ENJOY PICTURES AND Updates from our Mission Team serving at the native American christian academy (NACA) in Sun Valley, ARIZONA FROM JUNE 30-AUGUST 6, 2024
DAY 7
Today was a bittersweet day. We had a fun outing day as a group. We had a jeep tour of Canyon de Chelly in Navajo Nation. The parts we got to explore were only available to see if you had a Navajo guide and we had 3 great ones! We learned the history of the canyon and more about Navajo community. After our VERY bumpy 3 hour jeep tour we went to lunch (donated by a gracious member of church) and some tried some Navajo menu items.
Although our day was a lot of fun we knew our time was coming to an end at NACA. We were blessed to be able to interact with the students and bought them popsicles! We had one kid say he needed one for his baby sister, when I asked where she was he said, "at home"...nice try little man! LOL. We played volleyball, basketball, tag and rope swings. Even though our time with the kids was only for 2 hours this whole trip they were the best part! You will not see pictures of this time together for many reasons. Although the work we did all week was necessary behind the scenes work and it was great to see who it impacts directly. They are easy to love but isn't that what God calls us to do every day? To love one another...even if it's not easy. Our time here has made a difference in everyone and a part of our hearts will be left here. NACA is a special place and we know we will be back. Thank you God for always reminding us that doing your work brings us joy and fulfills our lives with more than we could imagine!
Thank you to our church family for the prayers and financial support, we love you!
See you all on the next work and witness team! I promise it will change your life!
Although our day was a lot of fun we knew our time was coming to an end at NACA. We were blessed to be able to interact with the students and bought them popsicles! We had one kid say he needed one for his baby sister, when I asked where she was he said, "at home"...nice try little man! LOL. We played volleyball, basketball, tag and rope swings. Even though our time with the kids was only for 2 hours this whole trip they were the best part! You will not see pictures of this time together for many reasons. Although the work we did all week was necessary behind the scenes work and it was great to see who it impacts directly. They are easy to love but isn't that what God calls us to do every day? To love one another...even if it's not easy. Our time here has made a difference in everyone and a part of our hearts will be left here. NACA is a special place and we know we will be back. Thank you God for always reminding us that doing your work brings us joy and fulfills our lives with more than we could imagine!
Thank you to our church family for the prayers and financial support, we love you!
See you all on the next work and witness team! I promise it will change your life!
DAY 6
This morning we traveled to Winslow to attend a church in our Southwest Native American District. The service lasted a little over 2 hours but was very good. We did a little exploring in Winslow beforehand. After service we ventured to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.
Today was move in day foe the students. Due to the craziness of the first day we did not interact with students or help out today. We are hoping that tomorrow we will be able to play some 9 square with some when they are done with their classes.
It is nice to have a day and a half to explore the area. It paid to work hard for 5 days straight so we could wind down and enjoy the sights around us.
Today was move in day foe the students. Due to the craziness of the first day we did not interact with students or help out today. We are hoping that tomorrow we will be able to play some 9 square with some when they are done with their classes.
It is nice to have a day and a half to explore the area. It paid to work hard for 5 days straight so we could wind down and enjoy the sights around us.
DAY 5
Today's devotional was led by Jadyn and we focused on Galatians 5:12-13 . We talked about how we are to use the freedom we are given not for self indulgence but to serve others. As followers of Christ we should always exemplify Christ through our actions and words and not pick and choose what we want to follow in the Bible and disregard the stuff we don't want to do.
Today we had an easier day because they were not expecting our team to get so much done while we were here so all we had left to do was some odds and ends. So, today we went to the girls' dorm to help with touch ups, we cleaned all the showers in the boys' dorm, made the beds, changed out the electrical and put the outlet covers back on, cleaned up debris from the courtyard, weeded, painted some stuff if the snack shack we put together and cleaned the courtyard restrooms.
After dinner we had a much needed run to Dairy Queen in the next town over.
Our team has been amazing and got so much more done than was expected. We are so blessed to have been part of preparing for the students' arrival. Tomorrow we will attend a Church of the Nazarene in the Southwest Native American District and then enjoy some sightseeing of the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert which are only 20 min from NACA. The students arrive tomorrow but they have a jam packed day. We are hoping to be able to interact with them a little bit on Monday.
Please pray for Camilo and Sara as they welcome students and a new mission team next week while having to do jury duty and travel at the same time. It's a busy week for them.
Today we had an easier day because they were not expecting our team to get so much done while we were here so all we had left to do was some odds and ends. So, today we went to the girls' dorm to help with touch ups, we cleaned all the showers in the boys' dorm, made the beds, changed out the electrical and put the outlet covers back on, cleaned up debris from the courtyard, weeded, painted some stuff if the snack shack we put together and cleaned the courtyard restrooms.
After dinner we had a much needed run to Dairy Queen in the next town over.
Our team has been amazing and got so much more done than was expected. We are so blessed to have been part of preparing for the students' arrival. Tomorrow we will attend a Church of the Nazarene in the Southwest Native American District and then enjoy some sightseeing of the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert which are only 20 min from NACA. The students arrive tomorrow but they have a jam packed day. We are hoping to be able to interact with them a little bit on Monday.
Please pray for Camilo and Sara as they welcome students and a new mission team next week while having to do jury duty and travel at the same time. It's a busy week for them.
DAY 4
Devotions started with Matthew 28:18-20. We talked about how we are all called to serve, in fact, it was the last direction Jesus gave before ascension. Making disciples of all nations means not only to evangelize, but to also live how God tells us to live. We talked about how the way we live our life should reflect God in every single way. We also talked about how to figure out where God is calling us and how to be obedient to that call. It starts with faith.
Guess what???? We finished painting!! We did do a 9 p.m. roll of white ceiling paint to finish it off, but we did it! Our day consisted of completing the last dorm room of paint and rolling ceilings and doing touch ups, we also assembled 7 wardrobe cabinets for some of the dorm rooms, Chris fixed/installed a new water heater and hung some doors in the girl's dorm. At night several of us were walking campus and saw the coordinators of the school in the dorm still working so we did what we should have done and jumped right in.
Our extra evening time of a couple hours consisted of painting a ceiling that looked like it needed another coat, removing all paint and tools and garbage and putting it back in the tool shed or dumpster, and assembling some beds for the dorm rooms we just finished painting. Our phone flashlights came in handy to scare away the rattlers and bullnose snakes that lurk in the dark...luckily one was not spotted.
It is inspiring to see the dedication of the permanent workers here at NACA. They are determined to make this space Inviting and exciting for the students.
Please pray for the school and the students. That everything that HAS to be done before move in tomorrow gets done and the staff feels relaxed and energized to welcome the kids. Pray that the kids feel the love the moment they step on campus and that it ripples into their communities. God is doing amazing work here and it is great to be a part of it!
Guess what???? We finished painting!! We did do a 9 p.m. roll of white ceiling paint to finish it off, but we did it! Our day consisted of completing the last dorm room of paint and rolling ceilings and doing touch ups, we also assembled 7 wardrobe cabinets for some of the dorm rooms, Chris fixed/installed a new water heater and hung some doors in the girl's dorm. At night several of us were walking campus and saw the coordinators of the school in the dorm still working so we did what we should have done and jumped right in.
Our extra evening time of a couple hours consisted of painting a ceiling that looked like it needed another coat, removing all paint and tools and garbage and putting it back in the tool shed or dumpster, and assembling some beds for the dorm rooms we just finished painting. Our phone flashlights came in handy to scare away the rattlers and bullnose snakes that lurk in the dark...luckily one was not spotted.
It is inspiring to see the dedication of the permanent workers here at NACA. They are determined to make this space Inviting and exciting for the students.
Please pray for the school and the students. That everything that HAS to be done before move in tomorrow gets done and the staff feels relaxed and energized to welcome the kids. Pray that the kids feel the love the moment they step on campus and that it ripples into their communities. God is doing amazing work here and it is great to be a part of it!
DAY 3
The team started the day with a devotional that centered around Luke 17:7-10 and discussed how we can't let the lack of others' service get in the way of the real reason we are serving. Keep serving and pleasing the Lord and it won't matter what others are doing or not doing.
Guess what we did today??!!! Yep...we painted. But...all new doors are hung, hallway is complete, common area is almost done and 6 of the 7 rooms are almost finished. On top of painting there was a demolition crew that helped tear down the old snack shack to make room for a new one.
A Navajo woman came to campus to sell jewelry she makes and a lot of us will be sporting some authentic new jewelry at church.
Our evening ended with a panel talk with the director and mission coordinators. It was so inspiring to hear their heart and vision for NACA and how much positive change they have already brought in one short year. God is growing this campus and these dedicated people have accepted the call to love on these students and transform communities. At this time we were also able to present all the donated toiletry items and dorm gifts. The dorm parents are so excited to give them to the students. Thank you church family for being part of the ministry through donation.
Please pray for NACA and funding! NACA is completely run on donations and they have so much to remodel to make room for more students. The Academy has a waiting list because they do not have space to house more than 50 students. They need funds to remodel the dorms that they have so they can fit more. This place is growing and the Lord gets all the glory!
FUN FACT: NACA has a child sponsor program that helps keep NACA running!
Guess what we did today??!!! Yep...we painted. But...all new doors are hung, hallway is complete, common area is almost done and 6 of the 7 rooms are almost finished. On top of painting there was a demolition crew that helped tear down the old snack shack to make room for a new one.
A Navajo woman came to campus to sell jewelry she makes and a lot of us will be sporting some authentic new jewelry at church.
Our evening ended with a panel talk with the director and mission coordinators. It was so inspiring to hear their heart and vision for NACA and how much positive change they have already brought in one short year. God is growing this campus and these dedicated people have accepted the call to love on these students and transform communities. At this time we were also able to present all the donated toiletry items and dorm gifts. The dorm parents are so excited to give them to the students. Thank you church family for being part of the ministry through donation.
Please pray for NACA and funding! NACA is completely run on donations and they have so much to remodel to make room for more students. The Academy has a waiting list because they do not have space to house more than 50 students. They need funds to remodel the dorms that they have so they can fit more. This place is growing and the Lord gets all the glory!
FUN FACT: NACA has a child sponsor program that helps keep NACA running!
DAY 2
Breakfast and a 20 min devotional to start our day. We talked about how serving as God asks us to serve gives us purpose and in turn true joy.
Then the dog lovers got their canine fix with our mission coordinators dog, Duke and another named Bruce (not pictured).
Today's work consisted of demo, paint, paint and more paint, hanging doors, trimming doors, putting in new paver stones, designing and setting up a snack shack, removing garbage, ripping out old trim..oh and more paint.
We ended the day with some delicious dinner, packed up 50 donated toiletry kits for the students (with handwritten cards from the church for each basket) and saw a beautiful sunset. I say it was a success.
Please pray for all of us, we are VERY sore and the dryness here is causing crazy chapped lips!
Then the dog lovers got their canine fix with our mission coordinators dog, Duke and another named Bruce (not pictured).
Today's work consisted of demo, paint, paint and more paint, hanging doors, trimming doors, putting in new paver stones, designing and setting up a snack shack, removing garbage, ripping out old trim..oh and more paint.
We ended the day with some delicious dinner, packed up 50 donated toiletry kits for the students (with handwritten cards from the church for each basket) and saw a beautiful sunset. I say it was a success.
Please pray for all of us, we are VERY sore and the dryness here is causing crazy chapped lips!
DAY 1
Our first day at NACA involved a tour and orientation, including a warning on snakes and rats! Hard to believe that areas in our own country do not have good drinking water...thankful for water donations! Tomorrow we work to prepare the school to welcome students on Sunday!
Fun fact: The Navajo Nation in Arizona follows daylight savings so they are 1 hour behind the rest of the area...so we are 3 hours behind Michigan time.
Fun fact: The Navajo Nation in Arizona follows daylight savings so they are 1 hour behind the rest of the area...so we are 3 hours behind Michigan time.
PRAYER CARD FOR OUR NACA MISSION TEAM FROM CROSS COMMUNITY
Plus New Team Member:
Kevin Camp
Kevin Camp
GIVING TO MISSIONS @ Cross Community
Thank you again for giving through the C3Naz Generosity Journey, Work & Witness, and World Evangelism Fund for this team’s project funds, providing items for the Shower Kits for the students, and supporting NACA! You are making a difference in Arizona by sending a team to be the hands, feet, and mouthpiece of Jesus!