Merry Christmas everybody!
Last night I (Katrina) had the privilege of sitting in a prayer/counseling session where a woman was set free from longstanding fear and anger. It was a great experience to sit and watch her experience the freedom of forgiveness, and knowing she, herself, could hear from our Lord personally. I'd share more details but the session itself is protected by privacy, but I wanted to share a little glimpse of the work that I do that I don't talk about much--helping people experience freedom in Jesus Christ.
As we go through the Christmas season, I'm reminded that setting captives free was one of the things that showed the world who Jesus was. He sets us free, and not only that uses us to bring that freedom to others!
I mentioned in my last prayer letter the homeless woman. Since that time, however, she's been accepted into the Christian women's shelter and each and every week when I see her, tells me how amazing the change in her life is. . . and truthfully, she looks 100% better--like a different women. Last week at Bible Study she shared with us that she had served in the homeless ministry and how it was a surreal experience to be on the other side of the serving counter. Thanks so much for praying for her, and for our ministry to her.
As we approach Christmas too, I'd like to ask your prayers for two things that are very important to us right now.
The first is for additional finances. We mentioned before the expenses we've had in moving in: they were much, much bigger than we expected (blocked sewer, need for a new roof, having to get alternate insurance and more), and we're still sorting through them. The bottom line is that we need some BIG divine intervention in that area. As a side note on these things, Steve has found recently that getting his kiln hooked up--which is necessary for him to continue creating--is going to cost much more than he expected, maybe up to $2500.
The second is related to our finances too: because of our need for more income immediately, we're both looking for work. Would you pray that the doors that are perfect--the doors that God has for us would open and we'd KNOW where He'd have us work?
Our desire is to continue in ministry and we believe that God is bringing things together for us to contribute to "setting the captives free" in this area. Thanks for praying with us as we work toward this.
Lastly, we hope, and pray that you and yours have the merriest of Christmases, and experience the blessing of God in every aspect of your life.
News about the ministry of missionaries Steve and Katrina Marti
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
On Ministry, Moving, and . . .Funds
Our youngest son, James, and I helped out yesterday with a homeless outreach. It was eye-opening for both of us but the most heartbreaking thing was seeing one of "my" girls attending as one of the homeless folks. This particular lady is middle-aged, from Zuni, and told me once that she used to be a silversmith and her work was featured in Arizona Highways magazine many years ago.
Over the past several months we've made some major moves that will help us in reaching people like this particular woman: we bought a car that is reliable and affordable to drive, we bought a house and moved to Gallup, and lastly, John and Anna are now attending a charter school in Gallup enabling them to attend college while finishing high school (and freeing up me for more ministry).
All of these changes position us for the ministries that we're involved in: Steve in his pottery ministry (more about that in a minute), and me (Katrina) in my ministry to the ladies. These changes also, however, cost money--and that too has been something near and dear to our thoughts and hearts. We've mentioned this before, but for the last three years we've received less than half of the money we need to survive--an average of about $1300 a month. Since the mission has given us a stipend we've been able to survive, but the stipend is ending, and in fact is already nearly half gone. The simple fact is that we've got to raise more monthly support in order to continue doing ministry in this area.
As I think about this homeless woman--I've been thinking about her a lot since the temperatures tomorrow are supposed to be 16 degrees--I can't help but wonder if Steve's pottery/art ministry would be the thing that might break the bonds of alcohol, helplessness, and hopelessness that she lives in. She's an artist, and apparently a pretty gifted one.
Steve's plans for the future are to open an open studio and pottery in downtown Gallup. He sees this as a place that people like this lady can come to, and through both creating and also the healing environment of a Christ-based ministry be healed. He sees this as a vibrant part of the community, a place where people can feel the difference, and most of all a place where God is honored through art.
Steve has started working on this ministry by creating objects of his own, relearning skills he's forgotten and learning new ones in anticipation of teaching others about them. You can connect with what he's doing by checking out his Facebook page called RT3 Arts. He's also working on starting a new non-profit organization that will run this ministry. The first step in this process is to pull together a board of directors. Please pray for him as he approaches individuals with this in mind and gets a group together who will work for the ministry and give it the right foundation and vision for the future.
My plans in some ways already are happening: mentoring women, working with women, and seeing them whole, healed and taking their place in the body of Christ as productive members. One issue that God seems to be highlighting right now is the education level--or lack of education--among so many around here. One gal I work with is reading at a third grade level, another can't pass the college entrance exams, another needs help reading and in increasing her vocabulary. All of these things are something that I feel very passionate about, and after my experience home schooling, I am well qualified to help the ladies in this area.
Thanks so much for praying for us as we work in this area. With 50% unemployment, alcoholism and drug abuse rates more than twice the national average, and way too many people below the poverty level the task is sometimes daunting. We have some very specific ways you can pray for us as well.
1) Settling into the "new" old house. We have had to have some pretty extensive sewer work done. We don't have the bill yet and are trusting God will provide exactly what we need to pay this bill. Also, the Homeowners insurance is going to cancel our insurance unless we put a new roof on. We got an estimate on this work and it would cost us $5300. We don't have that money right now. Pray for either provision of this amount of money, or for provision for a different home owners insurance company. Steve also needs a few hundred dollars to hook up the gas line to the kiln before he can fire any more pottery.
2) Pray for Steve as he works on putting together a non-profit and a board of directors to direct the work he's doing.
3) Pray for wisdom for me, I so need to know how to work with the ladies each and every day. Their situations in may ways seem hopeless, but I believe that our God is the God of Hope and am trusting in Him.
4) Continue praying for us to receive more monthly support. We've received a few one-time gifts which have really, really helped with the expenses of the move, but we continue to need monthly, regular support--even small amounts make a big difference. (I'm reminded of one amazing "widow" woman who used to send us $10 or $15 a month--what a HUGE treat it was to see her regular monthly support coming in and to KNOW that she was praying for us regularly). As you pray would you ask God if maybe you too should be part of our ministry team? If so, drop me a note at katrina_marti@yahoo.ca and let me know what God has laid on your heart. We'd love to hear from you!
Over the past several months we've made some major moves that will help us in reaching people like this particular woman: we bought a car that is reliable and affordable to drive, we bought a house and moved to Gallup, and lastly, John and Anna are now attending a charter school in Gallup enabling them to attend college while finishing high school (and freeing up me for more ministry).
All of these changes position us for the ministries that we're involved in: Steve in his pottery ministry (more about that in a minute), and me (Katrina) in my ministry to the ladies. These changes also, however, cost money--and that too has been something near and dear to our thoughts and hearts. We've mentioned this before, but for the last three years we've received less than half of the money we need to survive--an average of about $1300 a month. Since the mission has given us a stipend we've been able to survive, but the stipend is ending, and in fact is already nearly half gone. The simple fact is that we've got to raise more monthly support in order to continue doing ministry in this area.
As I think about this homeless woman--I've been thinking about her a lot since the temperatures tomorrow are supposed to be 16 degrees--I can't help but wonder if Steve's pottery/art ministry would be the thing that might break the bonds of alcohol, helplessness, and hopelessness that she lives in. She's an artist, and apparently a pretty gifted one.
Steve's plans for the future are to open an open studio and pottery in downtown Gallup. He sees this as a place that people like this lady can come to, and through both creating and also the healing environment of a Christ-based ministry be healed. He sees this as a vibrant part of the community, a place where people can feel the difference, and most of all a place where God is honored through art.
Steve has started working on this ministry by creating objects of his own, relearning skills he's forgotten and learning new ones in anticipation of teaching others about them. You can connect with what he's doing by checking out his Facebook page called RT3 Arts. He's also working on starting a new non-profit organization that will run this ministry. The first step in this process is to pull together a board of directors. Please pray for him as he approaches individuals with this in mind and gets a group together who will work for the ministry and give it the right foundation and vision for the future.
My plans in some ways already are happening: mentoring women, working with women, and seeing them whole, healed and taking their place in the body of Christ as productive members. One issue that God seems to be highlighting right now is the education level--or lack of education--among so many around here. One gal I work with is reading at a third grade level, another can't pass the college entrance exams, another needs help reading and in increasing her vocabulary. All of these things are something that I feel very passionate about, and after my experience home schooling, I am well qualified to help the ladies in this area.
Thanks so much for praying for us as we work in this area. With 50% unemployment, alcoholism and drug abuse rates more than twice the national average, and way too many people below the poverty level the task is sometimes daunting. We have some very specific ways you can pray for us as well.
1) Settling into the "new" old house. We have had to have some pretty extensive sewer work done. We don't have the bill yet and are trusting God will provide exactly what we need to pay this bill. Also, the Homeowners insurance is going to cancel our insurance unless we put a new roof on. We got an estimate on this work and it would cost us $5300. We don't have that money right now. Pray for either provision of this amount of money, or for provision for a different home owners insurance company. Steve also needs a few hundred dollars to hook up the gas line to the kiln before he can fire any more pottery.
2) Pray for Steve as he works on putting together a non-profit and a board of directors to direct the work he's doing.
3) Pray for wisdom for me, I so need to know how to work with the ladies each and every day. Their situations in may ways seem hopeless, but I believe that our God is the God of Hope and am trusting in Him.
4) Continue praying for us to receive more monthly support. We've received a few one-time gifts which have really, really helped with the expenses of the move, but we continue to need monthly, regular support--even small amounts make a big difference. (I'm reminded of one amazing "widow" woman who used to send us $10 or $15 a month--what a HUGE treat it was to see her regular monthly support coming in and to KNOW that she was praying for us regularly). As you pray would you ask God if maybe you too should be part of our ministry team? If so, drop me a note at katrina_marti@yahoo.ca and let me know what God has laid on your heart. We'd love to hear from you!
Saturday, August 16, 2014
July and August tidbits
The past six weeks have passed by so quickly we can't hardly keep our thinking right. A bunch of things have happened, and rather than "tell" you all about them, I thought I'd show you a few of them.
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| Chris and Heidi Owens |
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| Steve continues to perfect his technique in anticipation of teaching and creating with other artists as a ministry. |
As soon as we got back from the wedding, we made the decision to move the pottery ministry to Gallup. We've talked to a lot of people, and believe this is where the ministry can be most effective. When Steve talked to Francis Bee, head of the Downtown Improvement District he told Steve that he'd been waiting for someone just like Steve to bring something like this downtown. While the ministry will be off-reservation, Gallup, being a border town, has a population of about 50% Native Americans, and on weekends and holidays that population swells with Natives from two reservations coming into town to do shopping and enjoy some R and R.
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| One of the children involved in Set Free Ministries |
The last thing we've done here recently has been to talk, talk, talk to people. Our highest priority at this season in our missionary service is to develop a team that will support us in this journey. We've been missionaries for 16 years now, and over the years some of our strongest supporters have been unable to continue supporting us due to death, family issues, or other personal reasons. The bottom line is that we've got to broaden our support base: We need people who are willing to pray for us, to encourage us, and of course to give financially as well.
If you or someone you know would be willing to join this team (I suppose you're already on this team if you're getting this newsletter), would you let us know? We can be reached at any number of emails, including this one steveandkatrina@westernindian.org, on Facebook, by telephone (505-371-5557), or by snail mail (P. O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515.). Also, if you're on Facebook we've opened a new Facebook Page called LifeHouse Pottery and Arts. If you "like" us, you'll get regular updates on the pottery ministry.
Finally, we'd like to just continue to say thank you! We really couldn't do it without you.
Katrina and Steve Marti
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Fruit, God style
This morning Anna told me that she has to go to the school today to help instruct a visiting group in using their puppets. What's really cool about that is that many of you helped her to go on a mission trip this last fall. In her time on this mission trip she listened to an instructional video about ministering through puppets "a million times" and learned how to use puppets in ministry.
One of my favorite things about God is how He doesn't waste any experience, but instead uses it for His kingdom. Because Anna went on a mission trip back in the fall, now she can help some teens who are on a mission trip here, ministering at the Rodeo and Carnival going on here this week.
Thanks for praying, loving, and supporting us--and our kids!
Would you also keep John in prayer this next couple weeks? He had an opportunity to go to Northern California and work construction for a couple weeks next to the man who is in charge of re-constructing our Dorm here at the mission. We're praying for John that this is a life-changing, and defining time.
Lastly, my son Chris is getting married the 19th of this month. Thanks for praying along with us for the wedding, and also for blessing in this next step of his life. I've not written much about Joe and Chris, my older boys, because they haven't lived with us for many years, but of course they're very near and dear to my heart. Thanks for your prayers for Chris, and his fiancee Heidi.
Katrina
One of my favorite things about God is how He doesn't waste any experience, but instead uses it for His kingdom. Because Anna went on a mission trip back in the fall, now she can help some teens who are on a mission trip here, ministering at the Rodeo and Carnival going on here this week.
Thanks for praying, loving, and supporting us--and our kids!
Would you also keep John in prayer this next couple weeks? He had an opportunity to go to Northern California and work construction for a couple weeks next to the man who is in charge of re-constructing our Dorm here at the mission. We're praying for John that this is a life-changing, and defining time.
Lastly, my son Chris is getting married the 19th of this month. Thanks for praying along with us for the wedding, and also for blessing in this next step of his life. I've not written much about Joe and Chris, my older boys, because they haven't lived with us for many years, but of course they're very near and dear to my heart. Thanks for your prayers for Chris, and his fiancee Heidi.
Katrina
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Fundraising.. . .grrrr
Hi all, as we think back over this past month we realize that life has been made up of small little activities instead of any one really big thing. In that vein, we'd like to share with you some of those "bits."
The most important "bit" we've been working on is fund raising. In the last fifteen years our support has gone up and down, but with Steve being so very busy in the business office for the past three years there's really been no time to put into developing partners who are willing to sow into our ministry. With some of our long-term partners having to make life changes, this has resulted in our ministry being seriously underfunded. . . while we remain confident that God will meet all our needs, it's also important that we do our part too. We ask that you join us in praying for us during this time. Pray that God will lead us to ways to support our ministry, as well as people in whom God is working to support this work.
As we think and pray about developing partnerships, one area we'd like to step out into more is the area of educating churches about Mormonism. As you know, we came from that background, and know quite a bit about it. We've also done ministry in this area so have stayed current with what the LDS church is teaching. Katrina has a book that she's written to LDS people coming out of the LDS church that's been a GREAT help to many. Steve also has been active in this ministry and is running the mentoring program for the Institute for Religious Research out of Grand Rapids, MI. We would love to share more about Mormonism, and especially about how YOU can reach out to your LDS friends and co-workers in love and compassion while holding to the truth of God's Word. If you or your church would like to have a seminar on this, please contact us--we'd love to share more about our heart for the LDS people, and God's heart for them as well.
In addition to support raising, Steve has also been working in the pottery relearning how to do all the things he used to do. This has been super exciting as he's working through making "test tiles" as well as doing bigger tests on bowls. It's sometimes a slow and tedious progress, but also exciting to see. Every time he opens the kiln it's like Christmas!
Katrina and the kids finished school for this year the end of May! As you can imagine they're all excited to have a bit of a break before next year starts. Next year, however, will be a big change for them as John and Anna will be attending a local charter school in which they'll attend college classes for dual high school/college credit. James will continue to be home schooled (and probably will be a bit lonely).
Katrina continues in the ladies ministry that she works in as well as in her ministry as housing and hospitality coordinator for Western Indian Ministries. In addition she's also started doing one-on-one counseling of some of the ladies who need more help and encouragement than the larger Bible study provides. Please pray for her as she transitions to doing more and more ministry with the ladies.
One of our greatest needs, and one we ask that you pray for, is newer vehicles. Starting in August John and Anna will be traveling to Gallup four days a week for school and Katrina will be traveling to Gallup at least one more day a week. (This is a round trip of sixty miles.) The vehicles we have now are not reliable and use quite a bit of gas. Would you pray for us to obtain a newer vehicle that gets better mileage?
Thanks for praying with us and for us. We truly can't say how much we value your care, concern, and support in so many ways!
Katrina and Steve Marti
The most important "bit" we've been working on is fund raising. In the last fifteen years our support has gone up and down, but with Steve being so very busy in the business office for the past three years there's really been no time to put into developing partners who are willing to sow into our ministry. With some of our long-term partners having to make life changes, this has resulted in our ministry being seriously underfunded. . . while we remain confident that God will meet all our needs, it's also important that we do our part too. We ask that you join us in praying for us during this time. Pray that God will lead us to ways to support our ministry, as well as people in whom God is working to support this work.
As we think and pray about developing partnerships, one area we'd like to step out into more is the area of educating churches about Mormonism. As you know, we came from that background, and know quite a bit about it. We've also done ministry in this area so have stayed current with what the LDS church is teaching. Katrina has a book that she's written to LDS people coming out of the LDS church that's been a GREAT help to many. Steve also has been active in this ministry and is running the mentoring program for the Institute for Religious Research out of Grand Rapids, MI. We would love to share more about Mormonism, and especially about how YOU can reach out to your LDS friends and co-workers in love and compassion while holding to the truth of God's Word. If you or your church would like to have a seminar on this, please contact us--we'd love to share more about our heart for the LDS people, and God's heart for them as well.
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| Katrina signing her book Making the Journey from Mormanism to Biblical Christianity |
In addition to support raising, Steve has also been working in the pottery relearning how to do all the things he used to do. This has been super exciting as he's working through making "test tiles" as well as doing bigger tests on bowls. It's sometimes a slow and tedious progress, but also exciting to see. Every time he opens the kiln it's like Christmas!
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| The kiln in the midst of firing |
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| John, Katrina, Anna, and James at Jemez falls after the end of school |
Katrina continues in the ladies ministry that she works in as well as in her ministry as housing and hospitality coordinator for Western Indian Ministries. In addition she's also started doing one-on-one counseling of some of the ladies who need more help and encouragement than the larger Bible study provides. Please pray for her as she transitions to doing more and more ministry with the ladies.
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| Katrina and Janelle, one of the ladies she works with |
One of our greatest needs, and one we ask that you pray for, is newer vehicles. Starting in August John and Anna will be traveling to Gallup four days a week for school and Katrina will be traveling to Gallup at least one more day a week. (This is a round trip of sixty miles.) The vehicles we have now are not reliable and use quite a bit of gas. Would you pray for us to obtain a newer vehicle that gets better mileage?
Thanks for praying with us and for us. We truly can't say how much we value your care, concern, and support in so many ways!
Katrina and Steve Marti
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Introducing: Lifehouse Pottery
Amazing how long a new thing takes to really get started.
Eight months ago yesterday was my last day as the Mission business manager. Even before that, the Lord was giving me a vision for something new on the Navajo Reservation. That's grace! While I was still too busy to think or have a life outside the office, God was encouraging me by showing me what lay ahead: LifeHouse Pottery & Arts. It was while I was in Williams, Arizona in May 2013 that I first had the idea for a pottery, and it was about a month earlier that I bought a potters' wheel with part of our tax refund. By August, I recorded fifteen (15) different and specific events that, combined, confirmed to me that this idea for a pottery was not just my longing for earlier days (I spent 20 years working with clay from the 70s to the 90s). Key among these fifteen was the fact that Katrina (my very practical, no-nonsense wife) really believed this idea was from God and not myself.
Now I have carved out a bit of studio space in the back room that serves as a shop and built a shed out my backdoor for my kiln. I have started to revive the old knowledge and abilities of 20+ years ago: I have fired my kiln three times and have thrown my first bowls (with more planned in the next week). This is my personal beginning.
As for the broader idea of a place for Native American artists to create, be healed, grow as Christians, give back to the community, and share what God has done with them to the world -- the how and where is beginning to become clearer. While there is a building on our Mission grounds that I would like to use for the pottery, there is a space in the basement of one of our houses that would be ideal to clean up and use as studio/work space for the community to come to. The space is probably 20 X 50 feet and the whole of one 50-ft side is solid windows, facing the northwest. A group may be coming in June to give it its first cleaning!
A lot more needs to be done. I am going to start on a business plan, and continue to develop things I can make--that can be sold to the public. Thank you for your prayers and gifts. God is going to make this happen!
Steve
Eight months ago yesterday was my last day as the Mission business manager. Even before that, the Lord was giving me a vision for something new on the Navajo Reservation. That's grace! While I was still too busy to think or have a life outside the office, God was encouraging me by showing me what lay ahead: LifeHouse Pottery & Arts. It was while I was in Williams, Arizona in May 2013 that I first had the idea for a pottery, and it was about a month earlier that I bought a potters' wheel with part of our tax refund. By August, I recorded fifteen (15) different and specific events that, combined, confirmed to me that this idea for a pottery was not just my longing for earlier days (I spent 20 years working with clay from the 70s to the 90s). Key among these fifteen was the fact that Katrina (my very practical, no-nonsense wife) really believed this idea was from God and not myself.
Now I have carved out a bit of studio space in the back room that serves as a shop and built a shed out my backdoor for my kiln. I have started to revive the old knowledge and abilities of 20+ years ago: I have fired my kiln three times and have thrown my first bowls (with more planned in the next week). This is my personal beginning.
As for the broader idea of a place for Native American artists to create, be healed, grow as Christians, give back to the community, and share what God has done with them to the world -- the how and where is beginning to become clearer. While there is a building on our Mission grounds that I would like to use for the pottery, there is a space in the basement of one of our houses that would be ideal to clean up and use as studio/work space for the community to come to. The space is probably 20 X 50 feet and the whole of one 50-ft side is solid windows, facing the northwest. A group may be coming in June to give it its first cleaning!
A lot more needs to be done. I am going to start on a business plan, and continue to develop things I can make--that can be sold to the public. Thank you for your prayers and gifts. God is going to make this happen!
Steve
Saturday, May 3, 2014
I Want to Live Like That
Today we had the funeral service for my friend Monique. I haven't put much about her on the blog but had sent you emails about her death. Her untimely death was hard for all who knew her--and apparently that was a whole lot of us!
Steve guessed that there were about 700 people at her service! For a town of only 21,000 that's a whole lot!
The one thing that I came away thinking is that when I die, I hope everyone that comes to my funeral knows how much I love the Lord. People at Monique's certainly did. The Pastor, in tribute to her, said that he's never seen a more gifted evangelist in his life. Appropriately, when they gave the alter call at least 15 of her friends accepted it.
As I think about her life too though, I realize I don't want to die like she did either: young, struggling, and ultimately defeated. What I mean by that is that I want to live a victorious, overcoming life--a life that shows God's glory in all of His gloriousness. . . a joyful, holy, life where there's victory over sin, forgiveness, compassion, love, and all of the fruits of the Spirit. Not only do I want to live that life, but I want to lead the ladies I work with into that victory as well.
For quite some time I've been praying that God would clearly show me what He would have me invest my life into after the kids were grown--James, my baby, only has five more years until he graduates high school, and John and Anna will both be attending a dual enrollment high school/college this coming fall. As I've sought Him, I have come to believe that I should be in ministry to ladies like Monique: ladies who have backgrounds that are HARD and yet. . . .yet, God chooses to bring them to Himself, love them, and shower them with His grace.
Ladies in these type of lifestyles often have a whole lot more to overcome than your typical middle class woman: their role models are often non-existent or bad. Their lifestyle often prevents them from higher education, meaning that money and jobs are often scarce. Men in their life are very seldom in their lives for good, and usually while all too young they have children--sometimes a whole lot of them.
I crave your prayers in the coming days and months as I continue to lead the Set Free ministry, and train and learn how to teach my "girls" about living an overcoming, victorious life. In the fall I will be stepping into more ministry by volunteering at a women's shelter in Gallup part-time.To prepare for this ministry I'm working on being ready to teach money management skills, job skills, parenting skills and more!
Lastly I'd like to add that ministry costs money. Every time I go to Gallup to minister it costs about $20. Prayer letters cost $50. The training classes that I need are seldom held locally and that means travel to Albuquerque, or beyond. Travel to Albuquerque costs a minimum of $100. At this point our support is low enough that Steve is putting out feelers on part-time work. Please continue to pray for us that we'll be lead to those who can support our ministries. There is soooo much work to do, and so few workers!
And, continue to pray for me this coming Thursday as I expect that there will be several new ladies there who desperately need to learn how to walk with the Lord, and ultimately need to learn how to lead an overcoming life!
Katrina
Steve guessed that there were about 700 people at her service! For a town of only 21,000 that's a whole lot!
The one thing that I came away thinking is that when I die, I hope everyone that comes to my funeral knows how much I love the Lord. People at Monique's certainly did. The Pastor, in tribute to her, said that he's never seen a more gifted evangelist in his life. Appropriately, when they gave the alter call at least 15 of her friends accepted it.
As I think about her life too though, I realize I don't want to die like she did either: young, struggling, and ultimately defeated. What I mean by that is that I want to live a victorious, overcoming life--a life that shows God's glory in all of His gloriousness. . . a joyful, holy, life where there's victory over sin, forgiveness, compassion, love, and all of the fruits of the Spirit. Not only do I want to live that life, but I want to lead the ladies I work with into that victory as well.
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| Monique, Me, and Stephanie at the ladies conference recently |
For quite some time I've been praying that God would clearly show me what He would have me invest my life into after the kids were grown--James, my baby, only has five more years until he graduates high school, and John and Anna will both be attending a dual enrollment high school/college this coming fall. As I've sought Him, I have come to believe that I should be in ministry to ladies like Monique: ladies who have backgrounds that are HARD and yet. . . .yet, God chooses to bring them to Himself, love them, and shower them with His grace.
Ladies in these type of lifestyles often have a whole lot more to overcome than your typical middle class woman: their role models are often non-existent or bad. Their lifestyle often prevents them from higher education, meaning that money and jobs are often scarce. Men in their life are very seldom in their lives for good, and usually while all too young they have children--sometimes a whole lot of them.
I crave your prayers in the coming days and months as I continue to lead the Set Free ministry, and train and learn how to teach my "girls" about living an overcoming, victorious life. In the fall I will be stepping into more ministry by volunteering at a women's shelter in Gallup part-time.To prepare for this ministry I'm working on being ready to teach money management skills, job skills, parenting skills and more!
Lastly I'd like to add that ministry costs money. Every time I go to Gallup to minister it costs about $20. Prayer letters cost $50. The training classes that I need are seldom held locally and that means travel to Albuquerque, or beyond. Travel to Albuquerque costs a minimum of $100. At this point our support is low enough that Steve is putting out feelers on part-time work. Please continue to pray for us that we'll be lead to those who can support our ministries. There is soooo much work to do, and so few workers!
And, continue to pray for me this coming Thursday as I expect that there will be several new ladies there who desperately need to learn how to walk with the Lord, and ultimately need to learn how to lead an overcoming life!
Katrina
Monday, April 28, 2014
Navajo Sovereignty Day
"To
Navajos, the concept of sovereignty is simple. It means being
independent and standing on one's own two feet. Whether an individual, a
family, a community, or a nation, one wants to stand on one's own. To
build an independent nation, its individual members need to stand on
their own feet, dependent on no one to survive and thrive. As a people,
Navajos were once proud, fierce and independent. With more of our
students graduating from college each year, and with our economic
initiatives in place, we can see the day in the not-too-distant future
when we will become independent again, and our sovereignty will flourish
every day." (President Joe Shirley, April 28, 2010 statement on Navajo Sovereignty)
Hilltop Christian School was closed this morning and I was wondering why. When I finally wandered down there I saw a note on the door saying it was Navajo Sovereignty Day. I've heard about this holiday before--a holiday celebrated no where else but here , but didn't know much about it.
I found out that Sovereignty Day was instituted to celebrate the Navajo Nation's basic right to do on their own land what most governments do on their own land, specifically collect and institute taxes. It's a big deal for a people who were told for many years that they did not have any (or very little) rights on their own land. To illustrate, it wasn't too many years ago that the government forcibly removed what they believed were excess livestock to prevent overgrazing. At that time the main way Navajo people had wealth was to have livestock, so having them forcibly removed effectively pushed most people back into abject poverty. Too it wasn't too many years before that, that the Navajo people were forced to walk across much of Arizona and New Mexico and be confined to a reservation that had no food, little water, and no hope. Many of them died on the trip, or on the reservation, before finally being allowed to come back to their native lands a defeated people.
Today, and every fourth Monday of April then, the Navajo people celebrate a renewal of their rights, a victory, and a regaining of what they lost so many years ago.
Steve is heading home today from the Phoenix area where he got to meet with many of you--Ahéhee' as they say in Navajo (thank you)! Please continue to pray for us. As I mentioned in our last letter, our support is very low. We need to do some planning, praying, thinking, and more to figure out how to raise more funds for our ministries. A lower mileage, car that uses less gas is also on our list of prayer items! Thanks so much for all you do!
Katrina for the Marti family!
.jpg) |
| This super cute little girl was scarfing up candy at the Fourth of July Parade last July |
Hilltop Christian School was closed this morning and I was wondering why. When I finally wandered down there I saw a note on the door saying it was Navajo Sovereignty Day. I've heard about this holiday before--a holiday celebrated no where else but here , but didn't know much about it.
I found out that Sovereignty Day was instituted to celebrate the Navajo Nation's basic right to do on their own land what most governments do on their own land, specifically collect and institute taxes. It's a big deal for a people who were told for many years that they did not have any (or very little) rights on their own land. To illustrate, it wasn't too many years ago that the government forcibly removed what they believed were excess livestock to prevent overgrazing. At that time the main way Navajo people had wealth was to have livestock, so having them forcibly removed effectively pushed most people back into abject poverty. Too it wasn't too many years before that, that the Navajo people were forced to walk across much of Arizona and New Mexico and be confined to a reservation that had no food, little water, and no hope. Many of them died on the trip, or on the reservation, before finally being allowed to come back to their native lands a defeated people.
Today, and every fourth Monday of April then, the Navajo people celebrate a renewal of their rights, a victory, and a regaining of what they lost so many years ago.
Steve is heading home today from the Phoenix area where he got to meet with many of you--Ahéhee' as they say in Navajo (thank you)! Please continue to pray for us. As I mentioned in our last letter, our support is very low. We need to do some planning, praying, thinking, and more to figure out how to raise more funds for our ministries. A lower mileage, car that uses less gas is also on our list of prayer items! Thanks so much for all you do!
Katrina for the Marti family!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Nihilism?
Recently I read a poem, placed by its author on a Facebook page called, You Know You're a Navajo When. . .. The author is a young Navajo woman who obviously has a gift for writing. The poem deeply touched me, not because of it's beauty, although it was well written, but because of its sense of utter hopelessness, and helplessness on the part of its author. I won't repeat the whole poem here because it's littered with obscenities but here are a few lines:
. . . Why I was shamed to be labeled an "Indian," a savage beast, . . ..
sharing a one-room hogan wasn't my problem where my next meal came from was,
grandma feeding us government hand-outs, malnutrition slop. . .
labeled a "horse thief," doomed for failure, branded alcoholics
under-educated statistic, shoved on a reserve
I'm not a savage, I'm a human being
War paralyzed, haunted, grandpa's mind and soul, PTSD
depression, alcoholism, no Veteran's benefits
living from check to mouth, . . .
See my people suffer from substance abuse, addictions,
sickness of every kind, stewing in devastation . ..
No progressing, no jobs, no order, controlled resources,
I'm but a number to my government, . .. .
hell yes, I'm furious, abuse-ridden homes,
age-old problems untouched, families in denial. . .
don't tell me to get over myself, over my internal pain,
live in my conditions and see why I still have to cry. . .
In Bible School we learned about nihilism which according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary is, "a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless." That's the term that came to mind as I read this ladies poem. Honestly her rant encapsulates many of the problems that some of the ladies I minister to face. Recently I made up a prayer card about the Navajo Nation. It's got many of the facts this lady referred to without the emotions attached. The bottom line is that the problems here are HUGE!
For the past three years I, Katrina, have been blessed to work in a ministry called "Set Free." This ministry is aimed at ladies who have been, or are being, set free from harmful lifestyles and relationships. What a blessing it has been to see ladies who have lived in bondage such as the lady above describes, set free into a life with Jesus Christ.
God has given Steve another vision, which also aims to heal hurts like this poet describes. He's opening a pottery which will be not only a working pottery (providing jobs, artistic outlet, and creativity) but also a discipleship center where people grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Both of us see our ministries expanding and growing while providing healing, needed jobs, job skills, and life skills to help overcome some of the issues that are so prevalent here.
We can't, however, do it without YOU! We need your prayer and financial support to be able to continue on in these ministries that God has given us. Right now Steve is out there, talking with people just like you about supporting our ministry financially. Right now our support is at about 20% of what we need to live on, and continue ministering in this area. Please pray with us that God will lead Steve to individuals and organizations that have the funds to help in this work. Please also pray about how you can help--and let us know if you can partner with us---in whatever way God is leading you! (Keep in mind that even small amounts given monthly add up to what we need, ultimately--for example: a gift of $20 a month can pay my gas to town one time so I can minister to the ladies--this will be especially important this coming year as I'm planning on going to town three times a week to minister to the ladies in a woman's shelter --also pray for a lower-mileage vehicle and a more reliable vehicle since next year the kids and I will be traveling to Gallup--60 miles round trip--daily for ministry and school.)
Lastly, if you'd like to meet with Steve he'll be down in the Phoenix area for the next couple weeks--drop us a line if you can get together with him, encourage him, and hear more about the work God's doing here in Navajoland.
Katrina, for both of us.
Monday, February 3, 2014
YOU are Invited!
Missionary
work is a lot like a NFL football team. A team needs its offensive string,
defensive string, kickers, coaches, doctors, trainers, fans, television crews,
and more. Missionaries also need a team supporting them if they expect to win
their game.
Many of you have
supported us for years, and we greatly appreciate you. Without you, Katrina
couldn’t have written her book, we couldn’t have received training, we couldn’t
have gone to Mexico—or come home and seen God’s healing touch on Steve which
drove us out again. Through our team
work, many, many LDS women and men have come to Christ, finances for the
mission are on an even keel, and our neighbors and friends in Mexico were
touched with the gospel. You have watched our children grow, and
even watched our children go out successfully as missionaries in their own
right. You have been with us every
step of the way!
Our
future ministries continue to depend on this team approach. We look forward to ministering
to young Navajo ladies who are in hard spots, missionaries who are new to the
field and want to learn more about the culture and language, and also to
starting an entirely new type of ministry by opening a pottery and reaching an
unreached segment of people in this area, who will then be ministering to the
world!
In
the coming months, Steve (and sometimes Katrina) is going to be traveling
around and meeting with individuals and churches like you to share what we’ve
been up to, and to build a stronger and larger partner base among people just
like you. We’re excited about this facet of our ministry: the opportunity to
share just what God is doing, and also to see what God is doing in you as well.
If
you, as a team member, can help us in any way in this time of raising
support—remember teams are built of all kinds of members, all of whom have
different roles—please contact us. We’re available by email, by phone, by
Facebook, by snail mail, text, and would especially love to have a personal
visit with you!
Contact info: Steveandkatrina@westernindian.org, Steve's cell: 505-399-8603. Home Phone 505-371-5557, Katrina's cell: 505-409-1694, home address: P. O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515. Financial support can be sent to Western Indian Ministries P. O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515 (please make any checks out to WIM, and enclose a note saying it's for the Marti family).
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