DAY 3 // Ready. Set. Serve.
Today was another full day of projects. We began with breakfast which included bacon, eggs, waffles, and other various breakfast items. Once breakfast was over, a group left for ShipRock to work on the paint project there, and another group stayed at the church in Hogback. Projects there included working to fix a leak under one of the trailers, finishing the ramp at the preachers house. BJ Morris and Mike Markwood took the lead on this project and have worked very hard on the ramp and today, the finishing touches were added with a concrete pad at the bottom. There are a few more minor things to finish up but it is basically done. Tomorrow, there are a few more projects that include some step repair and plumbing repairs as well as small projects at the home in ShipRock.
This evening, some of the members from both churches came back for supper and Bible study. We were able to fellowship with them more and learn more about them. Again, it seems like we already knew them. They enjoy meeting with us and talking with us and learning about us and the same goes for us. After supper, we had a Bible study that was led by Johnny Mitchell (from Una church of Christ) and he spoke on the topic of what it means to be a disciple and to really follow Jesus. He talked a lot about how the Christian life is not easy and you will face trials in your life but your reward will be great. We must always seek to follow Jesus and live in a way that bring glory to Him.
Some of the members of the congregation are very active in the Bible classes and ask questions that make for great conversation which leads to digging deeper into what the Bible actually says. Once the Bible study was over, we were able to fellowship some more and had great conversations that could have went on all night and filled up entire pages of this blog.
As stated last night, the best way to explain how these past few days have been is just to experience it yourself. We could come out here for weeks and spend the entire time working on building projects and helping the people out here with their “physical needs” or we could spend an entire week studying the Bible with them. Both are needed and of course the spiritual need is much greater but there is also a need for proper facilities. I have heard many times the past few days of how appreciative they are for the work we have done. As stated before we left: it is very hard to just go up to someone, at home, down the street, a state or 2 away and especially on a reservation and invite them to a Bible study and expect them to just come. If you serve people with their physical needs such as helping fix a leak, help fix a handrail, paint a home, or even do some of the smallest things, people look at you wondering why are you out here in the middle of the desert helping this person? This is a great way to meet someone where they are at and just tell them why we are doing this. There are so many verse in the Bible that teach us about serving others. Personally, I have seen each person use their gift to serve those here in New Mexico. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” A few examples of this from my perspective are as follows: we have some that are very handy with construction type projects from carpentry, plumbing and painting. We have many that do great work preparing meals and organizing everything meal related, which is very important and takes A LOT of work. We have some here who are very good with teaching and preaching. Not everyone can stand up and lead songs, prayers and teach a class. We have some that are absolutely wonderful with the kids here. They connect with them and play games with them, teach them, talk to them, and just be there for them. Many are very good with starting up a conversation with anyone and make them feel like they are part of the group. There are so many talents and gifts that have been displayed this week and none of these things would have worked if we did not have each and every person that is here.
It is great to see everyone coming together to share the love of Jesus with our brothers and sisters in Christ!
