So I know this is a little late, but I finally have time to sit down and post about how amazing Arizona was.
For the third year in a row I was blessed by people who love God enough to help me in a journey to go to San Carlos, Arizona.
Every year I go to Arizona God teaches me something new. He knows where I am in life at the point in which I go, and He shows me what I need to see.
Before I even begin to talk about Arizona 2009, I want to post the chorus to "Satisfied" by Meredith Andrews, because it is absolutely how I felt when I was in Arizona.
Complete in your presence
Secure in your love
You made me who I am
Because of who you are
Wanting for nothing
Lost in your eyes
Contented just to be by your side
I’m satisfied, mesmerized
That’s how it is when I’m with you
Okay so a lot of you are probably asking, "how does that relate to your trip to Arizona?"
Well...because the entire time I was in Arizona God's presence was completely prevalent. Even though I knew we were in a place where the Devil is extremely prevalent and darkness is felt, I was secure in knowing my Father loves me, and I was mesmerized by God's complete beauty.
If you have never been to Arizona, you should make it a goal to go at least once. The land in Arizona is nothing like it is anywhere else, so it seems. The vast beauty of God's creation runs for miles and miles. As you drive down the road and along the sides of the mountains, all you can see is more mountain. More beauty! It's a comforting feeling, to stand on the edge of a mountain in Arizona and be so aware of the fact that God carved each and every canal, and every mountain with HIS hands!!
So what exactly did we do this time around? What did God teach me on this trip? Well...We arrived in Arizona Saturday, March 7th. Sunday we had service with Central Christian Church and then Diana (one of the staff of Arizona Reservation Ministries) took us on a prayer journey around the reservation. Last year she did this for us at the end of the week, and it tore me up. I wasn't able to stop crying last year because it made me so angry to see how the Apache nation is apart of the United States, yet it seems so hopeless. America isn't doing much for them, and that breaks my heart. I was really glad that Diana took us on the Journey before our work week actually began, because there were three people on the trip this time that had never been, and I think this prayer journey was something that could really help them get focused on what they were there for.
From the prayer Journey I still learned new things. One of the things that really touched my heart is that God is surely working on the reservation. Gangs are diminishing because people are actually starting to see hope. Even though the bloods and crips are still prevalent on the rez, there aren't as many of them as there was last year. Slowly but surely people on the rez are seeing the hope God has given them, and they want things to change.
Monday we went out and started our project. We started building a house for a family of 12. We didn't get to meet the family, but it was a blessing to start on a house for them. Monday we finished the entire foundation of the house, basically. The floor was finished, when we started from nothing. That afternoon we went on the bus and worked with the kids and played with them. That is always one of my favorite parts. I love kids and I love seeing them smile and feel loved. Later on Monday evening I was writing in my journal and I started to think about what we did that day. We started a house, and got the foundation set. God started to show me that that is how our lives are. If we had of gotten anything out of place on the floor that day, the foundation wouldn't have been standing as firmly as it was, but we would have been able to fix it. It's the same with our walk with God. We are to build our lives on the foundation of Christ. We are not perfect though, and sometimes things in our lives get out of place. We mess up. We walk about from God, and the foundation of our lives isn't God anymore and we start to crumble. That happens to me a lot, actually, where I think I have my life on the foundation of Christ, but I am far from it and I crumble. But then, we have the grace of God. So when our lives start to crumble all around us, God is there to help us pick up the pieces and put them back on His foundation. That's awesome, right?
Tuesday was our free day. We were able to go to the Salt River Canyon. I absolutely LOVE the salt river canyon. It's so beautiful. The river runs through the mountains and I am just reminded of how huge God is. The salt river canyon doesn't even come CLOSE to how huge God is. It doesn't come CLOSE to God's love for us! I love standing at the bottom of the canyon, and looking up, and realizing that I am standing in the middle of something God created. No man could make something that beautiful. I feel so small, yet so loved. It's like that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you realize someone loves you enough to do something awesome for you.
After we left the canyon we went back to the dorm, and a few of us walked down town Globe. That was a really awesome time. We then got some walls for the house, and then went on the bus to play with the kids again. It's fun to see kids that you recognize, as well as see new kids who are learning about God. It's fun to see how some of them are learning about God's love, and helping the others grow to grasp that concept.
Wednesday-Friday we finished a lot of the house. We got up the walls, and the siding, and the trusts for the roof. It was so awesome to see something go up before our eyes, and see the work we had accomplished. It was exciting to see that God was using us!
This doesn't come close to everything we felt and saw. There's so much more. God is an amazing God who is working on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. He's shining his light and penetrating the darkness that Satan is fighting to keep there. It was hard to leave. For the first time I cried when it was time to leave. The people who work with ARM are such sweet people. Their hearts are so pure and their love for God is so evident. They are our family. We have built relationships with them, and to see them only once a year is really hard sometimes...but we get updates from them throughout the year, and we continue to pray for them because they are fighting a battle every day. When they wake up each morning they have no idea what's going to happen that day...but they trust God.
Please pray for ARM. Pray for Dale and Diana (the head of ARM) to continue to fight against Satan's battle. Pray for their health as they battle with so many different issues. Pray for their family, Justin, Jenna, Jonathan, and Jackie, as well as their grand children.
Pray for Zane and Danielle Martens as they are serving God with the Bus ministry and construction, as they have decided to follow God and leave their home in Indiana to be a part of the ministry in Arizona.
Pray for Bill and Jean as they can no longer help with the ministry because of their health failing, but they are always a part of the ministry.
Pray for Charlie and Debby as God moves them from one part of Arizona to another to help with ARM and sign on full time with ARM. Please pray for Debby especially as God shows her the right time to quit her job and become a part of ARM...and for her and Charlie as they are apart from each other during the week while Charlie is in Globe cooking for work groups.
This is a ministry that is very close to my heart, and I am constantly thinking of them =)
