I thought
in today's blog that I'd give you a glimpse into Navajo life on the
Reservation, and what the life of a missionary looks like sometimes. .
.
We
went to a wedding last night for two dear, Navajo friends. We've known
both Gina and Gary for many years now and met them both at Community
Bible Church which meets here at the mission. The first time we met
Gary he told us that he had been involved in a LDS church program called
"placement." Placement happened in the 1970's and '80s as a program
that allowed Native children to live with a LDS family during the school
year, and get a good education off the reservation. Many, many Navajo
children were in this program. Some of them had good experiences, others
not so good. Gary's experience was generally good, but after he had
grown up, he realized that the gospel he'd been taught in the LDS church
was not biblical doctrine. He has one sister still involved in the LDS
church.
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| The grooms mother, sister, and relatives |
Gina is the lady whose son, Michael was
in our house this school year doing his school work alongside my
children. We've come to care very much for Gina and Michael and were
excited for both of them when Gina and Gary got engaged. Gina was also
in LDS placement growing up and also left that upbringing and came to
know the biblical Jesus Christ. She and Gary are both passionate about
their relationships to God, and they hope to do ministry together in
their new life.
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| Garret and Gina. Nelson Betony, one of the staff men we work with, was one of Gary's best men. |
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| Waiting for the bride to come. . . we waited and waited, and waited. |
|
In true Navajo fashion the wedding started about an
hour late, and during the wait we all sat in the hot sun. Luckily for us
there were a couple of elm trees and Steve and I found a good seat in
the shade. Gina and Gary got married on his family land where they plan
to build a house. The background for their wedding is a cabin that
Gary's grandfather built by hand many years ago. Gary lived in this very
small, one bedroom cabin until he was a teen.
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| Introducing. . . .Mr and Mrs. Wauneka |
As missionaries one of our favorite things is "doing
life with" native Christians. It was truly an honor and blessing to be
part of Gina and Gary's wedding, and share this event with them.
