Arizona Reflections

We've been back from the San Carlos Reservation a week now, and it probably takes that long (and longer) to assess lessons learned, positive take-aways, and future possibilities for us. I've been chewing on these thoughts throughout the week, and although there is much that remains difficult to wrap our hands around, there are some tangible products from our time with the Arizona Reservation Ministry, and the Apache people. Here are a few:

1. We took a team of 21, second largest in the eight years I've been at KACC. About half of the team was new to short-term missions and/or the San Carlos venue. We were able to introduce a new group of people to what God is doing (and wants us to do) in our own backyard. We made new and deeper connections with each other, and challenged our team to be the ambassadors for ARM as well as KACC GO! Teams upon our return;

2. We were able to further the work on two homes on the reservation, and our efforts mean that the homes will be ready for their occupants that much sooner. Sacrificial service will provide blessings for a few more people, and hopefully open them even more to Christ's message of hope;

3. We got to spend time with kids, loving on them and showing them that God loves them through our interaction with them. There are many walls of distrust built through years of conflict. We pray our time with these young ones will help break down some of those barriers and replace them with foundations of trust;

4. We connected with the ARM team and (hopefully!) were an encouragement to them. After all, groups like ours come and go, but these brothers and sisters live in the trenches, on the front lines of ministry in a desperate and difficult place. They can become discouraged and disenchanted, impacted deeply by the spiritual warfare in which they're engaged. One of our goals is to refresh them as they give themselves for the Kingdom. They've become our friends, and we theirs;

5. Our eyes and hearts have been opened, some for the first time, some a little more, to the needs and circumstances that exist- so close to our lives, and yet a world removed. We've been challenged, convicted, and shocked by what we've experienced, and now we're called to do something about it. It may look different for each of us, but one thing is certain- we cannot afford to be the same people that we were a couple of weeks ago. We know too much.

Thanks goes to each of you who, in some way, gave your support to those who did the legwork of this trip. We are a team together, some sending, some praying, some encouraging, some going. Your part, however big or small, was vital (perhaps more than you can ever know) and we are grateful. And so are a handful of people in eastern Arizona.

Our next trip to San Carlos will be April 23-26, 2009. Consider and pray about the possibility of joining us. And if you can't go in person, ask God how He might use you in a another way on this team. But in some way, plan to become part of a group seeking to make a world of difference among a people so close to- and yet so far from- us.

Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord

Today was a full work day for us, but some ways you might not imagine. We left Globe and traveled the 20+ minutes to the reservation to continue to work on one of the homes that we had worked on yesterday. We needed to paint (especially trim and molding), hang doors and install fixtures, as the house is nearing completion.

When we arrived on site, half went to work there and the other half piled back into the van for a prayer journey. Diana Lawrence (one of ARM'S founders) guided us through different communities of the reservation, telling stories, answering questions, and helping us understand better the overwhelming situation we see here. In each location she talked to us about people and circumstances. Several times she began to cry as she shared. The stories ripped our hearts out. Unbelievable. Incredible. Incomprehensible. Unfathomable. We cried as well. Fortunately, there were encouraging stories as well, which helped bring a sense of equilibrium to our time.

We switched places with the work group- they drove and prayed, we stayed and labored. Both groups worked. Following lunch and a good afternoon of painting and building as one group, we made our way back to where we were staying. Great dinner, then a good time of sharing, debriefing and seeking to put together some of what we are learning. Not an easy task but we had a great time trying.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we will worship here in Globe, eat lunch out with the ARM staff, then make our way back to Phoenix for our 6:30 p.m. flight to the OC. Please remember us in your prayers, especially that we will make the most of every opportunity we have until we are back home safely. Thanks!

Reservation Made

Our Arizona GO! Team is on site, settled in, working hard and connecting well here on the San Carlos Apache reservation. Everyone has found more than enough to do, and more than they probably thought they would see in the short time we've been here. We are painting one home for Ricky, who is currently living in a small tent. Although the structure that ARM has created is quite small by our standards (300+ sq. ft.) with just a living area/kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, to Eric it is beautiful. And it really is!

At another site, we're hanging cabinets, painting, installing doors and molding, and putting final (hopefully!) touches on a home that was badly burned. The grandmother who will live there again is excited to see what had been destroyed now rise from the ashes (literally) as something new and grand. Through this type of service, ARM is creating significant relationships with more and more in San Carlos and is being understood as a group of people who love the Apache people and who help provide hope.

Of course, the treat for our team is time with the children. The bus ministry rolled out Thursday afternoon for Bible stories and games with kids in one area, and we got some good "hang time" with many there. Yesterday, some of us went to a youth foster home and simply loved on the little ones there, some of whom get little of that kind of attention. It's hard to know who receives the bigger blessing, us or them!

Please continue to pray for us- for safety, health, unity an opportunity- as we serve the needs of the Apache and the needs of Arizona Reservation Ministries. We only have a short time remaining and we want to use it to the fullest for the sake of God's Kingdom. And thank you all for your prayers, partnership, encouragement and support- you are a part of what is going on this weekend, even from where you are! (picures coming tonight- we hope!)

AZ GO! Team On Its Way

Our team will gather tomorrow morning at 4:30 (or is that the middle of the night?!) at the church and make its way to John Wayne Airport as we wing our way to eastern Arizona for four days of service and connection with the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Arizona Reservation Ministry. ARM is one of the missions we support as a church, so our time serving them is important as is gives us the opportunity to more closely partner with them as they work with the Apache people.

Please pray for us as we fly, drive and pour ourselves out for the sake of others. We will be busy with construction projects, relationship building, kids' ministry, and assisting ARM in whatever ways they can use us. Pray for us as we deal with the spiritual warfare in the area. The reservation is a place of great physical, emotional, and spiritual need, and there is a critical call for hope in ways that we would probably never imagine. Our time there will be short, but we believe God can create change in the lives of people with whom we come into contact, as well as within us, while we are on site.

Thank you for your partnership with us as we go. You may not be able to go (this time!), but you can pray, encourage, finance and support those who put legs on Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). In this way, we all have a part to play, a place in this work, and a connection with each other. Please lift us before the throne of grace this weekend, and we will do our best to represent the Lord and you to the best of our ability.