Sunday morning, all 29 people in our group are up, ready for church and walking out the door at 9:55am. We are headed to a small church in Tohatchi on the Navajo reservation called the "First Navajo Christian Reformed Church." It's 35 minutes north of Gallup. We arrived just as the church bell was ringing at 10:30.
(Out of reverence, we didn't take pictures during church.)
Our group walked in with smiles and were greeted with smiles. We filled several wooden pews. We sang 2 hymns in English and another in Navajo.
(It was hard to keep a dry eye.) An offering was taken and the baskets were filled. We took time to greet one another and shake hands with big smiles.
Our group also had a song prepared to sing in front of the church. We filled the small stage and did our best with
"10,000 Reasons."
When it was time for their little ones to be dismissed for children's church I asked my 8 year old if he would like to attend their class. He, of course, would do anything to get out of "big church" and was happy to go. I walked him down stairs, introduced him to the group and asked if one of the boys would be his buddy. An 8 year old named Charles raised his hand and so I left.
First of all, I'm so happy he is able to make friends so easily and isn't shy. Second, what an awesome learning experience for him.
After church was over we found the kids playing outside. The wind was kicking up and dust was flying.
I learned later that the Scientist told his new group of friends all about chess and chess tournaments.
As I looked around from the church parking lot, I wondered about the possibilities of bringing chess to this community. The local Post Office is pictured above.
If I send a package to this church, I know where it will end up. :-)
After church we grabbed a quick bite and headed on to
Window Rock. This park has a cool sandstone formation and a tribute to the
Navajo Code Talkers who helped the U.S. win WWII.
The wind and sand storm was fierce by now and it was all we could do to pose for a picture.
Then we were on to our next cultural experience. The leader of our group had set up an amazing opportunity for us to be submerged in the community. So, off we drove. A convoy of 4 mini vans and 2 pick-up trucks. We followed our guide to a mile marker on the side of the road in the reservation and a dirt trail heading off into the high desert. We would end up on on the homestead of the Owen's family. A multi-generational Navajo family with claim to a couple hundred acres on the reservation.
This homestead still has no electricity or running water.
The hut above is a
tradition hogan. Nearly every residence on the reservation has a hogan next to it.
The Owen's family was going to show us around and make dinner for us.
The wind and sand storm was making things difficult so, the plans
changed. Now we would take a quick look around and short walk to look
at their canyon and then we would drive an hour back to the Rehoboth
campus for dinner made by the Owen's family.
Pretty neat to have this canyon in your backyard.
Dinner! - Traditional fry bread made by hand on site, pinto beans and the fixings.
The Owen's family also has a famous dancer in it's mix and he gave us a demonstration. So cool!
Eldon Owens has been dancing competitively since he was just little guy. He is a "Grass Dancer." This means that he's the first one out at a festival. Traditionally, the grass dancer's job is to stop down all the grass so the rest of the dancers can have a nice big area to dance. The bells that jiggle and make noise are there to scare away all the little critters hidden in the grass.
Don't ya just love that!
This is how we ended our day. We were memorized. It was another late night. Tomorrow the men would start their project and we would prepare for ours.
