into my heart........"The way to strangle fleshly thoughts and attitudes is to pour Scripture into the mind regularly and frequently.", it said, followed by the scripture reference Psalm 119:11. As I turned to Psalm 119 and began to read verse 11, I realized that I needed to read more of that passage, so I began at verse 9 which says, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth I rejoice in following your statues as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."

It was at that moment that I recognized I was giving the devil a foothold by allowing my frustration to turn to anger. Instead of being angry, I needed to be giving all praise to God the Father for His word and I should be delighting in the riches that His Word is in my life. Nope, the frustration isn't gone, but my attitude is sure different. God used my devotion this morning to take my focus off my frustration and put it back on Him.........where it should have been all along. When my focus is on Him..........the frustration dims and I am much better equipped to keep my ways pure and live according to His word so as to not stray from His commands. To God Be The Glory!

My Mom Joins Me In Ministry On the Navajo Reservation

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When I was called to this position as Ministry Coordinator of American Indian Discipleship with Adventures In Missions, my mom was one of my biggest supporters and prayer warriors. She always listened while I talked about God's calling on my life and always encouraged me as I answered His call to minister to American Indians in Arizona and New Mexico. She lives with us and has taken it upon herself to keep our house looking good while I am gone so much.........my refrigerator has never been so clean and my living room never so free of dust. She has been a huge blessing to me. It is so nice to come home from being on a mission trip from 10 days to 6 weeks and have a clean house.

I had been wanting to take her on a mission trip with me for some time but didn't know if she would embrace the idea. She does not like to fly and going on a project with me meant lots of flying. As I laid the idea out before the Lord, I knew that He was calling me to ask her if she would consider going with me. He had given me the vision of when and where to take her and he told me that all I needed to do was ask her and then trust Him.

When I asked her to pray about coming with me, she was very open to the idea. As I trusted God to show her what He wanted her to do, the mission began to fall into place. When God confirmed in her that she was to come, I purchased her airline ticket and we began to plan. She and a good friend of mine who was also coming with us, agreed to take on teaching the Adult Bible Study for the week and coordinating crafts for the adults. They both had fun planning and purchasing material for the crafts.

Early morning flight out of Fort Wayne through Dallas to Albuquerque and then on to the Navajo BIC in New Mexico.

We are now on day 5 of our mission to the Navajo BIC and it has been such a blessing to be

ministering to my precious Navajo friends alongside my mom. She has been right there with the team doing everything they are doing. This afternoon she worked with them sorting clothing in the clothing bank. After lunch she worked on sorting and preparing the craft for tonight's Bible Study/Craft time. The adults have loved what she has planned and had so much fun tonight decorating the hats that she so lovingly purchased for them. Earlier this week we enjoyed walking through Chaco Culture National Historic Park together as a history lesson. At 10:30 this evening when I asked the team if they wanted to go out on the rez and look at the stars in the dark night sky, she wanted to go. She got out of the car to watch the shooting stars even after talk of mice and snakes in the dark.

Getting ready to walk through Chaco Culture National Historic Park.

Seeking out some shade at Chaco Culture National Historic Park.

Working in the clothing bank at the Navajo BIC.

Working on a craft with a new Navajo friend.

She especially enjoyed watching this sheep dog herd this herd of sheep and goats on the Navajo rez.

She also enjoyed the First Nations Gathering on Sunday at the BIC.

She had fun exploring the Blanco Trading Post with the team.

Outing to the Badlands with Navajo friends.

Receiving a homemade Bible cover made by her new Navajo friend.

Enjoying a party with some of the BIC staff.

Ending our trip with a tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

I am so thankful that God has allowed her come to the field with me to meet my Navajo friends and be a part of my ministry with the Navajo. She will know how to pray more effectively for my ministry and for her new Navajo friends in Christ. As God is amazing, He is amazing in my mom and I thank Him tonight for her love for Him and her willingness to say "Yes" when He called her to the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. To God Be The Glory!

I Am So Angry................

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

and I grieve.......struggling to hold back the tears. This afternoon my young Navajo friend, who is staffing my project this week with me, and I went into the Game and Fish office on the Fort Apache Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona to obtain a recreation permit for our group to go to Reservation Lake tomorrow for a fun day with our Apache friends. As we were waiting at the counter for our permit to be processed, one of the Apache ladies that works in the office received a phone call. After she took the call, she dialed the phone and my friend and I listened as she began to report a domestic violence case to the police department.

I really wasn't listening too much at the beginning, but when I heard her say something about her son, that caught my attention. As I listened she began to ask the police department to go to her home and pick up her son who was drunk. She told the police department that when her son gets drunk he gets violent, and since her son lived in her home with his girlfriend and his infant baby, she was afraid that her son would hurt the baby and she was calling the police and asking them if they would go to her home and pick up her son.

She was so calm as she asked the police department to pick up her drunk son. My heart ached as I listened to her reporting her drunk son to the police department. I thought about my own two sons and how it would tear me apart if I had to report them to the police. The more I listened to this lady talk to the police department, the more I noticed the lack of emotion in her voice and in her person. She was just stating facts to the police department with no emotion whatsoever. When she hung up the phone, she went back to her job in the office as if nothing had happened.

As I observed all this, I became angry. No one should have to live like this. This mother was absolutely numb. She had no emotion whatsoever. And it really hit home to me that there are alot of people living on the rez that are just like this. Life on the rez is so cruel that you just become numb to it after a while. My heart ached for her and her family. And then my heart began to ache for every person living on the rez..........because this is the norm, not the exception on the rez. Every single family on the rez has a similar story like this to tell. Every single family on the rez has been touched by this kind of violence. Every singe family on the rez lives with pain every day of their lives. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then I thought, do people who live off the rez know what is happening to people who live on the rez??????? Do people who live off the rez know that alcoholism, drug addictions, gambling addictions, suicides, automobile accidents, daily deaths are the norm on the rez??????? Do people who live off the rez want to help make a difference in the lives of those who live on the rez?

I talked to a Navajo friend of mine a few days ago and said, "How are you doing, Bobby?" "I lost my 24 year old son this week," he replied. "Oh dear God, what happened?" I asked. "He was hit by a train. The funeral is Friday at the family plot." Again, like the lady in the Game and Fish office, no emotion in his voice, just numbness.............NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!! I am so angry..............God help the Indians.............they are hurting so............please send more workers to the harvest..............help them God, please help them.

As my Navajo friend and I drove away from the Game and Fish office, I choked back the tears. I didn't want her to see me weep, like I usually do when I encounter this kind of a situation. I struggled with the tears for quite a while and finally got myself under control. We went on to enjoy a nice day of ministry together. Then tonight, over pizza, we began to talk about what had happened this afternoon and she shared with me how she hadn't really known how extensive the poverty and dysfunction was on the rez. It had made her extremely sad and she shared with me that she was glad she was no longer living on the rez. Today's experience really made her think about her people and what they are enduring.

It is my prayer for her that she allows God to use what she heard today to help make a difference in her own people's lives. It is also my prayer today, that everyone reading this Blog will "shout from the mountain top what is happening to our own people who are living in hell on the rez." If you are reading this Blog, will you please pray and ask God how you can help make a difference in the lives of those living on the rez? It's Jesus they need...........and if you have Jesus..........will you pray and ask God how you can be a part of sharing Jesus with those on the rez who desperately need the hope of Jesus in their lives? If God is calling you to help make a difference, please call (260-403-0557) or email (sherryhemsoth@adventures.org) me and let's talk, talk about what you can do to help bring Jesus to those desperate for a Savior. To God Be The Glory!

Relationships......God's Gift To Me

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This past week, my Navajo-Nageezi, New Mexico mission trip has been a treasure chest of relationships for me. Relationships of building up one another in Christ and relationships of pouring Jesus into people who haven't a clue of what it means to walk with Jesus. I thank God for all the people He brought into my life this week, Navajo, Mexican and Anglo alike. I thank God that we could all be one, brothers and sisters in Christ, working together to bring the love of Jesus to those who don't know, who don't understand, who don't believe. What a special, special week of being in community with a group of people who are like minded with me, who have a passion to share Jesus like I do, who only want to live in obedience and surrender to His will like I do.

Building a relationship with the project leader at the BIC was special as we toured the Aztec Ruins National Monument together before the project began.

Building a relationship with my staff during the week was a gift from God.

Building a relationship with these three gals during VBS was exciting.

Building a relationship with this Navajo teen who didn't know about Jesus was rewarding.

Building a relationship with the Pastor's daughters was a blessing as we studied in the Purple Book together in preparation for them to begin working in the Purple Book with the Youth Group that they will be starting at their church, Dineh Baptist.

Building a relationship with the participants from Village Church of Gurnee was another gift from God as we learned how to be a team for the week. They are awesome Christ Followers!

As I sit in my hotel room tonight in Pinetop, Arizona waiting to meet with the pastor of East Fork Riverside Church tomorrow to discuss ministry for my next project in Whiteriver, I am filled with the peace of God that passeth all understanding. It was a long, hard week of ministry and I should be exhausted, but actually I am exhiliarated and can't wait to dig in to another week of building relationships with my next group and the Apache people of Whiteriver. I am humbled that God has called me to this ministry and that I am a part of what He is doing on the rez. To God Be The Glory!

How Does One Live With Oneself?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How does one live with oneself when they pass a man laying on the side of the highway and don't stop to help? Driving back to my housing tonight at 11:00 p.m. alone, I saw a man laying on the side of the highway. Horrible sight........horrible feeling........ I quickly dialed 911 to report it and was told that someone else had also reported it and that a police car had been dispatched. My mind raced........do I go back........I didn't see any blood.......if he is drunk and I go back and disturb him, will he get up and stagger out onto the highway?........if he does, what will I do?.......I'm alone, what would my husband want me to do?........I promised him I would make wise decisions...........What would God want me to do? Please forgive me God, I kept going.............please forgive me........... As I write this, it takes everything I have in me to keep myself from going back to see...........please forgive me, God, please forgive me! Working on the rez has hardened me............I'm not the same person I used to be...........there was a time I would have stopped, no matter what..........but now...........please forgive me, God, please forgive me!!!!!!!!! I weep.

Crummy, Achy, Icky

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I woke up this morning feeling crummy, achy, icky and Satan told me to stay in bed. This was my last free day before beginning leading projects this summer. I had planned on driving 2 1/2 hours to Broken Arrow Bible Ranch, one of my newest ministry partners, and see the campers enjoying the camp's activities. Then I was going to go on to my other newest ministry partner in Sanders, AZ and go riding with her. Satan told me that it was too far to drive, that it wasn't "official business for AIM" so I didn't need to do it, that I needed to stay in bed and rest, that I wasn't feeling well enough to ride a horse.

Everything in me agreed with him, I really wanted to stay in bed. But, Satan is such a liar. And since I know full well that Satan is a liar, I listened to the other voice in my head that told me to "get up and go," that "today was going to be a good day". And of course, that other voice was the Holy Spirit talking to me. And, of course, He was right. Today was a good day and I would have missed it if I had listened to Satan.

What a delight to be at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch watching and talking with the campers. As I went from activity to activity, everyone was smiling, enjoying themselves, happy to be at camp.

So proud of the picture frame that she painted.

Learning to shoot a bow and arrow.

Playing Human Foosball and loving it.

Racing against time to win a prize.

So happy to be up on a horse.

What a treat to be able to go out on a ride with the campers.

My ministry partner training her horse to jump.

Moonlight and me........she is a GREAT ride!

Wow! Riding two different horses in one day, the Holy Spirit was so right, it was a GOOD day! I feel like God reached down from heaven today and gave me a big HUG! Thanks, God, for once again teaching me that obedience is all you want from me, and Thanks for blessing me for it. To God Be The Glory!

God Said....."Write It"......So Here Goes.....

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

God laid this Blog on my heart a few months ago.........but I put it off........don't know why.........only God knows why. When God lays a Blog on my heart I usually sit down and He writes it for me. But this time........I just wouldn't even let Him go there........I just wouldn't sit down at the computer to write it. But now, God is telling me.......write it, so here goes...........

Rick and I have been married for 35 years.........35 years of lots and lots of ups and downs........in fact, 35 years of the hardest years of our lives. It's not easy being married, it's quite alot of hard work, actually. Frankly, there were times we both wanted to bail out. Times we just didn't want to work on our marriage. Times we kind of lived our own separate lives doing our own separate things. Rick.......alot of golf, me.......alot of kids.

But.......we hung on........hung on to our faith in God that kept us hanging on to each other. And then something happened, something happened several years ago that really changed everything for us. It happened in me first........God began to call me to a greater walk with Him. He began to stretch me in what He was asking me to do in life for Him. I resisted a little at first, a little until I began to see that when I quit resisting and began to obey, He came through for me. As I began to obey, and as He began to come through, I began to change.........I began to desire Him above all else in my life. I began to crave His word. I began to crave prayer time with Him. I began to crave serving Him. As I craved Jesus above all else in my life, I became a different person.......and as I became a different person, Rick noticed.

Then something began to happen in Rick. He began to become a different person. He began to seek out more of God in his life. He began to desire to obey God above all else. He began to look to God for more direction in his life. And then we began to treasure each other as husband and wife. Now we crave spending time together. Every minute we can, we spend together.

This week God has blessed us with time together in New Mexico, hanging out together, seeing the sights and preparing for time spent apart as Rick heads back home to work at the golf courses and I head to northern New Mexico to lead my second project of the summer. We are enjoying every minute that God has given us this week and give Him all praise, honor and glory for teaching us that when we obey Him, He is always there for us and will bless us far beyond what we could have ever imagined possible.

Riding on the Taos Pueblo together.

Two nights together in this little house, "Casa Pepper" in Taos.

Touring the Taos Pueblo together.

Exploring Bandelier National Monument together.

Hiking on Sandia Mountain together.

Preparing to hike Petroglyph National Monument together.

Preparing to enjoy a Mexican meal together in Old Town, Albuquerque.

If anyone is reading this and is wanting to bail out on their marriage.........please don't. God wants you to look to Him for guidance in your marriage. Please just immerse yourself in The Word, pray constantly and then get on your knees and ask God what He wants you to do.........then just do it. He'll take care of the rest.

I'm sorry, God, that I took so long to write this Blog..........but I know "all things work together for good to those who love Christ" and even if I messed up, you will use it for good. To God Be The Glory!

Crazy Love

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I'm reading the book, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, recommended to me by a friend who is in the same place in life that I am. She lives in a different city, but we've had some great conversations through email and she said this book would inspire me in my walk with the Lord. She was right! God is using the scriptures in the book to confirm in me that my passion and desire to grow in my relationship with Him are right on. Through my scripture reading this morning, God showed me that I can try on my own power to do everything right in my relationship with Him and I will mess up every time OR I can obey the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) to "Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind" and then everything that I am supposed to do in life will come naturally out of that love for Him. When I do this, fulfillment of the second commandment will flow naturally out of me, "Love your neighbor as youself." Matthew 22:39. To God Be The Glory!

That's A Wrap!

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Well, it's done. Finished. Wrapped up. The groups have cleaned up and are ready to go in the morning, as am I. And I do believe everything looks just as good as we found it a week ago if not better. One thing I definitely know is better than last week when the two groups and I arrived, is me. I have been refined, reshaped, readjusted, realigned. And it feels.........so good!

I absolutely love coming here to the San Carlos rez. God brings me here several times a year and deposits me into the midst of family, my brothers and sisters in Christ that I love to share Jesus with. Some have no running water, some no stove, some no kitchen sink, some use an outhouse, some cook out of doors, some have no parents........but all of them have..... Jesus. Every time I am with them I see the joy of the Lord in them. Even though they don't have as much as the "world" has, they are filled with hope......hope that this earth will be replaced some day and they will live in paradise with Jesus. And it is that hope that keeps them going, through the suffering, through the pain, through the heartache. And it is that hope that fills them with joy.

Today was a good day, a day to look back at all that has been accomplished this week, a day to look forward to going home to see my family...........but today was also a sad day, a day to say good-bye to new friends and old friends alike. The two church groups that were his this week from Texas were amazing. I feel like I've known them forever. We became comfortable very quickly with each other and moved right into a good ministry relationship. It was hard to say good-bye. It is my prayer that we meet again.......before heaven that is......and share ministry together. What a blessing they were to me this week as well as to First Nations Ministries.

Two groups from Texas that I loved partnering in ministry with this week.

Today I also had to say good-bye to old friends, the hardest good-bye. Friends that are family. Friends that I love to spend time with. Friends that God has put in my life for a purpose and a part of that purpose is to refine, reshape, readjust and realign me. I am so greatful to God for putting them in my life for this very purpose. I feel different than when I came. Life is simplier for having been here. Life is good. I feel rejuvenated.....filled up with Jesus. Thank you, God, for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Because of them, I will never be the same. To God Be The Glory!

Fun day mining Peridot and hanging out at the San Carlos Lake & Dam.

Sharing Jesus at the Apache Little League Championship game.

To God Be The Glory!

I Knew There Was Something Different About You

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I think this is what every Christ Follower longs to hear from someone.........and here I was at the laundromat on the San Carlos Rez hearing this from an Apache gentleman who I had come across as I was leaving to return to First Nations. He told me that he had watched me go into the laundromat and knew that there was something different about me. He waited until I came out and was walking to my car to approach me. As we walked towards each other, the Holy Spirit prompted me to greet him and ask him how his day was going.

I am so glad I listened to that prompting because the ensuring conversation with Gerald blessed me up one side and down the other. Gerald was a Christian who loved Jesus and was overflowing with joy and a desire to talk with someone who also loved Jesus and shared that same joy. In the next 30 minutes Gerald poured his story out to me.......how he was raised by his grandmother because both of his parents were alcoholics and how he was so angry. He told me that at one time he had a loaded shotgun just waiting for a man who had beaten him up in the past to get out of prison so that he could kill him. He told me that he had hated.......hated blacks, mexicans, and then sheepishly, as I egged him on, anglos. I laughed and said, "That means that at one time you and I wouldn't have had this conversation, huh?" "Yep," he said. "I would have looked at you and just thought, what is she doing here? I would have hated you."

Then he shared with me how Jesus had delivered him from all his hatred. How he had come to understand God's grace and mercy and how he now passionately desired to share all of that with his fellow Apaches. He shared with me that the moment he accepted Jesus as his Savior, he felt "so free, so light, like everything was lifted off of me. I didn't know it would be like this," he told me. He had received joy because of the unconditional love of Jesus. And because of that unconditional love of Jesus, he no longer wanted to kill the man who had beaten him up. In fact, when that man got out of prison, Gerald went to him and told him that he was sorry for hating him and wanting to kill him. The man had become a Christian in prison and they are friends today.

I don't know about you, but I love being "different, different for Jesus!" And I love the fact that someone saw that in me.........someone who is also "different for Jesus." Another incredible day sharing Jesus on the rez! It just doesn't get much better than this for me........sharing Jesus with another believer and encouraging each other in our walk with the Lord.........this is what I thrive on! To God Be The Glory!

Let Your Sins Wash Down The River!

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Those words echo in my ears from the baptism I attended this afternoon at the river on the San Carlos Indian Reservation. Words spoken by the Director of First Nations Ministries, our hosts for the week here on the San Carlos Reservation. And nine people did just that this afternoon......they wept with joy and gave praise to their gracious Lord and Savior as their sins "washed down the river".

What a privilege to share in this special, special day with nine Apache friends who have taken that step of faith and obeyed the command to "believe and be baptized." A 12 year old who was baptized said that when he came up out of the water, he saw a streak of light and that "it was sooo cool." He was filled with awe.

Another said he felt the power of the Holy Spirit and then wept with joy. Still another shared his testimony that although he had been saved for 10 years he had never been baptized. He went on to say that he was on verge of divorce and was looking at prison time when he came to know Christ as his Savior and that the power of God helped him to turn his life around as he was delivered from a drug addiction and prison time.

Since arriving in Arizona this past Wednesday, Satan has used certain circumstances to cause me great pain and discouragement. He has said to me, "Bail out. Go home. This ministry is too hard." I have been fighting, fighting, fighting for the last 72 hours to keep my focus on Jesus and have kept going each day on pure obedience. Today, God used this baptism to break the bondage of discouragement as He used it as a reminder of what my ministry is all about......people; people giving their lives over to Christ and becoming new creations whose sins have been "washed down the river".

I have been renewed, refreshed, recharged.......ready to continue to "fight the good fight".......ready to continue to walk in faith.......ready to continue to trust God with the pain and the heartache that comes with loving and ministering to the Apache people. Today, God turned my sorrow into joy! Thank you, Jesus! To God Be The Glory!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A missed flight, a delayed flight.....when should we try to get a meal? Should we change the vehicle reservation time? When do we call everyone that is expecting us and tell them we won't make it? Do we go ahead and go to church and get there late? Do we try to get together with everyone late for just a few hours? Which car do we choose? Do we stay in a hotel or start driving to our destination? and on and on and on..........decisions, decisions, decisions!

Changed plans..........what do I do? Do I listen to my instincts which basically say, "Bail Out! This is overwhelming!" Or do I listen to the Holy Spirit who is saying, "I'm going before you and setting everything straight, trust Me. Listen to my guidance. Obey Me! Keep going! All things work together for good to those who love Christ."

Well, here we sit in Phoenix on the other end of a "spiritual warfare day" in the travel world and give glory to God who kept us going.......kept us focused......sent people to pray us to our destination......made the right decisions for us. We're rested and are ready to dig in to the task ahead of us. My two precious Navajo teens heading back home today (please pray for them as the experience re-entry) and me as I head down to the San Carlos Indian Reservation to lead an 8 day mission trip with two church groups from Texas.

Thank You, Jesus for your faithfulness as you strengthened us and gave us wisdom yesterday. And Thank You as you have prepared us today for the task you have set before us and for teaching us to "Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning it's shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3

My Cup Runneth Over!

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Every felt so filled up with Joy you think you'll burst? That's how I've felt this entire past week since I flew home from Phoenix with 3 Navajo teens and 1 Apache teen. A dream that I've had for months came true this past Sunday when we landed in Fort Wayne. A dream that was way bigger than me...... a dream that I could never have made come true...... a dream that God shared with me and brought to pass. This "dream come true" fills me with joy and makes my cup runneth over!

Our week started out with a trip to Glenbrook Mall (where else would you begin with teenagers?). Every graduating gal from NAOMI gets a shopping trip designed just for them. Everyone that comes along picks out an outfit for the graduate and she tries them all on. After she has tried them all on she gets to pick out the one she likes and then she gets to keep it. It is always so much fun for everyone, especially the graduate. It makes her feel so special.

After the mall, they said their next priority was a golf lesson from Rick. They all had known for a long time that Rick was the Pro/Manager of Golf Operations managing 4 golf courses, so when they sealed their plans to come to Fort Wayne they were so excited about learning to play golf. One of the gals was the most excited and bought golf shoes (well, not really golf shoes, she said, they just looked like golf shoes and they were cute so she bought them). They stepped up to their pile of golf balls confidently but then stepped back not so confidently as they found out that hitting a golf ball was not as easy as it looked. At that point, Rick stepped in to demonstrate exactly how it should be done. They were awed at how far he hit the ball and inspired to try again. After several more tries and much more success, they began to talk about joining the LPGA tour. LOL!

Next on the agenda was time to discover all that the zoo held. They had so much fun posing together at different places in the zoo and discovering all the animals that they hadn't had a chance to see up close and personal before. It was a wonderful time for me to just watch them, filled with joy, enjoying everything that they discovered.

Our last night together was spent playing our traditional card game of Hand and Foot. I always play Hand and Foot with them when I am at NAOMI House so it was especially sweet to be able to play with them in my own home. We had so much fun, playing by "Arizona rules" and laughing and laughing. Two of them are real comics and kept us in "stiches" the entire evening.

Before we knew it, the weekend was over and two of the gals had to fly back to Phoenix and return to their jobs. It was a bitter-sweet time.......so sweet to spend 5 days with the four of them.......so bitter to seem them go........I really don't know if all 5 of us will have an opportunity to be together again. One is moving to another state later this month to attend school and the other is looking for a Cosmotology position wherever she can find one. We all knew what we had this weekend was a special gift from God........that our "cups had runneth over".

Everything I had wanted to accomplish during this weekend was accomplished and much, much more. God truly had his hand upon this journey for these 4 teens and I know He will walk through life with them. They are most delightful young ladies and I know that God will use them in a mighty way for His glory.

Two teens remain at my home and will be here until June 10th when the three of us fly back to Phoenix together. I will take them home and then head down to the San Carlos Indian Reservation to lead my first project of the summer. We are making the most of the time God has given us, burning the midnight oil to enjoy every moment we have together. And once again, I have seen God's hand and His faithfulness in bringing the girls to Indiana and my home for a visit. As I sit here writing this Blog tonight, my heart is full and I know how blessed the girls have been to be here in my home as one of the girls' words from this afternoon rings in my ears........."The next time we come to Indiana............" To God Be The Glory!

3 Days, 3 Blessings!

Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I've gotten 3 days under my belt since sheep shearing was stopped because of rain and it has been an exceptional 3 days, bringing 3 blessings. The first day's blessing was so unexpected, just came right out of the blue. Shocked me really. Working on my computer Friday morning preparing to go to Joe City for my special gal's graduation, I received a call from her with the question, "What time are you coming over here?" I told her I had a 1 p.m. meeting with a new ministry partner and that I'd be over after that. "Can you pick up my foster sister at Holbrook High School, she can come to my graduation and stay for the weekend," she said.

Talk about a shock! Her foster sister had gone back home months ago and I had prayed that I would be able to see her again, when God gave me 15 minutes with her in February (see my Monopoly Anyone? Blog) I had been praying that she would get to come to the graduation and even emailed her with the offer to pick her up but hadn't heard anything back from her. So when I was asked if I could pick her up, I immediately began to make phone calls rearranging my schedule so that I could pick her up. What joy to see her hop in my car at the school and know that I would get to see her for the weekend.

Graduation came and went quickly. There was much to do, much to eat, and much relationships to enjoy. The night came and went too fast. This was a quadruple blessing with four foster-sisters coming together for the evening. I am so proud of them!

The 2nd blessing came on Saturday when I went to Sanders to meet with a new ministry partner, see her ministry and pray for God's guidance with it. The ministry is a horse ministry where my new ministry partner trains Navajos to train horses and then relates that training to how God trains us up in our faith. I was given a tour of the ranch and the surrounding Navajo rez as well as spent time working with the horses. It was so much fun!!!!!!!!!

The third blessing came on Sunday when I drove two hours to go to my ministry partner's church service in Gallup. I always enjoy this church and the people, especially the Sunday School where we all sit around a table and are taught by one of the Navajo elders. After the church service the family that I helped to shear sheep invited me to attend their daughter's graduation party at the sheep ranch. At the graduation party I was made to feel so welcome as everyone talked with me and wanted to know about my job with AIM. As I was blessed with being in their home for the party, they said that they were blessed that I would come all the way from Indiana to help them shear their sheep.

This has been an incredible 7 days here on the Navajo Rez. God has gone before me each day and laid out before me just what He has wanted me to do. I so love these ministry trips because God orders my steps and brings me relationships for mutual encouragement and for bringing glory unto Himself! To God Be The Glory!

Counting Sheep.......1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When I close my eyes I see scissors going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth; and then I see a hole in the wool open up right before my eyes and I know I've done it, I've made the big break through that I've been waiting for..........wait a minute, it's all a dream.......the wool is gone and so are the scissors. But what's not gone is the reality of what happened this week for me on a Navajo sheep ranch in Mexican Springs, New Mexico. What happened was that my faith was, again, increased.

This past Monday, all I took to that Navajo sheep ranch was faith. The sheep shearing project had been coming together nicely with two groups interested in shearing and then, right before my very eyes, the groups fell away; first one, and then the other. My faith told me that God had a plan and that all I had to do was find it. So I began to look........I began seeking God's will for the project......I prayerfully went to the word 3 times and all 3 times God confirmed that I was to go shear sheep. Then I began finding people who were willing and excited about going with me to shear. As a final confirmation, I had a ministry partner donate money for my airfare. It just couldn't get any clearer than that, I thought.

Shortly after the airfare was purchased, the people who were willing and excited about shearing began to fall away, one by one. Evenutally, no one was left. I was going to be going to the Navajo sheep ranch by myself. As I sat contemplating that fact the night before the shearing was to begin, God said to me, "Tomorrow will be special, Sherry." That's all I needed to hear. I went to bed and slept peacefully in anticipation of what tomorrow would bring.

When I arrived at the sheep ranch the next morning, I certainly did not know what to expect. How would this work out? Would I feel out of place? Would I be able to be a help and not be a hindrance? Would the family accept my help?

As I sat in the kitchen waiting for the family to gather, I was immediately put at ease by the owner of the ranch and his sister. We sat and chatted for a time before heading out to the sheep shed. I was immediately paired up with a shearing partner and we headed out to the corral to capture the sheep that we were going to shear.

I certainly didn't know what I was doing, but my shearing partner did and she talked me through the process of chasing the sheep, grabbing it by it's hind leg, straddling it and then walking it to the shearing table.

Then she began to show me how to shear. I watched for a time and then she gave me scissors and I began to shear, listening to her suggestions as I went. It was so much fun.

I never would have thought!

By then I was beginning to understand what God was talking about.......this was pretty special. This family had totally accepted me and was teaching me something their family had been doing for over 100 years. And doing it in the traditional way. I was actually living what it is like to be a Navajo sheep rancher. I was not only learning about sheep shearing, but I was learning about Navjao family relationships as they interacted with each other throughout the shearing process. When my shearing partner and I had completed shearing our first sheep, she gave me a high 5 and said, "You did it!"

When the shearing was all over for the day, we all gathered in the kitchen to share a meal. And what a meal it was, tortilla pork chop sandwiches with hot peppers (yuummm, I love hot peppers), corn on the cob, rice, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, watermelon. But even better than the food was the 2 1/2 hours that we sat around that kitchen table and shared lives. Navajos are story tellers and alot of stories were told that day. It was so special! God really knew what He was talking about.

Every time I go to "Navajo Country," God teaches me more and more what it is like to be "Navajo". And the more I learn, the more I become "Navajo". God showed me a long time ago that in order to minister to those He puts in my path, the more I need to understand their culture and become like them. As Paul said in I Corinthians 9:19-22 "...I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." I could add to that, "To the Navajo I became like a Navajo, to win the Navajo."

So many blessings came into my life out of my time spent with this precious sheep ranching family on the Navajo Indian Reservation........but more than anything else I take away, is the fact that God has a plan and all I have to do is sit back and go along for the ride.....when I do that, my faith grow by leaps and bounds. Then if that wasn't enough of a blessing, God gave me a bonus........when I went to get in my car to go home, this is what I saw. This big guy wanted to go home with me. If only I weren't flying! To God Be The Glory!

Who Would Have Thought.......A Divine Appointment At Wooly Riding?

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ever been Wooly Riding? I haven't, but I watched about 30 youngsters doing it 3 weeks ago while I was in Gallup for my lamb project. Following my ministry partner back to his church after leaving the sheep ranch, we stopped off at the local feed store to purchase some hay for his horses. When we arrived at the feed store, there were so many people there that our curiosity was instantly aroused. While my ministry partner purchased the hay, my team walked to the back of the parking lot to check out what was happening. What a surprise when we saw about 30 kids ages 7 and under waiting around for their turn to ride around an arena on the back of a sheep, just like real rodeo riders.

We had so much fun watching those youngsters, some riding all the way to the rear of the arena on their sheep and others instantly falling to the ground as their sheep jumped out of the chute. When we got ready to leave, we looked around for my ministry partner to see if he was ready to go. We couldn't find him at first but then spotted him on the bleachers with a Navajo family. He introduced us to them when we approached......the great grandmother of the family being a member of his church. One of her great grandsons was Wooly Riding that day, so we decided to stay and watch. Just before her grandson mounted his ride, I snapped a couple of pictures of him and then got another picture while he was riding in the arena.

When his ride was over, I showed the family his pictures. They were ecstatic that I had gotten pictures of him, so I told them I would mail them copies when I returned home. His grandma scribbled out her address on a piece of paper for me and off we went. When I returned home, the first thing I did was run off those pictures and stuck them in the mail to the Navajo family of the Wooly Rider.

A few days later I received a "Thank You" email from the grandmother saying that the whole family really enjoyed the pictures of her grandson and that receiving them had "made their Mother's Day." Then she asked me to tell her about my ministry with AIM, as she went to

a local baptist church in Gallup and was interested in missions. I sent off an email telling her all about AIM and asked her if she would be interested in meeting with me the next time I was in Gallup, to which she instantly replied, "Yes."

I just returned from my meeting with her here in Gallup. She was so interested in helping me staff a project this summer on the rez. She said she wanted to stay in the area and minister "to her own people" because of all the suffering around her. She wants to tell them that there is hope to be found in a relationship with Jesus. She wants to share what she has found........that the answer to all the heartache on the rez is simply.....Jesus! She knows because she has suffered so much heartache herself......4 deaths in the last couple of months, with the hardest being her 29 year old son who committed suicide. She told me that Jesus is what has kept her going through all of the pain. Jesus is bringing her hope. Jesus is walking beside her. Jesus is her comfort.

Just before I left her home, she told me that our meeting at Wooly Riding was not an accident, it was from God. AIM was exactly what she had been praying for. Who would have thought, a Divine Appointment at Wooly Riding?

My heart soars again, as I see my ministry philosophy being carried out through this Godly woman. A ministry philosophy of raising up American Indians who will take the gospel back to their own people. I am oh, so humbled that God would allow me to be a part of this precious Navajo woman's journey of bringing the hope of Jesus to her own people! To God Be The Glory!

Just Be Jesus To People!

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I sat across the table at a Pizza Hut from a Navajo ministry partner this week in Gallup, New Mexico listening, listening, listening. As I listened, I prayed, "What do I say God , what do I say?" What I was hearing was so painful; an outpouring of heartache, frustration and anger coming from a heart that was being hardened by the injustices of the world. I had just arrived that day from my home in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was working on re-entry into Indian country. Usually re-entry is a slow process but this time it was hitting me full blast in the face. What does one say to someone they care deeply about when there is so much injustice involved? My heart ached and I felt so helpless to offer any kind of comfort.

Just before arriving at the Pizza Hut we had stopped to do an errand and the clerk we were talking with was very, very rude. My ministry partner and I just kept looking at each other and shaking our heads, just not understanding where this person was coming from. As I talked with the clerk, I held my tongue and tried to be as kind as I could. When we left, my ministry partner said to me, "I couldn't believe you were being so nice." "I'm just being Jesus to her," I said.

Well, I didn't say much over pizza that night, restraint from the Holy Spirit I'm sure. I just sat listening, listening, listening. As we sat and ate our pizza, the outpouring of pain lessened and we talked of other things. When we were ready to leave and stood at the cashier to pay our bill, my ministry partner began to talk to the Navajo cashier. He told her all about our ministry with AIM, how we lead groups on short-term mission trips and how Jesus has changed his life. He poured Jesus into her and she listened, listened, listened.

When he finished she began to pour out her pain from a son who had been in prison. She told us his story and how he had found Jesus, how Jesus was the only thing that kept him from going crazy in prison. We stood and listened, listened, listened to her pain and heartache and then heard the joy of a son that was giving his life over to following Jesus and how his life was changed. Then she told us that her son was living with her, that their house was free from drugs, alcohol and firearms and how good it felt to be free from those things.

When we got ready to leave, the Navajo clerk reached across the counter and gave each of us a hug and a kiss on the check and told us it had been so nice meeting us. As we walked out the door, my ministry partner said to me, "Just be Jesus to people, Sherry, just be Jesus!" My heart soared as I realized I had just lived my ministry philosophy which is, "encouraging people in their walk with the Lord by being Jesus to them." As I had been Jesus to the first clerk, and encouraged my ministry partner, I saw God begin to soften his heart and now he was being Jesus to the 2^nd clerk and encouraging her in her walk with the Lord. It is my prayer that the 2^nd clerk would encourage someone else either in their walk with the Lord or by witnessing to an unbeliever being Jesus to them. To God Be The Glory!

God's call.....Castrating and Tail Bobbing Lambs!!!!

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

........"Have you ever bobbed tails or castrated lambs before?" I knew that this was an important question to the Christian Navajo sheep rancher that was asking me. "Uh, no", I replied. "Do you think you can do it?" he asked. "Yes," I replied. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 "Oh, Okay," he said, and I could tell that my answer had satisfied him. When I hung up the phone, I took a deep breath, and said again to myself, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." And oh, how I know that is true, because, believe me, I would never have volunteered to bob tails and castrate lambs if I didn't believe that scripture with all my heart.

These little lambs innocently await their turn to get castrated and have their tails bobbed.

And because I believe this scripture with all my heart, I, along with 3 other team members from Fort Wayne flew from Fort Wayne to Albuquerque to do just that, bob tails and castrate lambs on a Navajo sheep ranch owned by a delightful Christian Navajo couple. I have learned that if I am going to live out my faith like Jesus did, I must be willing to allow God to give me the strength to do that which He is calling me to do. And, oh what strength He gave me and my team mates this day.

This little guy is so cuddly.

We were all unsure of what lie ahead when we climbed out of bed at 5:30 a.m. on the lamb castrating and tail bobbing morning in Joseph City, Arizona and began the two hour drive to the sheep ranch in Mexican Springs, New Mexico. Before we hit the road, we prayed and asked God for strength, safety and that He would be glorified through us. As we stepped out in obedience to this call on our lives to encourage a brother and sister in Christ on the Navajo rez, we quickly got into the rhythm of the task before us, holding the lambs while their tails were bobbed and the males were castrated. As the blood spilled out, none of us were squeamish (as we had been concerned we would be) but knew that God had called us to be Jesus to this Christian Navajo family and we delighted in the call. We were living out the scripture, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". It was an amazing time of working side-by-side with this Navajo Christian family that needed brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and support them.

Jacob, Jared and I await our lamb's turn.

Sue's lamb gets it's ear tagged.

My lamb prepares to lose it's tail.

Sage soaked in water soothes the pain.

When the day was done, we all wore the blood as our love gift to Jesus, and we all agreed that we could have worked longer and harder had it been necessary. The next several hours spent sitting around the kitchen table enjoying some delicious traditional Navajo foods, pinion nuts, blue corn mush and some good old apple pie, was the best part of the day. We listened as this family shared with us what life is like for a Navajo living on the reservation. We had a culture lesson that few people will ever get to experience. And, as I have found, we walked away from the day with a greater faith, having received more blessings than we gave.

THANK YOU Sue, Jacob and Jared for being obedient to God's call and living out

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" with me. You are an

amazing Team. To God Be The Glory!

San Carlos Touches My Heart

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

My heart has been so touched by the San Carlos Apache people this week. What joy I experienced when I was accepted unconditionally by so many. We shared lives this week. Lives that are so different in so many ways, yet so similar in so many ways. Yes, we have a different color of skin, different color of hair, different color of eyes; yet inside we are the same. We share the same needs......to be loved, we share the same desires......to live healthy and happy lives, we share the same problems........we are sinners, and we share the same Savior.......Jesus. This week I have wept with them, rejoiced with them, worked with them, and tonight.......I thank God for them. I am a better person for knowing them.

Two precious ladies touched my heart tonight in such a deep place that I didn't even know that place existed. I saw and heard pain come out of two hearts that have seen and felt so much more trauma in life than I will ever even be able to imagine. Sorrow, confusion, heartache, abuse, death, addiction, dysfunction, separation all came pouring out of them into me and I realized that God was giving me a gift.......a gift of connecting my heart with theirs. A gift meant for me........a gift meant for them.......a gift of stepping into the lives of two other believers so that we could walk through life together, encouraging one another in our walk with the Lord.

Tonight I was asked by one of my new friends to pray over her nephew who was being taken away to a detention center in Phoenix. Several of us gathered around him, holding hands and praying for him. Multiple prayers went up at the same time for this young man, especially for his salvation. When we finished praying, a pocket Bible was given to him by his mom, who had just become a believer on Sunday. She told him to carry it in his pocket everywhere he went.

After he was taken away by the social worker, my new friend poured our her pain to me. She told me that she had taught her nephew everything he knew; how to steal, how to do drugs, how to be dysfunctional. She shared with me that she never bought anything in her life, everything she ever had......she stole. She said she was always high on drugs and that she was a very bad person. As she was sharing this she was weeping, weeping, weeping over her sin. She was in agony as she watched her nephew being taken away and knowing that she had been such a bad influence on his life. As she finished, the Holy Spirit began to minister to her through me. He told her that she was forgiven because of what Jesus did for her on the cross and that she was washed white as snow. He told her that she had a new life in Christ now and that her nephew was in God's hands.........that she was to pray and pray and pray for her nephew and to never give up until her nephew came to know Christ as his Savior. As the Holy Spirit ministered to her through me, the Holy Spirit ministered to me through her by showing me that I am exactly where God wants me to be and doing exactly what God wants me to do, walking in obedience. Then my new friend began to tell me how happy she is since she accepted Christ as her Savior 6 months ago. That life looks and feels so very different. That life is good and full of peace and joy. That all of her needs are being met. That God's word is true! My new friend, filled my cup up tonight and runneth it over!

Over a game of Hand and Foot tonight, my other new friend who is just 19 years old, shared with me how, since she has found Christ as her Savior, everything in her life is different. She is filled with JOY......JOY that can only come from a personal relationship with her savior, Jesus.....JOY even though both of her parents died just recently from alcohol related illnesses.....JOY even though she has been separated from her siblings.....JOY because she knows God is in control and she doesn't have to worry about anything. JOY because she has a hope and a future in Jesus.

Tomorrow we part. The most difficult day of any project for me.....leaving behind those I have come to love.....and as I have come to understand, the most difficult day for the ones that have come to love me. We say our goodbyes, give our hugs, share our addresses, phone numbers and promise to keep in touch. My new friends. My new blessings. To God Be The Glory!

Intense Ministry On The San Carlos Apache Rez

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

American Indian Mission Trips are very intense with little or no free time. Days are long and ministry is intense. Today was no exception. So much has happened today that my head is spinning this evening. My body sags and my mind is weary but at at the same time, I am rejoicing at all that was accomplished for the kingdom today. The day began as usual with devotions, prayer time and breakfast. After breakfast, everyone split up into their groups to do their construction projects. I took the first group down to the vendor market to get them set up to hand out free clothing and stayed with them until they felt comfortable with the situation and were beginning to reach out to the locals that were coming to the market. So many lives were touched at the market with the blessing of free clothing. To God Be The Glory!

Then I drove over to the house of the couple who prayed to accept Christ on Sunday to get a team started on painting over the graffiti that was on the walls on the inside of the house. As I talked with the couple about Jesus, they told me, "We feel so different!" They are feeling that rebirth that comes from the cleansing of the forgiveness of sin. To God Be The Glory!

At the house, I was told that they were running out of paint so I drove 30 minutes into Globe to purchase another gallon of paint. I was told to get "Kills" paint so off I went. When I arrived at the hardware store I quickly realized that there was 2 kinds of "Kills" paint and I was not told which kind to get. "What do I do, God, which kind do I get?" At that moment, I knew which kind to get, purchased it and headed 30 minutes back to San Carlos to deliver the paint. When I walked in the room that was being painted, the first thing I saw was a gallon of the exact paint that I had in my hand. Thank you, Jesus, for showing me which kind of paint to get. To God Be The Glory!

When I left the painting house, I headed to the grocery to pick up a few things for dinner. I really enjoy going to rez groceries. It is a great chance to interact with the locals and have a chance to give them a touch of Jesus. But this time Jesus used one of them to touch me. As I was checking out, the clerk asked me if I had a "Basha's card". No, I said, disappointedly because I knew it would save me money. An Apache lady in front of me overheard and said, "She can use my number." What a blessing that was for me to have a complete stranger let me use her number. To God Be The Glory!

Next I went back to the vendor market to check on the team there and see if everything was going well. When I arrived, I was greeted excitedly by the student on the right who had shared Christ with one of the locals standing in the Fry Bread line and then prayed with her to accept Christ. Wow, in the Fry Bread line! To God Be The Glory!

After the vendor market I headed back to First Nations to get the groceries put away and, take pictures of everyone doing construction and get dinner started. While I was taking pictures I heard some excited voices around the front of the house so I went to see what was happening. When I rounded the house, I saw everyone gathered around this car.

They all spilled out the story of what happened. The daughter of the couple who had just come to Christ hit a horse on the road, the horse hit her windshield and flipped over her car. No one was hurt but the horse had to be put down. It must have been quite a sight to see. When the brother-in-law of the man who had just came to Christ saw the windshield, he said, "The devil's mad, the devil's mad." And how right he was. The devil has had a grip on this family for so long that he was not wanting to give them up. Everyone gathered around the family encouraging and praying for them. After some tears, they could see that God was in control of the situation and just gave it all over to Him. To God Be The Glory!

Dinner was next on the agenda and with 5 helpful hands, a delicious dinner of Lasagna, salad, pineapple, garlic bread and chocolate cake was prepared.

One of the local Apache ladies helped prepare the meal and it was a wonderful time of sharing lives and encouraging one another in the Lord. Tomorrow this family is taking our group to the Apache Mineral Mine on top of the mountain behind the church. Apaches mine the semi-precious gem, peridot, at the mine and use it to make jewelry that they sell to make a living. We are told that we can search for our own peridot. So cool! When locals begin to take you places, you know that you are in the grip of a good relationship. Several other locals joined us for dinner and we had some GREAT fellowship. Much encouragement was shared and Jesus was glorified. To God Be The Glory!

After dinner, The Hub was open for the local kids who come and hang out from 6-9 every Tuesday evening. This week was special for them as well as for our group of teens who had a great time playing together.

I saw Uno, Clue, video games, football, and Sorry being played along with a group of teens sitting around singing praise songs with a guitar. It gives me chills to see youth worshipping God in a group all on their own without anyone prompting them. To God Be The Glory!

When The Hub closed for the evening, our group gathered for Debrief and everyone shared what had happend during their day. It is so much fun and a blessing for me to hear what God is doing in their lives. One gal shared that her heart was broken when one of the local kids she was playing with told her he didn't want to go home because his brother would beat him up. They handled it so well and really encouraged the little one. God is breaking her heart for the people of San Carlos, the very reason I lead short-term mission trips, so that students can come to the place that God wants them to be. To God Be The Glory!

Hey, everyone needs a little fun, right? After Debrief, several of us went "critter" hunting with a black light. Scorpions are so cool when a black light is shined on them in the dark. After locating one and seeing it literally "glow in the dark", I decided I had too much work to do and was too tired, so I headed back to my room to reconcile my finances, work on my trip report and Blog.

Back in the house, I had a wonderful conversation with one of my ministry partners at First Nations about the traditional Apache Sunrise Dance, traditional worship, and what had transpired during the day. I so enjoy the company of the First Nations staff. Their heart for the Lord just shines through them as I have seen them minister to the Apache people at all hours of the day and night. I am learning so much from them. To God Be The Glory!

I wish I could say my day was done, but a Trip Report needs to be done and then I can fall into bed, praying for all the people that God has put in my life this week while awaiting sleep to overtake me and bring rejuvenation so that I can do it all again tomorrow. And I can't wait for tomorrow to come, as there's no place I'd rather be at this very moment, but doing God's work on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. To God Be The Glory!

He Did It Again!

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There is so much that goes into setting up and leading a mission trip. I've been working on setting up this mission trip here on San Carlos for almost a year now. That is alot of time invested, alot of decisions being made, alot of prayer, alot of responsibility. Along with that, there is so much that can go wrong on a mission trip. Usually, things that we don't anticipate. And to be honest, I don't really want all that responsibility. I don't want to make all those decisions. So I decided from the beginning of this call to missions on my life, that I would "not" be the the one to take all that responsibility, I would "not" be the one to make all the decisions. I decided from the beginning that I would give all of that to God, that He would be the Project Leader and I would be His assistant.

And actually, this has worked out very well. I don't have to worry and fret about anything because I know that my "Project Leader" has everything under control. He has already taken all the responsibility. He has already made all the decisions. I'm just along for the ride. And what a ride it has been this week on San Carlos. After picking up my two precious native gals in Phoenix on Saturday, we got to work.......shopping. We hit the Sams Club with three grocery carts. 1 hour and $650 later we were ready to hit to road for San Carlos. As we loaded the groceries in the car, I realized that I could not have done this shopping trip alone. We purchased all refrigerated items and needed to quickly purchase, load and drive them 2 hours to San Carlos to keep them edible. My "Project Leader" came through for me. He supplied 2 gals, whom I love dearly, to help me shop.

I've had a great weekend with them. They were wonderful hostesses for me, meeting the group and helping with cooking & cleaning. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and after lunch today I had to take them back to Phoenix so that they could go to work tomorrow. Before we headed back to Phoenix, I had to meet with a new Ministry Partner to set up another project on San Carlos. The meeting took a little longer than I had anticipated, so when we finally hit the road, my mind was only thinking about making good time and getting the girls back home so that they could get to church tonight. I dropped them off, gave them a quick hug and was off to do more shopping.

As I began to pull onto the interstate, my "Project Leader" did it again. He pointed out a situation that I was not aware of and made a decision that I had not made. He said to me, "Check your gas gage." Oh, good idea, I thought. When I checked it, this is what I saw:

Ooops! Good thing I'm just the "Assistant Project Leader". OK, now what? Where is the nearest gas station? I certainly didn't know, but I knew that my "Project Leader" knew. So I began to pray, and pray and pray. My "Project Leader" calmed my insides, told me which way to go and off I went. One exit and 3 blocks later, I pulled into a gas station, breathing a sigh of relief and giving glory to my "Project Leader". When the tank was full, I looked at the pump and saw that I had only .7 of a tank of gas left. My "Project Leader" did it again!

This would be a pretty good place to end this story....... but it gets better. I continued on back to the San Carlos reservation as dusk fell over the desert. I love driving at this time of the evening. I open my windows and let the cool evening air rush through. By the time I arrived back on the rez, it was pitch black, but I didn't care, I was enjoying the ride singing along to my CD. As I approached a curve in the road, I had to quickly slow down to get around it, and when I hit the brake, I realized that there was a herd of cattle in the road right in front of me. If those cattle had not been on the road at the curve and had been on the straightaway instead, I would most certainly have hit them. My "Project Leader" did it again! What a God we serve!

I am so glad I have given the responsibility of "Project Leader" over to my Lord and Savior. He's doing a much better job than I ever could. If I was the "Project Leader" I would either be sitting in Phoenix two hours away from the San Carlos Rez with no gas, or, sitting on a road on the San Carlos Apache Rez with a smashed car and a bunch of smashed cattle. To God Be The Glory!

San Carlos Apache Project Update

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I'm on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation preparing for a group of 35 coming from Bakersfield, California on Saturday, April 4th. I've been shopping, investigating potential constrution projects and talking with my ministry partners about schedules, housing, meals, etc. I'm getting all the prep done before the group arrives on Saturday. We've got alot planned for the week. They will be doing 4 Bible studies at the Youth Center, playing games and making crafts with the teens in the youth center, installing a basketball goal, painting the church next door, installing shelves, planting a garden, giving out free clothing to the community at the daily market in San Carlos, building relationships with the teens that come to the youth center, etc. It looks like a great week ahead of us.

And because it looks like a great week, the spiritual warfare has begun. But, "Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world." The victory is already won! Will you please lift this project up to the Lord as you read this and stand with me in taking the victory?

While I am preping for this project on San Carlos I am in the process of setting up a custom trip for a group from Illinois to go to Fort Apache in July. I was on the Fort Apache Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona yesterday looking for housing for the group. I didn't secure anything but have 2 leads that I need to follow up on this week. Will you please partner with me in prayer also for finding housing for this July project?

As I sit here on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, God reminds me how blessed I am in life. I have a ministry that I love, family that supports me and I hold dear to my heart, so many friends on the reservations that I love to visit when I'm out west, a God that meets my every need and then sometimes He gives me a "want". Actually, He has given me several "wants" this week. What a loving God we serve!

When I landed on Tuesday I had a text on my phone from one of my special Apache friends who lives in Phoenix. She had sent me a text telling me she received my newsletter and that she had enjoyed it. I sent her a text back telling her I had just landed in Phoenix, could she and her Navajo foster sister have dinner with me. Yep, they sure could she said, so we enjoyed a wonderful Mexican buffet together that evening. We had so much fun, chatting about all kinds of girly things. It was a wonderful welcome to Phoenix and a wonderful "want".

When I had finished looking for housing in Whiteriver a friend of mind invited me to go horseback riding. Wow! Was that ever a "want". I ALWAYS "want" to go horseback riding. It was so out of the blue. I remember when I had left home, Rick had said I should wear my cowboy boots in case I got to go horseback riding. Yeah, right, I thought. That won't happen. But I pulled on my cowboy boots anyway, just in case. Well, it sure did happen. Me and 10 other ladies enjoyed a Ladies Night Out Trail Ride for an hour and a half along the river. Moral of this story, always listen to your husband!

Not only did I get to go horseback riding, but I have 10 new friends in Whiteriver. Can't wait to go back and ride with them again. This gal, a 7th grader who loves rodeoing, said she would teach me how to barrel race in July when I return to Whiteriver. I've always wanted to learn to barrel race. I told her I would teach her to jump her horse since that's what I did when I was in 7th grade. That brought a big grin to her face.

To be continued................... To God Be The Glory!

The Bible, One Exciting Book!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I read the following devotion this week about the Bible and felt God laying it on my heart to share it on my Blog. This devotion took everything that I knew about the Bible and put it all together into a very simple package for me. I hope this blesses you like it blessed me:

"The Bible has an organized structure designed to take readers systematically through God's plan for redeeming mankind from enslavement to sin. The steps include:

Plan. God foresaw humanity's condition and the necesity for salvation. Therefore, in Genesis 1 & 2, He lays the groundwork for Christ's sacrifice, even while creating the world (Ephesians 1:4).
Need. Throughout the first 9 chapters, people clearly demonstrate how much they need to be saved. Wickedness swells until God must intervene with an animal sacrifice (Genesis 3:21), a flood (Genesis 6:13), and forced separation (Genesis 11:9).
Preparations. Israel's story is told in the remainder of the Old Testament. The two-fold purpose is: 1) to proclaim Jehovah as the one true God and 2) to describe the coming Messiah so He would be recognized.
Redemption. The Gospels document how Jesus Christ fulfills God's plan: His death fully pays the penalty for all of mankinds's sin.
Proclamation. The book of Acts tells us of the gospel spreading far and wide.
Explanation. Jesus' followers write letters revealing the Holy Spirit's teaching so that all believers may grow in wisdom.
Completion. Revelation shows God's faithful followers joining Him eternally in a new heaven and a new earth.

Even though God's word must necessarily be read and studied in pieces, do not forget that it functions as a whole. Once you understand the Bible's outline, you can see how the Lord works in individual books and chapters. All of the diverse elements - law, prophecy, poetry, gospel, epistle, etc - connect to make one exciting story."

I loved this picture of the Bible functioning as a whole book. And it indeed is one exciting story. The more I read my precious Bible, the more exciting my life becomes! And the more I realize that "I am a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God, that I may declare the praises of Him who called me out of darkness into His wonderful light." (I Peter 2:9), the more I am fulfilled in life. To God Be The Glory!

How Is Your Foundation?

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I just returned from spending a few days on the Choctaw Indian Reservation in Mississippi. I stayed in a brick building that was built around the turn of the century and was originally a girls dorm for an agricultural school where young girls were taught how to maintain a plantation home and young boys were taught how to run a plantation. The dorm was a beautiful huge brick building with 10 bedrooms, several bathrooms, a big kitchen and living room.

One morning I walked around the grounds where the old agricultural school used to stand. As I wandered around, I came upon the ruins from the main building of the school. All that was left of the main school building was the brick/cement foundation. The foundation was in very good shape. As I snapped this picture of the foundation, God put an analogy in my mind.

As I looked at that foundation, God showed me a picture of how Jesus is our foundation. And, like this foundation, He is very strong and sturdy. Like this foundation, He stands firm. Like this foundation, He is there to hold us up.

Then God showed me the picture of a Christ Follower who has never grown in their walk with the Lord. They look just like this empty foundation. Jesus is right there walking along side of them, holding them strong and sturdy, but they haven't built anything upon their foundation. Their foundation is all that is there to their Christian walk. Like this foundation, their foundation is not being used.

After snapping the above picture, I wandered back to the girls dorm and snapped the following picture:

As I snapped this picture, God showed me the picture of a Christ Follower who has grown in their walk with the Lord. The Christ Follower who has grown in their walk with the Lord looks like this beautiful house. Much has been built upon Jesus, their foundation. They use their foundation every day. Their faith is strengthened and they live in obedience because they understand that their foundation needs to be built upon in order to come into the fullness of the life that God wants them to live.

Building on Jesus, our foundation, is what God desires for each of us. As we build upon our foundation, we deepen our personal relationship with the Lord. As we deepen our personal relationship with the Lord, other people notice. As other people notice, we begin to make a difference in their lives. And as we make a difference in other people's lives, our lives get richer and fuller. And, ultimately, we come to understand I Peter 2:9 that says, "we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" and then we can fulfill our purpose in life at the end of that verse that says, "that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light."

I've asked myself this week, "How is your foundation, Sherry? Does it stand empty? or Have you built upon it to make it into a beautiful picture? Will your foundation pass the test found in I Corinthians 3:12-14 which says, 'If any man builds on this foundaiton using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will received his reward.'" To God Be The Glory!

Sit With Me!

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I got in the habit of spending my quiet time with God late at night when I began to have my children. It seemed that no matter what time I would get up in the morning, they would get up before me. So, since I'm a night owl anyway, God and I would meet late at night and then we could go as long as we wanted. That late night time has served me well over the years.

But now, with my children all on their own and with working here at home, my life has changed drastically. My late night meetings with God aren't working as well as they have been. Yesterday, on my accountability conference call with some of my co-workers at AIM, God convicted me that I needed to change that time and meet with Him the first part of my day.

And this morning, I did. I got up, dressed and went right to my devotional time. It was wonderful. God spoke to my heart right where I was. Afterwords, I did my workout on my treadmill and was able to meditate on what God had told me in my devotional time. And then, I began to pray about a responsibility I have that I'm not sure how to handle. As I sought God's will in the situation and pleaded with Him for guidance and wisdom, He said, "Sit with me!"

"Sit with me!" So I sat with Him. I sat and prayed. I sat and listened. Then He said to me, "Go to The Word." So I went to The Word. I opened The Word up to Amos 7. Weird I thought, I just finished reading a book on Amos 7, called Walls of My Heart. As I read through Amos 7, I came to 7:7 and read, "This is what He showed me; The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied."

Immediately upon reading the words, "A plumb line", I knew why God had told me to Sit with Him. I knew immediately what it was that God wanted to tell me while I "sat with Him." He told me something so intimate, so personal, so "just for me." It gave me goosebumps. It explained so much. It was exactly what I needed to hear!

I am in an intense time of the year right now with my position as Ministry Coordinator of American Indian Discipleship with AIM. I am putting the finishing touches on setting up the SW misison trips that are running this summer, I am talking with Regional Reps from AIM & Youth Pastors to help them get fit with just the mission trip that God wants them on and I am preparing to lead my first project of the year on the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona the first week of April. So much is unsettled in all of this. God has continually shown me over and over that I can't do this ministry with AIM alone. I must depend on Him because I simply don't have all the tools or resources to do what must be done. And so, once again, I am glad that I serve a God who talks to me. I am glad I serve a God who cares about me. I am glad I serve a God who meets me right where I am in life. I am glad I serve a God who is so very capable, that He doesn't need me to be, He just needs me to be obedient. To God Be The Glory!

Sweet Dreams!

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

God spoke to me through a dream last night. He had never done that before. He usually speaks to me in a voice, in a thought, in my heart, through my pastor, through reading The Word, through other Christ Followers, through a Christian book, through a Christian song; but never before in a dream. It was soooo cool!

I usually don't remember my dreams, I think I just don't have many. Which seems kind of unusual for a body that has an imagination bigger than the sky, but it's true. I have very few dreams. But after this dream, when I woke up, I was immediately convicted of what God was telling me.

You see, last night I was having a "heart" issue. And believe me when I tell you, it wasn't a good "heart" issue. It was a negative "heart" issue that had been a long time in the making. A "heart" issue that I was trying to avoid thinking about. A "heart" issue that was seething just below the surface, and when it all poured out of me last night, I think God said, "Enough! It's time to deal with it!"

And I am oh, so glad He did. When I realized what He was telling me in my dream, I immediately repented and asked His forgiveness. And then, WOW, it was like a heavy load was lifted off of me. A load I was carrying that I didn't even know I was carrying until it was totally lifted from me. I have been "pruned" and does it ever feel good! John 15:1-2 says, "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful."

As I sit here tonight on the other side of this pruning, I thank God that He loves me enough to "prune" me so that I will be more fruitful for His Kingdom. Isn't this really what life is all about.....being more fruitful for the Kingdom so that we can bring Glory To God?

As I finish this off and head off to bed tonight, I'm feeling a warm fuzzy.........and that warm fuzzy is God wrapping His arms around me and saying, "Sweet Dreams!"

Monopoly Anyone?

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There are some very special American Indians in my life that God has put me into a very special relationship with. One of those very special people is a Navajo young lady, age 15, who God brought briefly into my life but gave me some really good quality time with. When I first met her she was not happy to meet me. She pretty much wouldn't talk to me, ignored me really, and tried to avoid me. But, I didn't give up on her. I kept talking to her, bugging her really, until I broke through the ice. The ice breaker came in the form of a game that you all probably have played before, Monopoly. When I asked her to play Monopoly with me I think she did it to pretty much shut up my questions.

But then something happened. She began to have fun playing Monopoly and then she began to talk to me. Next came a role reversal, I couldn't get her to stop talking. She talked my leg off. She pretty much poured out her life to me; all the heartache, moving from foster home to foster home, how much she missed her family, etc. That game of Monopoly really opened the door for our relationship.

After that game of Monopoly, our relationship really took off and God blessed me with multiple days with her. She even staffed a mission trip with me. It was on that mission trip that God really drew us together and I was able to pour lots of Jesus into her. Because of her home life and history of living in foster homes, she had put a shell around herself that she did not let many people break through. But on that mission trip she really let me break through the shell. As we met every morning and did our Bible study together, I saw her begin to soften her heart and try to become like Jesus. It was thrilling for me to watch her grow.

The last time I saw her was August, 2008. The next time I went back out west, she was gone. Returned back to her home to live with her Grandparents. I was thrilled for her. I knew that was what she had wanted all along, but then again, I was sad. I didn't know if I would ever see or hear from her again. I began to pray that if it was God's will for us to connect again, we would. Shortly after that I received a very short email from her saying she was doing well and that "she missed me." After I received that email, I really had the desire to see her again so I began to ask God again that if it was His will, I would be able to see her.

This past weekend while in New Mexico for our Project Leader Training, I was told to go to Holbrook High School in Arizona to pick up a student who was going to be attending our training in New Mexico. When I heard the words "Holbrook High School" I became excited. My stomach began to churn. Holbrook High School is the school my 15 year old Navajo friend attends. "Is this it, God. Am I going to be able to see my Navajo friend?", I asked Him. At that point, I began to pray, "Your will be done, God. If you want me to see my friend, please make it happen."

I pulled up to the high school and parked by the buses, praying I would get to see her when she came out to get on the bus. I must have looked suspicious hanging around the buses because the Superintendent of the school came up and asked me what I was doing. As I shared my story with him, I saw him soften and he began to tell me where to stand and which bus my friend would be riding. "God, you are so good.", I prayed. God didn't make me wait long. As I watched the door of the school, out walked my Navajo friend. I can not even begin to tell you the joy I felt, not only to be able to see my friend, but the joy that comes from knowing that God loves me so much that He would allow me to have the desire of my heart at that very moment.

And oh, what a moment it was. I will never forget the second our eyes met, when I was able to hug her and she hugged me back. She was so surprised to see me. Imagine how she must have felt as I began to tell her that I prayed and asked God to allow me to see her and that God honored that prayer. That God loved both of us so much that He brought us together again even when it seemed impossible. We had the most wonderful 15 minute visit. And then she was gone again, whisked away by the bus back to her Grandmother's house.

Oh, what a God we serve! A God who cares about what we care about. A God that hears our requests. A God who honors our hearts. A God who blesses us in our obedience. God truly blessed me and I am confident that if it is His will, I will see her again and we will someday be able to share lives as we share Jesus. To God Be The Glory!

Dupont Hospital?????????

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Everything was going great......near perfect again with our ministry partners, that will be helping us train, flying in from North Dakota, Texas, Illinois and Georgia, arriving on time at the Albuquerque Airport for our Project Leader Training in Bloomfield, New Mexico this weekend. As we pulled up curbside at the airport to pick them up, I noticed that I was parking in a "Fire Zone" but didn't think much of it since we were only going to be parked there a few minutes. As we loaded their luggage into the two vehicles, I noticed that I had a "missed call" on my phone. I didn't recognized the number so I quickly hit redial, hoping to find out who had called me before everyone had their luggage loaded and were ready to go. Quickly, quickly went out the window, as after several rings I heard "Dupont Hospital" on the other end of the line.

OK, why would Dupont Hospital be calling me???????? As I contemplated that question, I observed the security guard eyeing me and I watched our other vehicle filled with the guys pull away from the curb. This has got to be spiritual warfare I told myself. Just chill and figure out what is going on. Sorry, I told the ladies that were riding with me, I've got to make a call. I quickly called my mom and began to quiz her on the status of everyone in the family. She was fine but didn't know about anyone else. "Would you call everyone for me and see if they are OK?" I asked her. "Absolutely," she said. I hung up and everyone jumped in the van. I pulled away in pursuit of our lead vehicle.

Now here is the part where I have really grown in my faith walk with the Lord. Normally I would have been freaking out, imagining all kinds of horrible things that had happened to my family that would warrant a call from Dupont Hospital. But, and I am almost embarassed to admit this, I forgot all about it as the four of us ladies began chatting about the projects we have lead, our experiences on the mission field, things we had in common, etc. We were really having a great conversation and were getting to know each other when my phone rang. Yep, it was my mom reporting that three of the kids were fine, but she hadn't been able to contact my husband, Rick or Jared, my youngest son. "Oh, they're at basketball practice," I told her confidently. "The call had to be a wrong number." Spiritual warfare timed at just the critical time of pick-up at the airport with the intention of rattling me. Sorry, Satan, it didn't work. Ha!

After spending the night at the BIC Base and several hours this morning at the local Wal Mart shopping with the ladies for groceries, I headed out late this afternoon for a 4 1/2 hour drive to NAOMI House in Joseph City, Arizona to pick up a couple of Navajo teens that will be joining us for training. Before I left I heard several people say, "There is a snow storm heading this way tonight." OK, here we go again. As I drove south towards Joseph City, I forgot all about the spiritual warfare that was intended to rattle me again. I had a wonderful drive; singing along to my CDs, admiring the beautiful scenery, talking with a Ministry Development Rep in Jersey about a summer project and talking with my hubby about each of our days. It was a great trip.

As I pulled into the NAOMI House driveway, I realized just how wonderful it is to not let Satan get the upper hand, to "lay it all down" at the feet of Jesus, to so surrender that I never once thought about the predicted snow storm. I've really come a long way in my "faith walk". I'm enjoying letting the Lord go before me, setting "straight my path" (Proverbs 3:6). The truth is really sinking deep into my heart......nothing is about me......it's all about Jesus......which translates for me-----don't stress over ANYTHING! God is way more in control than I am so why even go there? I am relaxing and enjoying this ride that God has me on........this mission journey of developing relationships and sharing lives with American Indians here in Arizona and New Mexico. To God Be The Glory!

Green Chili Chicken Stew.......

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

and a Green Chili Breadstick.........doesn't get much better than that when you're in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ever feel like God has just given you a reward? Well, that's how I felt about my Green Chili Chicken Stew and my Green Chili Breadstick. I've been going full speed ahead this winter preping for: a summer of projects, project leader training in New Mexico this week, and being the wife, mother and grandmother that God has called me to be. There has been alot on my plate.

When I boarded the airplane for Albuquerque this morning, I breathed a sigh of relief.......4 1/2 hours of flying time to just chill, read a book, listen to my IPOD and marvel at God's beautiful creation from the sky. The first leg of the flight went great, so great that I hopped an earlier flight out of Dallas to Albuquerque. Only hitch, my luggage didn't make the earlier flight, it would arrive 1 1/2 hours after I did. Just enough time for me to grab lunch and visit a church in Albuquerque that I've been talking with before my luggage arrived. Perfect.......or so I thought. I had just gotten settled into my seat on the plane and fastened my seatbelt when the captain came on the loud speaker and announced that the Co-pilot's seat had broken and a replacement would have to be put in before we could take off. So much for perfect!

Usually I am a very impatient person and would not have been happy with this new development. I could just see my luggage landing on another flight and I would still be in Dallas waiting for the co-pilot's seat to be installed. Oh well, I decided to make the best of the time. I did two conference calls, read a book, called Rick (who informed me that one of his employees suggested that I just tell the co-pilot that he should just get a folding chair, which I didn't do) and gazed out the window.

After about 1 hour, the seat was fixed and off we flew. It was a marvelous flight, with lots of turbulence and a great landing. When I got off the plane I realized I had about 1/2 an hour before my luggage was scheduled to land so I headed to the nearest coffee shop for lunch. When I arrived at the coffee shop and spotted the Green Chili Chicken Stew and Green Chili Breadstick, I began to see "'perfect" peak it's head out again. I slowly savored my lunch and then headed down to baggage claim for my luggage. As I stepped off the escalator, I spotted my luggage hit the conveyor belt. Perfect!

I grabbed it and headed off to the shuttle for rental car pick-up. A very nice lady driver helped me get my luggage on and off the shuttle. As I handed her a tip I tucked a "Knowing God Personally" tract in with the money. As I turned to go, she held up the tract and said to me, "How did you know I needed this today. I am in a very bad mood. I am going to read this right now." Wow! Another reward. Perfect was getting even better.

I won't bore you with any more details, but my day just got more and more perfect. I am in New Mexico on obedience to God's call on my life and as I sit here working on my laptop this evening, I am feeling God's reward for my obedience, a "Well done, good job, keep going." And it is oh, so wonderful. To God Be The Glory!