HOWIE AND THE GANG TO THE RESCUE

Howie Leifheit came to the Eastern Navajo Reservation for the week of September 11- 18. This year he brought with him – his brothers in Christ – Jerry Soder, Paul Peterson, Wally Coffey, Butch McEntire and Gary from the Florence, KY area. Along with the guys that came our good friends from First Baptist Church from Azle, TX came – Bill & Joan Tanner and Jim & Marcella.

The truck Howie brought with him was packed to the hilt. I am not sure how it was able to drive down the road or how they figured out how to get it packed as full as they got it. These guys are some creative packers; maybe they will pack moving trucks to fund raise – lol! They started the trip out right, they had a Pack & Pray, everything was prayed over before it came.

They had packed on the truck – clothing: sorted into bags for women, men, kids (boys, girls, and infants), and jackets; food – 144 cases of canned veggies (green beans, peas, carrots, corn, and potatoes); bottled water; books (from a school that was changing books); 2 new toilets; electrical wiring; barrels to hold water at houses that do not have water and the list goes on and on.

The men started working on the bath house at the lake area campground on Saturday. That day was a little chilly, it hailed for over 30 minutes, some say up till 45 minutes. Put a damper on the day, but God had all in control, as Paul as able to talk to two young workers during the odd weather here. In the end, they asked Paul if they could say the sinner’s prayer. See everything is for a reason, sometimes we just don’t know why in the beginning.

Brother Paul came prepared to do a revival, so we started with a church service on Sunday morning the 13th, and then did evening services thru Thursday night. With the weather being on the chilly side turn out on some nights was light, but we had a lot of people stopping by for short times to check things out and ask for prayer.

Monday the group from First Baptist Church, our friends and Mexican Missionaries – Tania and Santa, and Traci went to Pueblo Pintado Community School. This school is a boarding school, while the group was there a 6 yr old boy was left to stay, he was frighten and only in kinder garden. The day was an eye opening experience for us, as we saw their meager belongings and thought of all ours. The men spent the day working at the campground on the bath house.

Tuesday and Wednesday we spent the days alternating people delivering food baskets to local families (those within 50 miles). Sometimes down wash board roads – some could not be done due to the rain we had, the roads became mud. We were always blessed when we were invited into ones home and were able to pray and fellowship with those who sometimes cannot get out very often. The ones who were not out delivering were out working on the bath house.

Thursday we got a special treat as our good friend – Benny Harry – was able to take people out to remote place to deliver food baskets. Benny does tent revivals and is Navajo so he is very familiar with the reservation. He was able to help during the week on his off time from work, he was not able to get the week off, due to a Medicine Man requesting it off also. But that did not stop Benny; he still came whenever he was free – before or after work.

Thursday we also said goodbye to First Baptist Church from Azle, what hard workers, I bet Bill, Joan & Marcella saw clothes in their sleep for nights later – as they were great sorters! Earlier Friday morning the KY gang packed up and headed out and drove straight home. I head they made sometime by Saturday afternoon.

The blessings that they brought will last month’s here. I am hoping with us having the clothing barn that will find a way to pass all the clothes out quickly and our ministry will grow. Please pray for the groups, as they will I am sure start collecting to come again next year soon.

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15b (NIV)