Goodness
Earlier in this series, in this story I mentioned that our journey didn't actually begin in Kykotsmovi. So, let me take you to where our journey begun.
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SATURDAY
Our trips are normally goes from Saturday to Saturday, with both Saturdays designed as travel days.
Some of the K-team members came from 2 separate trips the week prior (Dilkon, AZ and Huerfano, NM). For those committed to back-to-back trips (let’s call it a “double header”), their journey begun in Winslow where they stayed on the night on friday.
The next day, whilst the remaining Dilkon and Huerfano team members continued their journey home, these double-header team members stayed in Dilkon to recuperate and replenish their supplies and officially becoming part of the K-team.
For the majority of K-team, — myself included — we begun our day at home right before dawns. Many of us prefer to leave early so we can avoid driving across the high desert at high noon in the summer.
With me when the day is done
After meeting up with my travel partners, we start heading for Arizona to our first staging area, Flagstaff.
Flagstaff is only about an hour away from Winslow along the I-40, however since our final destination is K-town, it makes no sense for either team to drive further as K-town is roughly the same distance from Winslow and Flagstaff albeit different routes to get there.
Our car was the first car arrived and we were tasked in getting some extra supplies. Whilst shopping at a big-box retail store, the cashier noticed we were getting a bunch of “school-kid appropriate supplies” and asked us about it.
It took her a while to scan all those items and we ended up chatting with her for a bit. Turns out.... she’s a Hopi! And she grew up in one of the traditional Hopi village in the Hopi reservation. (Not all residential areas in the reservation located in the traditional village, some are clusters of houses/RVs/mobile homes similar to what we can find anywhere else).
While she repeatedly expressed her appreciation for what we’re doing in her hometown, we should be the one thanking her for sharing valuable in-depth information on K-town, the Hopi people, and how things are in the Hopi reservation. Bear in mind, at the time none of our team member ever been to Hopi rez, or interact with anybody who has lived there.
It’s definitely a very encouraging encounter, knowing God has gone before us and arrange this meeting with this Hopi lady.
After the fire extinguisher story, this was actually another story of a setback turned into a comeback.
Camp attendance in Huerfano and Dilkon went above our expectations. And those sites ended up using more supplies than anticipated. We didn't know at first that we’ll need more supplies and it wasn't until late Friday when Huerfano and Dilkon wrapped up their camp at noon, and did their inventory, we found out that we’ll be short on some supplies for K-town. By this time it was too late for those of us coming from California to get anything, so we decided to do the shopping in Flagstaff upon arrival the next day (another reason we like to leave early).
— Yep, that's how we do things, once a team finished their week-long trip, that team will pass on our supplies and equipments to the next team; in case of a back-to-back trips like this, the hand-off usually happens mid-way on Saturday where one team is heading back and the other is going.
I see that this is God’s way affirming us that He's gone before us paving the way to get there.
Had we have enough supply, we won’t need to go shopping and won’t get a chance to meet this cashier lady helping us understand how things are in the Hopi res. And of all the check out lanes available, we ended up on her lane. Yeah......
Ever before me, ever behind me
Every day of my life
And ever before me, ever behind me
Every day of my life
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Around early afternoon one by one those cars arriving in Flagstaff and after getting settled in our rooms we headed to a nature reserve for an afternoon walk. A team building activity and great way to refresh after a long drive and getting acclimated with the weather and elevation.
We then had our first team dinner together, and get some rest for another journey the next day.
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SUNDAY
Sunday is normally the day we attend church and have some fellowship time with our church partners. It’s also the day we get things ready for the camp the next day, and if time allows sometimes visiting nearby point of interests and experience the local culture.
After breakfast, we gathered real quick in the parking lot for our morning prayer and devotion, then we start heading to the Hopi Cultural Center where we’ll be staying that week. The Cultural Center is officially located in Second Mesa, but not in the traditional village area. It’s a designated tourist place, with museum, gift shops, hotels and restaurants run by the Hopi nation.
This cultural center is about 2 hours drive from Flagstaff and just over an hour drive from Winslow. At around 9, we all arrived in the parking lot, and all K-town members finally assembled as a whole for the first time.
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A little flashback... earlier in the process, we know this place only has a limited number of rooms available. And to accommodate our team, we’ll be taking over a good chunk of those rooms at a very specific date. We weren’t sure at first if this would be possible. The other alternative would be Moenkopi (right by Tuba City), or Winslow, both are over an hour drive away. Online reservation only allow us to book up to 3 rooms. But then.... where God send us, he’ll provide. And that’s what happened, the cultural center allow us to book more than 3 rooms and they have enough rooms available to accommodate all of us on the week we were there (it’s a summer peak season for tourists). We all get to stay in the same facility, convenient location to school/camp site and all the amenities. Another testament of the Goodness of God in this trip.
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We then split our team into three groups, going to three different churches to attend service there, shuffling up those fresh coming from OC with the double-headers. The first group went to a church in K-Town, this is also the church where we host the Celebrate Recovery trainings. The second group to a church in the First Mesa area, and the last group (yours truly included) assigned to a church right below the other side of Second Mesa — Second Mesa is the largest of the 3 mesas, shaped like a horseshoe where the cultural center is on the opposite side of the horse-shoe from this church.
The church we went to was built in early 1900s, the interior now been upgraded to include wood flooring, furnace, and other amenities, but the main structure made fully of stones, and still intact the way it was built over a century ago — withstanding all weather elements and the test of time.
The church’s “campus” consist of the church, then a building that house a multipurpose room, restroom, laundry room and kids classroom with a basketball court, and on the other side is the pastor’s family residence. There are also a cluster of houses just a stone-throw away from the church. Some church members resides in those houses.
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The Hopis have always been very open to any beliefs, albeit being selective of what they’ll accept. Their philosophy is “If you have a better way of life, then show us! If we like what we see, then we’ll follow you.” So, when missionaries came at the turn of the 20th century, the Hopi did not let them into their villages, but instead gave them the area to build a church on this hill right underneath the Second Mesa so they can observe how Christians live their daily life right from their homes in Second Mesa. This street leads to traditional Hopi villages in Second Mesa..
After such a wonderful day... we went back to the Cultural Center. Checked-in, and have dinner. The story-telling team went on to prepared some stuffs for story time the next day, and I was transferring files from my camera to my computer. And then we’re all ready to get some sleep.
Just before I managed to closed my eyes, I heard some rhythmic drumming. Since we were in the middle of nowhere, and it was really dark out there we couldn’t tell where the sound came from.
Uh, a couple of things for context:
1. We were told not to use tap water to brush our teeth. Something about water contamination and playing safe, taking the err-side of caution. But.... muscle memory took over, and I used tap water to brush my teeth before my brain could process the presence of a bottled water by the sink — that I strategically put as a self-reminder.
2. I had no roommate, so I couldn’t ask if it’s just me or if anybody hear it too and I assumed everybody already slept I decided against calling anybody.
So my first thought was.... what’s going on?
Where’s this sound came from? Is it real? Or..... am I hallucinating — after possibly inhaling contaminated water.
After a little while, I decided to come out of the room to find out what’s going on, and found a few of our team members also wondering where the sound came from.
Turns out... some people in the community were practicing for pow-wow.
And of course, the Hopis are so kind and hospitable, the Cultural Center workers actually offered if they need to ask them to stop so we can rest.
— No, we didn’t mean it that way at all. More like we’re curious if we can watch them. Unfortunately the sound came from a distance away and we couldn’t see anything in the darkness from the distance. As much as we want to, we need to focus on our mission work. For now, the best thing to do is rest up.
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MONDAY–THURSDAY
Daily life at camp is largely similar to any of the previous camp I’ve been to.
This year we have new set of songs and motions, and that’s pretty exciting to see how the kids responding to these songs. One of them is the Celebrate song I mentioned in this story.
One thing I can highlight is on Wednesday morning, we had the privilege to see several Hopi men weaving traditional Hopi textiles. Traditionally, weaving is a male job for the Hopi, unlike the Navajo where weaving is traditionally a female’s job.
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FRIDAY
Rain doesn’t come very often in the Hopi reservation. Especially in the summertime.
However, that summer day — the last day of camp — right at camp end time rainwater pours out of the sky.
The few remaining kids still waiting for their rides spontaneously perform a rain dance.
In the dry climate of Arizona’s desert mesa, rain is a sign of blessings, and rightfully called for a celebration — hence the rain dance. Such a perfect way to conclude this chapter. Ending the camp at such a high note!
Heading down from the mesa that Friday afternoon, I can’t help but to reflect on our journey . . .
Such an amazing adventure we had that week.
Truly, we have tasted and seen God’s goodness.
From the rising sun, until when the day is done, never failing in the night.
More than we could ever dare to dream. Everywhere we turn we see God’s mercy chasing after us . . .
More than I could dare to dream
I have tasted, I have seen
The kindness of Your heart
The kindness of Your heart
Even in my darkest day
O God, Your goodness will remain
It's just who You are
Oh, it's just who You are
It's Your goodness, Your goodness
Everywhere I turn I see
Your mercy, Your mercy
Chasing after me
It's Your goodness, Your goodness
Everywhere I turn I see
Your mercy, Your mercy
Chasing after me
