It's been an amazing few months and I cannot believe how blessed I am to have been a part of Onetribe this past year. I have made amazing friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and I can say without a doubt that I am not the same person I was before having come out to AZ. I have so much more to say about everything I've experienced, but I'll save it for another time...
Since most students from Onetribe are on their summer break, I was given the opportunity to venture out of Flagstaff during the summer and stay for a month in Many Farms, AZ and a month in Whiteriver, AZ. Currently, I'm in Many Farms and am staying in a house next to a small Baptist church on the Navajo reservation under the mentorship of Pastor Al and Charlotte Campsen. The three weeks that I have been here have been so heartwarming. I am learning a lot about, well, a lot of things. And again, I have so much more to say about what I've learned within just the three weeks that I've been here, but I'll save it for another time.
Already, I'll be changing up my place of stay in the next week and a half and I cannot help but feel this deep pull in my heart wishing to stay here a bit more. I've met some amazing kids and I just want to be around a while longer to continue building relationships. But I trust that God knows in full omniscience where I should to be. My frustration to this "nomadic" lifestyle makes me excited, though, for when I will find a place and community that I can commit my life to, where I can live and love like Jesus lives and loves.
This one boy (who is SO DARN CUTE) asked me with some heartbreaking puppy dog eyes, "Uno, when are you leaving?" GAH!!! I wanted to pull his head into my stomach and hold him tight and scream, "NEVER!" Sigh. I made a video of some of the things that I've have been up to with the church and kids here and I want to share it with you all so you can see a glimpse of why I love this place so much!!!
Nancyana is that first girl you see with the messy pizza sauce hands. She is too precious for words. Last week she sat by me and was hanging on my arm and pulled her face up to me and said, "Last night, I was so scared I couldn't sleep. Then I prayed to God and HE GAVE ME JESUS!" lkfjals;dkfja;lskdjfaldskjf Another time she asked Pastor Al to bring her to church and he said, "Nobody is there right now. What're you gonna do when you get there?" And she replied, "Smile."
:)
(click on smiley to view video)
Here's a verse that I have been meditating on since I first arrived in Many Farms: "Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." - Matthew 9:37-38
God is God, God is good.
<3uno
i'm glad you're doing well sister! so proud of you :)
ReplyDeletei <3 this post. read it and watched the video through happy tears. :)
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read your blog, my heart is filled with so much joy. I'm glad to see that you're doing well and are getting so blessed out there. P. Al, Charlotte, P. Jon, and Paula are all such wonderful, wonderful people! Aahhh.... I'm so jealous you get to spend time with them all! Give them all big hugs for me! A few of those kids in Many Farms look familiar to me. If you ever see girls named Nichelle (Nicky) and Briana, tell them I said hi. I miss AZ!!
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful post. pastor al seems really great.
ReplyDeleteu are puttin in WORK! GIRL! thanks for being a blessing to us all! u are beautiful and loved!
love u uno! be healthy! <3