I went to Hardrock, Arizona in the summers of 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002. That may seem like a lot of trips and time in Arizona. However, going to the Navajo Reservation for four years has only left me more in awe, more humbled and more desirous of knowing the people there and the God who created that amazing land and sky that one sees there. I truly feel that God has called me to serve Him in Arizona working with the Navajo people. It never gets old. Every year I learn something new and He never fails to teach me.
The question everyone asks me after I tell them that I'm spending a fourth summer on the Navajo Reservation is "why do you return every year?" I answer their question with one of my own, "How can you not go back?" There is something about Arizona that simply captivates you. Maybe it's the smiles the Navajo kids give us, or it may be the beautiful sunrise, or the vastness of Grand Canyon or the amazing star lit skies. I don't know. I'm not sure. But one thing that I do know for sure is that God has placed a burden on my heart for the Navajo people.
He has told PaLM to send a team every year and minister there. And I know that He is moving and working in Arizona for more than just the ten days that we spend there. He is always there with them, softening their hearts and preparing them for the next time we return to share His Word. Missions is an amazing experience. No matter where you go, God will not fail to reveal Himself to His servants. I can only wish for those around me to experience everything that I have in my time there. Once you go, you hunger to go again. Once you meet a Navajo kid, you want to take him/her home. And every life you touch there you want to see grow and mature in their faith. Once you go, you don't want to leave.
Hardrock, Arizona by Henry MoyIt was my first missions trip and I enjoyed the opportunity to serve and learn from others.
Certainly God was at work with the PaLM team protecting us and getting us through obstacles (plane delays, planning issues). Though not evident in the statistics collected at the end, God was there and working in the hearts of the children and adults. The love we extended to the Navajos was reciprocated by the smiles and openness of many of the children and adults.
Team unity was a strength at this ST missions trip. There are so many different personalities, age groups and background experiences that could have easily disrupted this trip. But the spirit of forbearance was definitely working.
It is a bit earlier for me to plan for next year but if everything works out, I would enjoy going again. Hardrock, Arizona by Scott Sheet
Before I got to AZ, I had expected that I would be going to serve God and to be used to serve others. That pretty much was the case but He blessed me even more by having a really awesome bunch of brothers and sisters to work with as well as a deeper understanding of why we do what we do for Jesus.
When I started working with the Navajo, there wasn't a problem seeing the needs of the children. They are the same needs that any child has, namely, to be loved, to know that they are significant to people, to find a direction in their life, and above all, to know the Lord Jesus Christ who can provide all these things perfectly. But the question was how to meet these needs. You know how sometimes you see people who have great needs and you can't figure out how to help them?
That was the dilemma I faced. Fortunately, God provided some of the best people I've ever worked with. When I was serving with my teammates, their love and commitment fairly radiated from them. As part of that team, the service to the kids no longer became a question of "How do I?" or "When should I?" but rather a natural extension of our activities there. Maybe a better phrase that summarized my time on the Navajo Reservation would be "living love".
Through this experience, I've been made more aware of the need to work together in pursuing God's Will. Since I've been back at my church, I've been teaching (in Sunday school and the College/Career group) more with the emphasis towards building up one's personal relationship with Christ and the body and having our service flow from that instead of just identifying needs and meeting them on our own strength. One of the biggest challenges that the Lord impressed upon me as a result of this trip is the need to pray and understand that prayer isn't simply a short conversation we have with God after which we then go back to whatever we were doing. It is instead, an ongoing interaction with Him that continues throughout the day.
What I have come to realize from my trip to AZ is that it is just beginning of what God has in store for me and my church.
Guatemala by Howard Chan
On this trip the PaLM group will team up with a group of Guatemalan Christians and work with both Hope Bible Mission and Agape missionaries to do a puppet ministry in the remote Guatemalan mountain village of Chel and its surrounding communities.
This trip does not require you to speak Spanish, although it will be very helpful if you do. And if you don't speak any Spanish at all, you will be taught some basic Spanish phrases to help you "get by" on the trip. Your primary mission will be to manipulate puppets in a children's program while a Spanish tape is playing. Don't worry, we'll teach you how to "work" the puppets and you'll get plenty of time, help, and practice to sync your puppet movements with what is playing on the tape.
You will also be asked to give your testimony in English at various events. And each time you do so, a translator will convey to the people what you just said. In addition, the team will be expected to present some special music in both English and Spanish (again, we'll teach you). It is preferred but not necessary for every team member to be able to sing.
On this trip you will fly into Guatemala City where you will stay a few days. While there, you will learn some Spanish, practice with the puppets, finalize your testimony and practice your special musical numbers. The team will then be taken to the airport where you are weighted for the flight out (don't worry, they won't tell the world your real weight). It is necessary to weigh you because it is imperative that the plane is balanced in its weight distribution. From here the team is flown out in a small plane to La Perla where a small grass airstrip is located on a slope on the side of a mountain. Most people find the flight to La Perla exciting but those who are claustrophobic or aerophoic may disagree.
The PaLM team will stay in La Perla for a day or two while awaiting the rest of the missions team to arrive. Once everyone arrives, the group will leave for Chel. The trip to Chel may involve a truck ride, a mule train, and/or lots of walking. It will also take most of the day. And if the weather is wet, there will also be lots of mud to slosh through (don't worry, you'll be provided boots to wear!)
During the remainder of your time there you will have many opportunities to do what you have trained to do. You will also have lots of opportunities to interact with the local folk. How involved you get in the lives of the people there is directly proportionate to your desire to be used by God and your willingness to seek new and creative ways to communicate with the locals despite the language barrier.
Please note that a PaLM Guatemala Trip was NOT offered in 2003
