2/23/2008

The weather up on the Mesa's on the Hopi reservation is not very nice and everything here is covered with a serious layer of mud. Makes for some really messy times. We have been enjoying more fellowship with the Toews family and have even been blessed with our first traditional Hopi meal, a soup, some bread and some blue corn tortilla's that are very thin. The soup is something that they would typically make for their "bean dance" ceremony (the women that made it would not be participating as she has put these things behind her) and consisted of bean sprouts, hominy and some other vegetables. All of it was very good and it was a real blessing to receive all this provision.

We spent the day in fellowship, learning more about the Hopi people and getting to know some of the people on the reservation. Truly a blessing.

I went bouldering with Nathan (first real attempt in 13 years) and found that the weight and the age really have affected me.... : ) Also made the big mistake of taking my glasses off and leaving them to lay on a rock where we had our gear. Needless to say, they got broken. Really broken. Glad that I can see for the most part without them as there is not a glasses store anywhere near by (about 100 miles to the nearest shopping).

We spent the evening with a family praying through the house and asking God to provide His protection for this family as they had been feeling the attacks of the enemy. The Hopi people are probably the most spiritual of the native americans and the time of the bean festival which is happening right now is a strong time of spiritual activity. I had already prayed through our trailer on the first night that we were there as we were warned that the activity would be high. I'm not sure that I can describe their festivals, beliefs, and spiritism in writing and I'm not sure how much of it I am at liberty to discuss on the internet so, I will have to keep the information pretty vague, however, I can say that the battle is raging here and the souls of men are the prize. Pray that the Lamb that was Slain would truly receive the reward of His suffering from the Hopi people.

2/22/2008

We started the day in Grants, NM with the temperature about 34 degrees and the skies threatening to snow on us. Before we were too far up the road this was fully realized. Much of our travel today was slated to be on Indian reservation land and a good part of it was at high altitude which culminated with us going across a pass which was higher than 7,000 feet above sea level. Not exactly the way you want to travel when you have 7,000 pound of trailer stuck to your bumper but we really felt that we needed to keep going. As we proceeded into the Navajo reservation the weather didn't improve and by the time we reached the Hopi reservation we were experiencing near white out conditions at some points. The really interesting thing about traveling on the Hopi reservation is that they mostly live on Mesa's. If you have never seen a Mesa, they are high flat pieces of land which are almost like islands. They are really beautiful to look at from ground level but the idea of driving up them in blowing snow is not too appealing. To make matters a little worse, the people we were going to see, The Toews family (pronounced Taves), live on the 3rd mesa and yes, in order to get to the 3rd mesa you have to go up the first mesa, down the first mesa, up the second mesa, down the second mesa, up the third mesa.... Again, all in snowy conditions. When we arrived we found the church road to be quite muddy and we ended up getting the van and trailer stuck on the way up the driveway. Russ and his son Nathaniel hooked up their 4 wheel drive Suburban and pulled the Van and Camper far enough up the driveway that we were able to get the camper set up so that we could stay in it. It was quite an eventful day of travel. However, our time there became quite restful right away.

Upon arriving we were warmly greeted by the Toews family. The welcome and the warmth of their home was truly appreciated and we were immediately put at ease. I can't begin to praise God enough for the rest He brings in the home of those that love Him. We spent the rest of the day talking and getting to know one another and later that evening we were introduced to the Hayah family. This family is a real blessing from the Lord Jesus in so many ways. They are from the reservation and became Christians only about 4 years ago but God has been graciously growing them so abundantly! Their testimonies are a real joy to hear and it is even more of a joy to see that they are on a real solid path.

Colossians 1:3-6 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

More on our time here in the next couple of posts.

David

2/21/2008

We started out in Las Cruces, New Mexico and ended our day in Grants, NM. A total of 280 miles. Not exactly a hard days drive but the winds were horrible and we have a 32.5 foot trailer along with a 12 foot long van all stuck together with a very heavy duty hitch. In short we are pushed about like a sail on the sea.

For about 30 miles we actually traveled on the old Route 66. It was quite a desolate drive.

By the end of the day we discovered that the passes we had just driven through had either been closed due to high winds or there was a travel advisory issued against traveling in these passes (gusts of 55 mph). The Lord as been so merciful to us in protecting us.

It was our original intent to drive onto the Hopi Indian Reservation in North eastern Arizona to visit and encourage our friends there, but the winds slowed us down. We thought we should stop in Gallup, NM, for the night but were advised against it by our friends in Arizona as the neighboring Navajo Indian Reservation is a dry reservation (no alcohol / no liquor). The town of Gallop, NM is quit a wild place and can be dangerous to outsiders. (A town that definitely is not dependant on the tourist industry)

Please pray for our protection from the spirits throughout the reservations (there are many of them, spirits and reservations).

Lord, Please illuminate our path that we would have your sure footing. Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Robin




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I may be over spiritualizing things a bit but I have likened our trailer to being that of our flesh and our van as being that of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

They fight one against another and our driving when it is windy is often like that. So far the flesh has been bucking us the whole trip but the Spirit is overcoming! Glory!

Just a simple man with an eye on Jesus!

David

2/20/2008 Rockhounding!

Today was a trip to Rouckhound State Park in New Mexico. This park is know for its geodes. For those of you who don't know their rocks they are formed by valcanic activity. They look like large mud balls, but inside are crystal formations. We didn't find anything but had a nice day of digging.

Memories...

Robin

2/19/2008 Mexico

Today is a day that will not be forgotten…. Leaving the trailer at the KOA in Las Cruces, New Mexico we kind of back tracked a little and went to El Paso, Texas. Now I’m sure you are asking yourself “now why did they go back?” Well we went to Juarez, Mexico. We were only there for a few hours but what we saw will not soon be forgotten. We parked our van in a small lot just outside the immigration checkpoint and walked into a different world. By the way, the immigration checkpoint is surrounded by 8 foot fences topped with razor wire. David and I had no idea what we were walking into.

Most of the cars are taxis and looked like junk yard reject. There were people everywhere and within just a few minutes David noticed a man that he thought was following us…. This man would walk past us and then cross the street well in front of us and back down the opposite side of the street, cross the street behind us and pass us again…. We went around the corner and down the street towards to the Mercado (market), this man was never to be seen again. Again just down the street there was a space of about 15 to 20 feet between David and I and two men stepped out from a small street shop right behind David, one motioning to the other where David had his wallet. (which was in a pocket on the front of his pant leg) While maintaining the same distance one man turned to look over his shoulder and realized that David was not alone…. Perhaps my cover made them think I was a nun (the Catholic Church is a very ominous presents) helping this poor man with his children….. but both men stopped dead in their tracks and smiled at me while giving me a pleasant nod…. We were grateful for the protection our Lord gave us. While walking along the streets we all noticed a very high number of handicapped people and many of them were begging…. One woman with two small children sat on the sidewalk begging for money…. Lord please forgive my gluttony… we are a very fat country. We also found a street preacher in the square preaching the Lords word…. Bible and megaphone in hand. I am sure our friends at OPBBC would be delighted.

As you walk along the street many people will walk up to you trying to sell their wears… that could be anything from a balloon animal to razors to a blanket… but we encountered a woman selling small bags of assorted candy. Her name was Sylvia and she was a non-using heroin addict. She told us that she had been clean for 8 months and was selling candy to raise monies for the drug house she lives at. They are helped for free and in return are asked to make fund raising their job. The house gives them the bags of candy they just have to pay for the bags at the end of the day or turn in what she doesn’t sell. She also introduced us to her husband Thomas. They both say that God has helped them… but we don’t know to what extent they believe… (language barrier) Before we parted ways we prayed with them for protection and that they would seek everything from Him. Please pray for Sylvia and Thomas, the world is against them…

On our way back we walked back over the Rio Grande River and into the United States. As we walked over the bridge I saw below a man with a large paper cone. The man stood there with that cone yelling to the people crossing over the bridge. His yells were consistently the same “ Hey help, Hey help”. He wanted the people transversing that bridge to throw him money and he would catch it with the large paper cone.

I believe I have left a part of my heart with these people and in this city and would love to go back. God’s will be done. Please pray for this city and its people, they are shockingly poor and the Church here is only getting fatter. God help us!

Robin

2/18/2008

We got up and on the road with little effort. One note…. We have one for the Guiness record books, the smallest Walmart exists in Pacos, Texas. I have seen gas stations along the way that are bigger than the Walmart here.

Anyway, the day was uneventful…. We drove from Pecos, Texas, to Las Cruces, New Mexico. A total of 254 miles…. Not a lot of driving but a relaxing day.

We pulled into a very nice KOA and had dinner at a highly recommended Mexican restaurant. David and I both like Mexican food so this is a real treat. With bellies full we went back to the KOA and enjoyed a restful evening.


Robin

2/17/2008 "West of the Pecos"

Well with the tornado warnings behind us and the sun and a new day before us we were up bright and early to see, so to speak, two of our hero’s of the faith. In the town of Garden Valley, Texas, there is a small and humble cemetery where you will find the graves of both Keith Green and Leonard Ravenhill. Lord please allow us to make a mark for you as they did. On Leonard Ravenhill stone he asks all that visit a question that everyone should ponder. “Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”

There were many very large estates in the area of the cemetery and farms. One of the estates we saw was the estate of David Wilkerson… (ever heard of the book The Cross and The Switchblade) We also got a good look at the local longhorn cattle that Texas is so famous for.

As we got back on the highway we say many things that I am sure the Lord is very grieved over. We came into the highway loop that surrounds the Dallas / Fort Worth area and saw two mega churches right off the bat. One with a large sign facing the highway that said “Your Tithes At Work”. With the starving and homeless people that exist everywhere I am sure Our Lord would have spent those tithes to feed the poor….

Lord, please forgive me / us for our perspective on money. Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Our drive out of the Dallas / Fort Worth area opens into the desert and there you see a new world. It is not the moon scape of sand that I had expected. It is an environment with cactus, small green bushes, oil derricks, oil pumps, and off in the distance are mountains that are unimaginable. This is big oil country. This life blood of this country.

We finally ended our driving that day in a small town called Pecos, Texas, for a total of 617 miles driven and we will call Wal-Mart home for the night. When we first entered the town I really didn’t think too much of it but was soon enlightened. Have you ever heard the old cowboy movies say “there ain’t no law west of the Pecos”? Well this is the town…. We are now “West of the Pecos”.

Robin

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Our trip to see the graves of Keith Green and Leonard Ravenhill has to be one of my highlights from this trip so far. While I know that these spots are nothing, they do remind me of what God can do and wants to do with men. If you have never heard anything from either of these men of God then I would recommend you search them out on www.sermonindex.net and listen to some of their messages. They were truly men that had a message to the church for their day as well as ours. I would also strongly recommend that you watch the Keith Green Story (the link is shown in our favorites) and read the Biography of Keith Green, "No Compromise", written by his wife which is far more indepth into the life of this man. Truly humbling. You may not agree with the music but you can't deny what the Spirit of God was doing.

David