First Baptist Church - Mt. Vernon, MO

First Baptist Church - Mt Vernon, MO arrived July 24th, 2010 and stayed till July 30th brought 1 construction team and 4 food distribution teams to the Thoreau, NM area. The construction team completely changed 2 roofs, added 4 ramps to houses and lots of fixer uppers on the one hogan. The weather was permitting, even though from the roof top rain could be seen all around the area. One youth even saw a cloud with a thumbs up, giving them the OK to keep working with the rain all around.

The food distribution teams out did what the group had first thought they could deliver. Orginally they had hoped to deliver 112 food baskets, they out did themselves! They delivered a total of 170 food baskets. This required alot of attention to details as to how to coordinate such a large distribution. We were making bakests on afternoon in a hurry to keep up with the pace, another afternoon I ran to Gallup to the Community Pantry to purchase pre-made baskets.

In the food baskets there was a Christian tract in Navajo and the teams also took Navajo New Testaments for the Elders whom might need them. The distribution teams were also previledged to pray with the Elders - one who told them they had prayed that morning to have someone to pray with, another really was interested in the food and so-so in the prayer when the group was getting ready to leave he said thank you for the prayer. One team even mopped a floor and changed the sheets on a bed for a elder who could not do the task. They will know we are Christians by our love.

THANKSGIVING 2009

When I signed in I could not believe how long it had been since I had last posted something. Please forgive the delay in getting all our good news out.

In November the LWML (Lutheran Women's Missionary League) from Trinity Lutheran Church LCMS, in Gallup, NM decided to help The Thomas House with our desire to pass out 100 food baskets for Thanksgiving to the Elders and those needing help in the area. They hosted a food drive of non-persiable items, that way The Thomas House would not have to spend money on buying $25 Holiday Baskets from the Gallup Community Pantry. Also Thrivent Community Cares offered to match money spent on turkeys for the baskets, so we could buy twice as much. Thrivent matched the money up to $800, which I spent on turkeys, rolls, potatos, cranberries, and stuffing. We were blessed that when Howie and the gang came in September, we did not have to purchase canned vegetables.

The youth from Trinity came to the house to prepare and deliver food baskets. Along with the baskets, we delivered prayer, love and warm blankets. This was a good experience for the youth to visit and see the difference between city living and rough reservation life. Several of the houses did not have electricity, most did not have plumbing that we went to. I was so glad to see on lady who recieved a blasket last year that had a hogan in shambles, this year was having a new on built by family this year.

By the end of the Holiday Basket drive - I am proud to say, we gave away 93 food baskets total, 25 of these basekts were given directly to Baca/Dlo ayazhi Community School and the rest were passed out to those who had visited The Clothing Barn and those that community leaders knew that were in need. We had doctors at Crownpoint Medical Facility PHS, the hospital George works at, to bake turkeys for those who didn't have baking facilities, it truly was a blessing to see everyone work together to get the job done. Beverly of Sierra Vista Counseling made a donation of $250 to help get all the items purchased that was needed for the baskets that was not donated. They also spent a few hours making baksets one afternoon, so the delivery for Baca could go unhindered.

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)

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - AZLE, TX VBS

We had a great time when the First Baptist Church of Azle, TX came to Thoreau, NM to do some good old fashion ministry for a week. During the week of July 20th till the 24th, 19 members of the First Baptist Church came to NM. They worked very hard to spread the Word and Love of Jesus to many families here in Thoreau and also in the surrounding areas that they delivered the food baskets too.

The women, children and a few brave men taught VBS for the week, with one day reaching 30 participants coming for the day. The group also feed the children’s stomachs by serving lunch every day at VBS. This is a need here in the area as many do not have money for food during the summer season, the local high school does serve lunch, but the families do have to find a way into town to receive the meal. First Baptist Church added a personal touch to the VBS ministry – they provided transportation to the site for ministry.

We were blessed by Benny Harry and family, by Benny being able to help for almost any call – he provided the tables, chairs, worked on plumbing, seed planting and the preaching – what more can one ask for? The Harry’s then opened their Hogan to the group for a night of fellowship and a delicious meal of Navajo Taco’s.

The men of First Baptist got the bath house at the campground plumping ready for the cement to be laid. Those men were able to work miracles for what they had to work with and the job they did. The men working at the camp basically camped in the two trailers that are presently parked at the lake. They got to come to town to wash, but most important, EAT!

One night of the week, the group invited the neighbors to a movie and a dinner. The women and teens worked hard to get people to come and join them. The movie was The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and dinner was chicken and the fixens.

The First Baptist group delivered more than 20 food boxes during their time here, during their visit’s they were able to pray with families they visited and even had some of people wanted to renew their faith with the Lord.

What a Blessing the First Baptist Church Brought to Us!!

HELP HAS ARRIVED FOR THE WEEK 9/11/09-9/18/09

Eastern Band of Cherokees to the Resuce

Our co-workers from the past our going to auction off rugs to raise money for our cause. We have named the benefit - Native hands helping native hands. How amazing, people from across the country are helping people that they have never met, only God can do this. Amen. We are blessed!

What all is in the food baskets? Do you need clothes, toys, etc.? I'll brainstorm this and get with the crews and see what we could do!!! I'm sure we'll do something for you'll. Keep your chin up. This is a great thing you are part of.

Would you'll benefit from a "SHoe Box" drive. We normally do this for families in West Virginia every Christmas. We fill a boot box up with clothes sizes we obtain from the organizations up there, and put some toys, etc in them to. WOuld you be able to get information such as this? Please let us know how we could better help!!!!!!
Jason D. Clark, B.S., CCEMT-P
Education Coordinator
Cherokee Tribal EMS

ANYTHING HELPS - EXAMPLE OF NEED

Out here, there are many needs - some are very small, some are very large. When we pass out Holiday Food Baskets, we give to many different areas. One area is to a local BIE (Bureau of Indian Education) school, this local school is not a boarding school, but many are, the reason, I feel, is that it is easier on the parents being that they do not have to feed or clothe the childern during the week. Below is a copy of a letter we recently recieved, we know that we will probably have to increase the number of baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas.


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Education
Baca/Dlo' a yazhi Community School
PO Box 509
Prewitt, NM 87045

August 24, 2009

George Roberts
Way In The Wilderness
PO Box 1429
Thoreau, NM 87323

Dear Mr. Roberts:

The families who receive the holiday food boxes have always been very appreciative. The children are always so excited and happy to look forward to a special meal like other families who have jobs and are able to have holiday meals with all the trimmings. The families prefer to have a turkey they can cook instead of canned meat. All of our families have cooking stoves.

I have heard students say “Is this food really ours, we never had a turkey before”.
“How did we get this food, did we win it?” “Who gave us this food?”

Many of our families have diabetes so it would be nice to have food with low salt and sugar content. Of course, some of our students don’t get the special cookies, cakes or other desserts at home. Canned fruits are always welcomed.

We have 385 students in our school. All of them receive a free breakfast and lunch daily. Many come back for seconds.

Our students also need clothing especially socks and underwear. Sometimes a child will come to school without socks or underwear that are too big. With the
cold weather come, it would be nice to have long stockings for girls. Our school tries to have extra clothing on hand but once they are “loaned out”, they are not returned.. Another need is small sweat pants (sizes 5-10) for our kindergarteners and others who have accidents.

Our school would appreciate any donation for our students and their families.

Ro Ellsworth-Little, LMSW
School Counselor/SW