Wonder Voyage 2010 Summer Blog

Our journey from Jacksonville to New Mexico and Arizona is almost over, but I feel like our journey as a group has truly just begun,  Through leading a VBS, helping to organize a decimated house, and just serving God together, we have learned to respect each member of our group in a new way.  We have learned that we can trust in God even in the most desperate of situations, and that there is nothing that is impossible for God,  We have laughed so hard that we’ve cried, and our hearts have been touched by a growing love for the Navajo people. 

On Sunday morning, we will return to our lives in Florida, but we will never truly be the same,  We have been changed forever, and (as we learned on Thursday at the Hozhoni Center) we will walk together in beauty from this point forward.  It has been a joy to serve each other, God, and the people of New Mexico through Wonder Voyage. 

Our journey west to New Mexico and Arizona has been amazing, though the beginning was challenging. Our flights to Minneapolis then Albequrque was relaxing and many of us caught up on our (much missed) sleep! We were all surprised when we walked out the airport and it was not humid or hot.

Our 15 passenger van is a perfect fit for the 15 mission trippers. We even named it—The Swagin’ Wagon. We arrived at Sonny Dooley’s home at about dinner time. The boys stayed in a Hogan, which is a Navajo dwelling. It had dirt floors and of course—no running water. The girls had it a little bit better, we had a real house with outlets to charge our phones and cameras but all the girls agreed to rough it on the floor in the living. Sonny’s sister in law, Callie, cooked us dinner every night. We had potatoes, corn and Navajo tacos- amazing!

My personal reality check started quickly after that. We brushed our teeth outside and had to use a port-a-potty if we needed to go to the bathroom. We all wanted showers that night but soon realized we wouldn’t get them until Thursday evening.

We woke up Monday morning ready to go to VBS for the day. Sonny had told us that there was a school that held free breakfasts and lunches for the Navajo children in the area near the church where we would be hosting the VBS and that we should go recruit children to come from the school.We began to set up in the morning and one little girl named Hannah arrived. She played with Hodson and Peyton while we set up and practiced for the afternoon VBS. We all headed down to the school for the free lunch. It was really really eye opening. Every day when we would go to the school we would play soccer in their gym. The first day of the VBS talked about how God is with us (FEAR NOT!).

When we arrived back at Sonny’s she asked us to please pick up all the debris in her goat’s pen. It was an easy, but long task. Before we went to sleep Sonny told us stories in the Hogan about Navajo traditions.

Tuesday was about the same but we also helped demolish a house that Sonny’s family used to use. We all are very sore from carrying various parts of the house to the burn pile or the dumpster. We had a campfire outside the Hogan and Sonny told us a Navajo story about the monster that is poverty. She also said we were an answer to her prayers. It was very touching.

On Wednesday we concluded the VBS with the story of Jesus. We talked about how He died on the cross for all of our sins. It was the first time I had ever spoken about Jesus’ death and life in front on people I didn’t know, so it was very moving. We finished up on Sonny’s house and had Navajo tacos.

Thursday was a bittersweet day. We left Sonny’s home in New Mexico, a place we learned to love and left to come to Arizona, a place that would hold amazing sights and running water. We went to the Honzhoni youth center and met some new friends. I really felt like the Episcopal Church has united today. The Arizona and Florida dioceses were together as one. One of the youth told us about a pow wow in the area and we went! It was so interesting! We saw the Navajo dancers and most of us even participated in a circle dance. I find it odd that we all live in one nation but we all have such different cultures. I am writing this from the wigwam on Route 66. This trip has been exceeded my expectations. I didn’t think I would have this much fun or make such good friends. I have seen my faults and seen what they do to my expectations. I have learned to love more and judge less. I have also learned that I am incredibly, incredibly blessed. God has given my family, friends and peers opportunities that many people here don’t have. I have learned to be thankful. I took my first shower since Saturday this afternoon and was thankful for everything about it! It was cold, the head was shorter than me, and it was rushed, but it was still more than Sonny and her family have.

If one thing Sonny said this week stays with me I want it to be this, “The Navajo people don’t measure wealth by the strength of a family. Money has nothing to do with wealth. A strong family is a rich family.”

After a long day of travel, the team from St. Mark’s arrived to their Navajo home for the next 4 days.  The team took in their surroundings of the high desert (at almost 8,000 feet above sea level), viewed the goats, horses, blue birds, horned toads and the family dogs before heading to a great dinner prepared by our host family.  We had a quick orientation and then it was off to an early bedtime to rest up for the day of work and play.

Monday we woke up bright and early and headed off to Oak View Bible Church to set up for VBS.  The team hung posters, made VBS signs and decorated the church in anticipation of the 9am start.  At 9:30 and the first VBS kid arrived (that’s right, I said kid, as in one).  Not to be discouraged, the kids decided to make some flyers and then walk down the street to the local school where the local kids are given a free lunch.  We grabbed lunch, mixed with the kids, handed out flyers and invited them to VBS at our new time of noon.  10 kids and a few parents showed up and VBS was off and running.  The team and the VBS kids had a great time singing songs, learning Bible stories, playing games, making crafts and eating snacks.  My highlight for the day was watching a 5 year old boy shove about 4 marshmallows in his mouth, wash them down with 2 big cups of grape juice and then within a minute I hear, “My tummy hurts…” followed by the 4 marshmallows and 2 cups of grape juice puked all over the ground.  After about a 30 second cry and a bit of comfort from his mother, the kid ran back to the marshmallow bag for another go at the snack.  Tomorrow, it’s pretzels and apple juice, here’s to hoping for a more successful snack time.