Thank you for your prayers!!!!

I need to update you all on what has impacted teaching the youth during the morning church service.  A significant interruption has occurred which calls for prayer and regrouping of a sort that I, my Mission Director and others are praying and working on.  In my last update I mentioned teaching the youth during the morning church service.  The pastor of 20 years had resigned and preached his last message the first Sunday in March.  The interim pastor had been here the two summers before and had basically emptied out the church both summers as he preached continually that we have to attend every service in order to show we love God and are serving Him.  This led to a serious down turn in church attendance especially since last summer.  I was not aware the interim pastor was a King James only man and was working with the leadership of the church I attended prior to this current church, to have the two churches merge.  You might remember that I left the prior church because I was pointed out as not being King James only and therefore not saved.  If you are not aware of what some King James only people believe here is a bit.  The King James Version is the only true Bible, all other versions or translations of the Bible are of the devil and anyone who uses them are not saved.  They believe that the introduction of other versions and translations are the reason our country is in a moral landslide.  The pastor of the prior church at the time I was there said that the King James Bible is Jesus.  Though he is not the pastor now, he is now teaching Sunday School in the new merged church and is in leadership.  Needless to say, I'm no longer attending.

My Mission Director had been talking to me for months about possibly starting a home church and now he has been looking more into it.  The possibility is to have a Sunday evening or late afternoon meeting with one of the men of our mission coming over to bring the message.

For a couple years Sarah has not attended church anywhere because of the sad state of the churches here.  She has started meeting with me and another friend here in my home on Sunday mornings which often leads to the majority of the day. : )

There are two churches led by Navajo pastors who mainly preach in Navajo that I believe are doing a good job.  When I talk with people who understand better in Navajo I always encourage them to attend one of them.  For those who understand English far better there is not one church I know of that I can strongly encourage them to attend.  Because of this many English speaking people travel to Gallup or Window Rock to go to church.

My Mission Director got me in touch with a representative of Adventures in Missions who specifically helps with Native outreaches in Arizona and New Mexico.  She will be looking for church groups from around the country interested in helping get something started with youth here in Sanders using horses and other activities.  If our mission does seek to start a new church plant then she will seek out church groups interested in helping with that as well.

Since Sarah is working for Juvenile Probation she was able to get a group of probationers to come over for community work service in April and is planning for summer service to bring more.  Many of the last group were interested in the horses so the plan is to have them do some work on the grounds and then have them help groom the horses.  I never take time to comb the mane and tail!!!  This will be good for the kids to have contact with the horses and possibly develop an interest long term.

Periodically I hear from young adults that I worked with as youth here in Sanders.  When they are really struggling they reach out to me until they feel better.  I would love to keep working with them.  Getting them to see their constant need is a challenge, but as they keep reaching out, I pray my message will stick and bear fruit.

"Bes" and "Ra" are common law partners who live about 1 1/2 miles from me up on the rez.  I race walk by their home and they are the ones I delivered the care package to Christmas Eve when my truck battery died.  I have been praying to get in touch with "Bes" since and that has happened several times this month.  I brought food to them when "Bes" made the need known and I have talked and prayed with them.  They said they are trying to get off the alcohol but friends keep coming around with alcohol getting them back into drinking.  They both claim to be saved but feel nothing is truly helping them to get and stay sober.  This has become a more intense prayer item for me.  They are one couple I am encouraging to attend a Navajo speaking church in the area.

I have been asked about having groups come to help do work projects.  I have the work and with the growing season in full swing the bullheads have started coming out a month early this year!!!!  Help will be greatly appreciated!!!!  To go through proper channels it would be best to not only contact me but also my Mission Director, Roger Scarbro at:  aimiroger@yahoo.com.

Prayer Requests:

1.  Guidance for church situation;

2.  Wisdom in counseling;

3.  Establishing relationships with probationers during community service;

4.  Help with work projects throughout the growing season;

5.  Getting regular youth meetings going at my home once again.  I do have youth interested.

Praise

1.  Steady progress through my level 3 in Parelli Natural Horsemanship!!!

2.  For each of you who pray as God leads!!!

3.  For each of you led to give financially!!!