Day 2: The Devil's Highway
As I was exhausted after that long ride and went to bed early, I got up earlier than I was supposed to. It's now 2 days in a row that I got up early. Which is a good thing, considering our daily schedules at camp start earlier than my usual schedule. Although I can't help but a little concerned whether I had enough rest. Thankfully, my headache was gone!
We had breakfast at the hotel and it was excellent and Della the breakfast lady certainly lived up to her reputation. Her name came up on various reviews when I googled our hotel.
After a quick devotional, we were headed to Shiprock to meet with our leaders, they were just came from another trip to another community so it makes more sense logistically for them to meet us at Shiprock.
That Gallup–Shiprock drive along the aforementioned U.S. Route 491 (formerly U.S. Route 666 “The Devil's Highway”) was my first encounter with the Navajo community we saw along the way. The poverty and the socio-economic situation we learned during training is now becoming reality right before our eyes.
Roughly two-thirds on the way to Shiprock, we see the Shiprock. The rock formation in which the town of Shiprock get it’s name. Located about 10 miles southwest of the town, the 1,600 feet tall monadnock is considered sacred by the Navajo. Climbing has been prohibited since the 70s, and lately access been restricted by the governing agency.
The name Shiprock derived from it’s resemblance of 19th-century American Clipper Ship. The Navajo called it Tsé Bitʼaʼí meaning “Rock with Wings” or “Winged Rock.”
That drive took about an hour and 20 minutes before we reach our rendezvous point — a parking lot in a shopping mall in the center of the town.
We were then splitted our group into 2, and attended 2 different churches (we originally planned on splitting into 4, but that was changed because we’d missed the first 2 churches start of service time. We certainly don’t want to arrive late).
Although these churches are our partners in organizing this Sports & Arts Camp — so they'd know we’ll be coming to help during camp and we’ll attend the orientation meeting later in the afternoon — we actually didn’t tell the church(es) that we were going to attend services.
That’s actually a really brilliant idea. First, it allows us to be flexible in terms of which church we’re visiting, and allow us to change plan as needed (like we just did). Second, that way the churches didn’t anticipate our arrival, so we won’t make an entrance and for them not to prepare a special welcome or something like that. When we walked in the church, they first thought we’re just some visitors from California.
The church I visited actually reminds me a lot of many typical churches that I knew.
Certainly brings back a lot of memories.
People were really nice and welcoming. Worship was uplifting, and message was encouraging.
It was about us as vessel in God’s hands. Vessel need to be emptied and cleaned to be useful. And also, a vessel can be used for good or bad purposes.
One interesting thing I noticed in the service here was that church service start with a worship set, and then before the sermon we had a little greeting time where we actually do more than just say “Hi good morning, good to see you!” People actually have a conversation, catch up about their week, getting to know each other, and so on.
Then after that the pastor started his sermon.
Our team leader whose been to several different churches in the area mentioned that in some other churches they actually get coffee and snacks and have a little fellowship time before returning back to the main sanctuary to hear the sermon.
- - -
After church we meet with the other half of our team who went to a different church and the rest of the people who are volunteering with the camp. This time we met at another church, one with a bigger building that can accommodate all of us. By now, we are known as “Team California” or "People in the blue shirts," I call ourself the Smurfs.
Again this church reminds me of a church I used to grew up in, with dining room next to the main sanctuary with a small kitchen attached to it. The back room, kids room and such. Speaking of which, turns out the Navajo has a lot… A LOT in common with my upbringing. Suddenly I really felt a lot of connection with the Navajo already. From the gathering, the “handshake,” family interactions and much more. Nevertheless, there are a lot of things I’m learning about the Navajo people, plenty of new exciting things.
When we get there we were greeted by many people who were already waiting for our arrival, and as soon as we got there we start eating lunch. Navajo Taco with Fry-bread and Navajo burger kept our tummy happy. But it was the The Navajo people that warmed our heart that day.
awww....
- - -
After lunch, as we started our meeting, I see how the people in Shiprock begin taking charge and leading the operation. As our team leader said, “that’s what we want. We want to be ‘out of job.’”
They organized things, raised donations, getting corporate sponsors, recruiting volunteers and getting other churches in the area to join forces. It was UH-MAH-ZING!
This day I also realized why I should be in this team instead of the others (there are 4 teams going to 4 different locations this year, 2 went at the same time, and the other 2 went on a different time, back-to-back week).
Seeing 5 churches, from a similar ethnic background, in the same geographical area and various denominations… joined forces, working together and bringing lights to the darkness, and sharing love, hope and the message of Jesus to their community…. that’s SUPER AWESOME!!
Due to some unfortunate experience in the past. I was really skeptical if different churches can work together. Having this opportunity to be up close seeing these churches work together, really brings a new perspective for me. Those of you who received my support letter might remember that I asked you to “partner with me in bringing hope and the message of Jesus Christ to the Navajo people”
Guess what? I’m the one who ended up receiving a new hope.
The churches in Shiprock has done a marvelous job taking what we planted to the next level.
Sadly that also means this could be the last Shiprock team, who knows? But that also means a job well done. Not accomplished yet, but we’re getting there. This could easily be a model for other communities around the rez.
Since we were unable to visit the School where we’ll have the camp we went straight to Farmington for dinner and check-in to our hotel that'll be our base camp for the next 5 nights.
As we were approaching our hotel, I can’t help but wonder why this view seems familiar:
Yep, I’m quite sure many of you have seen this before. Picture of these billboards been going around for a while. And our hotel conveniently located just accross the street.
That's probably equal to going to Paris and staying at a hotel right in front of the Eiffel Tower. 😂
We had breakfast at the hotel and it was excellent and Della the breakfast lady certainly lived up to her reputation. Her name came up on various reviews when I googled our hotel.
After a quick devotional, we were headed to Shiprock to meet with our leaders, they were just came from another trip to another community so it makes more sense logistically for them to meet us at Shiprock.
That Gallup–Shiprock drive along the aforementioned U.S. Route 491 (formerly U.S. Route 666 “The Devil's Highway”) was my first encounter with the Navajo community we saw along the way. The poverty and the socio-economic situation we learned during training is now becoming reality right before our eyes.
Roughly two-thirds on the way to Shiprock, we see the Shiprock. The rock formation in which the town of Shiprock get it’s name. Located about 10 miles southwest of the town, the 1,600 feet tall monadnock is considered sacred by the Navajo. Climbing has been prohibited since the 70s, and lately access been restricted by the governing agency.
The name Shiprock derived from it’s resemblance of 19th-century American Clipper Ship. The Navajo called it Tsé Bitʼaʼí meaning “Rock with Wings” or “Winged Rock.”
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Shiprock
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That drive took about an hour and 20 minutes before we reach our rendezvous point — a parking lot in a shopping mall in the center of the town.
We were then splitted our group into 2, and attended 2 different churches (we originally planned on splitting into 4, but that was changed because we’d missed the first 2 churches start of service time. We certainly don’t want to arrive late).
Although these churches are our partners in organizing this Sports & Arts Camp — so they'd know we’ll be coming to help during camp and we’ll attend the orientation meeting later in the afternoon — we actually didn’t tell the church(es) that we were going to attend services.
That’s actually a really brilliant idea. First, it allows us to be flexible in terms of which church we’re visiting, and allow us to change plan as needed (like we just did). Second, that way the churches didn’t anticipate our arrival, so we won’t make an entrance and for them not to prepare a special welcome or something like that. When we walked in the church, they first thought we’re just some visitors from California.
The church I visited actually reminds me a lot of many typical churches that I knew.
Certainly brings back a lot of memories.
People were really nice and welcoming. Worship was uplifting, and message was encouraging.
It was about us as vessel in God’s hands. Vessel need to be emptied and cleaned to be useful. And also, a vessel can be used for good or bad purposes.
One interesting thing I noticed in the service here was that church service start with a worship set, and then before the sermon we had a little greeting time where we actually do more than just say “Hi good morning, good to see you!” People actually have a conversation, catch up about their week, getting to know each other, and so on.
Then after that the pastor started his sermon.
Our team leader whose been to several different churches in the area mentioned that in some other churches they actually get coffee and snacks and have a little fellowship time before returning back to the main sanctuary to hear the sermon.
- - -
After church we meet with the other half of our team who went to a different church and the rest of the people who are volunteering with the camp. This time we met at another church, one with a bigger building that can accommodate all of us. By now, we are known as “Team California” or "People in the blue shirts," I call ourself the Smurfs.
Again this church reminds me of a church I used to grew up in, with dining room next to the main sanctuary with a small kitchen attached to it. The back room, kids room and such. Speaking of which, turns out the Navajo has a lot… A LOT in common with my upbringing. Suddenly I really felt a lot of connection with the Navajo already. From the gathering, the “handshake,” family interactions and much more. Nevertheless, there are a lot of things I’m learning about the Navajo people, plenty of new exciting things.
When we get there we were greeted by many people who were already waiting for our arrival, and as soon as we got there we start eating lunch. Navajo Taco with Fry-bread and Navajo burger kept our tummy happy. But it was the The Navajo people that warmed our heart that day.
awww....
 |
Team Lunch with our Church Partners and Camp Volunteers
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- - -
After lunch, as we started our meeting, I see how the people in Shiprock begin taking charge and leading the operation. As our team leader said, “that’s what we want. We want to be ‘out of job.’”
They organized things, raised donations, getting corporate sponsors, recruiting volunteers and getting other churches in the area to join forces. It was UH-MAH-ZING!
This day I also realized why I should be in this team instead of the others (there are 4 teams going to 4 different locations this year, 2 went at the same time, and the other 2 went on a different time, back-to-back week).
Seeing 5 churches, from a similar ethnic background, in the same geographical area and various denominations… joined forces, working together and bringing lights to the darkness, and sharing love, hope and the message of Jesus to their community…. that’s SUPER AWESOME!!
Due to some unfortunate experience in the past. I was really skeptical if different churches can work together. Having this opportunity to be up close seeing these churches work together, really brings a new perspective for me. Those of you who received my support letter might remember that I asked you to “partner with me in bringing hope and the message of Jesus Christ to the Navajo people”
Guess what? I’m the one who ended up receiving a new hope.
 |
Briefing with our camp leader
|
The churches in Shiprock has done a marvelous job taking what we planted to the next level.
Sadly that also means this could be the last Shiprock team, who knows? But that also means a job well done. Not accomplished yet, but we’re getting there. This could easily be a model for other communities around the rez.
Since we were unable to visit the School where we’ll have the camp we went straight to Farmington for dinner and check-in to our hotel that'll be our base camp for the next 5 nights.
As we were approaching our hotel, I can’t help but wonder why this view seems familiar:
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The other side of the sign says "Jesus is STILL watching you."
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That's probably equal to going to Paris and staying at a hotel right in front of the Eiffel Tower. 😂
