Faith To Be Strong

The following is reprinted from our April 2004 newsletter:

“Faith To Be Strong” by Andrew Peterson

Give us faith to be strong, Father we are so weak,

Our bodies are fragile and weary

And as we stagger and stumble to walk where You lead,

Give us faith to be strong

Chorus

Give us faith to be strong, give us strength to be faithful,

Cause life is not long, but it’s hard

Give us grace to go on, make us willing and able,

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we’re torn, mend us up when we break,

Cause flesh can be wounded and shaky

When there’s much too much trouble for one heart to take,

Give us peace when we’re torn

Give us hearts to find hope, Father we cannot see

How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom

And as hard as we try Lord it’s hard to believe

So give us hearts to find hope

This song “happened” to be playing this past November when we were in Globe wrestling with God’s plan for our lives.  It quickly became our battle cry as we staggered and stumbled to walk where God was leading.  As we left family behind in the Midwest and dropped my parents off at the Phoenix airport after they helped us move down, this song became our cry of surrender (through many tears) as we were torn between family and the call of God.  Now as we have spent two weeks on the reservation it has become our plea of intercession on behalf of a nation so hopeless.   We do not completely understand the sorrow we see in our brothers’ eyes, but we do know the only one who can mend their brokenness.  Lord, give us faith to be strong!

The following is reprinted from our April 2007 newsletter:

Three years later this song has continued to be our prayer as we strive for faithfulness.  Over the past three years we have experienced incredible victories and some heartbreaking defeats.  We have watched kids suffer from the choices their parents were making and we have watched kids suffer from choices they were making.  We have walked alongside our Apache brothers and sisters on the mountaintops and we have walked with them through the valleys.  We have really seen that life is not long, but it’s hard.  But through it all, God continues to lead us, give us peace and give us the strength to continue.  We pray He gives us the grace to go on until He returns.  Thank you for your vital partnership in this journey.

Thoughts from 2011:

Almost one year ago 3:18 Ministries was officially incorporated.  It has been an incredible journey as we have found our way through new territory.  Through this process our focus has been on relationships.  Our hearts remain broken for the lost and hurting on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.  Our hearts break for a 10 year old boy who is so lost, angry and confused that he was threatening suicide this past week.  Our hearts break for a 13 year old girl who was at the emergency room alone because there is no sober adult to take care of her.  Our hearts break for a 22 year old who had so much promise and was making a difference on his reservation and now his life is gone.  We are so weak.  We are staggering and stumbling to walk where He leads.  Our biggest prayer is for our hearts to find hope so we can share Hope with our dear brothers and sisters.  Please Lord, give us faith to be strong.

-tory

Another Article on the Use of "Geronimo"

Here is another article.  What are your thoughts?

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/05/apache-leader-jeff-houser-on-use-of-geronimo-name/

What Are Your Thoughts?

More interesting articles in the news regarding Native Americans.  Osama bin Laden was codenamed "Geronimo."  What are your thoughts?  After you read the articles come back to the blog and leave your comments!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bin_laden_geronimo

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42897871/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/

When Did This Become OK? Thoughts from Liz Crews

After returning from a short visit to Arizona, my head spins as I try and catch up with what we experienced. I struggle with taking it from my head and heart and putting it into words...

After arriving at 2:00am we got up later that morning so Robert could go out to the Reservation with our good friend Tory and help prep a house for a ministry team coming next week. This house, maybe 20 x 30, has 2 rooms and a tiny bathroom. It is Mary’s house, an 84 year old Apache woman living in 2 small rooms and a bathroom. But she was not living alone, no the house was also occupied by roaches. More roaches than I think you can imagine (it was more than my brain could wrap around). They had literally taken over her house, walls, floors, ceiling, etc…. along with the scorpions. This 84 year old woman had nowhere else to go, because when this is your reality, it just seems normal. It was her home, so why would she leave? Instead she slept with cotton in her ears every night so they would not crawl in. While this is graphic for some, it was her certainty, her actuality every day. Where were her family, friends? I am not sure. When did this become ok?

She was finally forced to move into a tribal run Shelter care facility, where she is clean and fed and sleeping without cotton in her ears. However, she wants to go home, it is her home. It is in the middle of a gang infested street, shoes strung over power lines, 2 doors away from a house that sells alcohol and who knows what, but it is her home. Almost all of the income she has now goes to the shelter care to provide for her, leaving her not much every month; she wants to go home. So we tore down walls, dug up floor tiles amongst the thousands (literally) of dead roaches and various “substances” they and the scorpions left behind. The smell was appalling, the dust covered us (by the way it was not “normal” dust). Yet the 7 of us worked in conditions most would consider inhumane. We had masks on and work clothing and protective eyewear, in the same place she lived and ate and watched TV in. When did this become ok? It never did! I know I do not have the answers, and perhaps it is not for me to know. What I do know is what my response should, no will be. So 2 guys and 5 girls, did things we never thought we could. Some of us terrified of a small spider or tiny fly at home, worked among bugs I cannot begin to describe and conditions that were heart-wrenching, and did so without grumbling, whining or one complaint. We did what God enabled us to do, no doubt. We never could have done this on our own. Isaiah 41:10 says: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” So my response today was to do whatever God asked of me, and tomorrow will hopefully be the same. I asked God to break my heart for what breaks His…and He did.

Liz

When Did This Become OK?

Please take three minutes and read this blogpost from a dear friend of 3:18 Ministries. Robert and Liz Crews came this past weekend to spend some time with us and we put them to work! In the midst of our work on Saturday Liz asked, "When did this become ok?"  Here are Liz's reflections on the weekend.

http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2011/04/when-did-this-become-ok_21.html

God Is Doing Something Big!

“Attempt something so impossible that unless God is in it, it’s doomed to failure.” John Haggai

I love this quote. I have used this quote on several occasions (although I didn’t know who was responsible for this profound sentence until today). But now that I am walking this quote…it is scary and overwhelming. This journey God has us on is so big that when it plays out and we reach the other side, He WILL get all the glory and honor.

In January I received a phone call from a friend, Benny, who is one of the leaders of the San Carlos Housing Authority. Several elderly Tribal members had applied for grants through the United States Department of Agriculture to have repairs done to their homes (i.e. new roof, new windows, new doors, basic winterization, etc.). Benny thought if they could find volunteer labor it would help the grants go farther. This idea led to a meeting with the Tribal Chairman, the Director and the Finance Director of the Housing Authority, Benny and myself. We were able to talk about the needs of the elderly. This conversation had a heaviness and urgency to it as an elderly Tribal member froze to death in January. He had been living in substandard conditions. Everyone was in agreement to work together to do what we could to meet the needs of the elderly.

After another meeting with the Tribal Chairman and the Director of Housing, we found out the grants required licensed contractors to do the work. As we looked at the need and the Housing Authority looked at the finances, the San Carlos Housing Authority volunteered to provide funding for 3:18 Ministries to do seven projects for elderly Tribal members. I am still amazed at how God works and opens doors we weren’t even knocking on! These projects will be a combination of rehabbing some houses, but several will have to be new construction built from the ground up due to their current conditions. Our short-term ministry team last week from Vail Christian Church was able to build part of a house for one of the gentlemen on the list. His house was pretty rough. For pictures check out: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=145105585511703&aid=46357

They were able to build a 10 foot by 12 foot room onto the existing structure. Next we hope to build on a 20 foot by 12 foot extension on to the home and maybe even give this gentleman a front porch. On Friday the Public Health Nurse stopped by. She had done a presentation last year to the San Carlos Housing Authority Board regarding several elderly Tribal members. She showed pictures of the living conditions and asked for someone to do something to help. Friday she said to me, “You guys made my week. I have been asking for someone to help and finally something is being done.” I received a copy of the PowerPoint presentation she did and am trying to figure out how to post it on this blog.

This past Monday Benny and I went to check out the living conditions of a couple of other people on the list. The first home we visited was rough. This elderly gentleman had pieced together various sizes of 2x4’s to build a structure. I can’t even find the words to describe it. No elderly person should have to live that way. This couple has medical problems and needs a stable, solid place out of the elements. Our next stop was at a house that had a fire less than a year ago. The walls were covered in soot. The ceiling was gone and the rafters were burned. Two elderly Tribe members live there along with a younger man who takes care of them. The lady is unable to get out of her wheelchair by herself. They have been living for several years without running water and their only electricity is an extension cord run from the neighbor’s house. I was heartbroken and overwhelmed.

God has called us to come alongside the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council and Housing Authority to do something about these situations. I feel like I am in over my head! I am in no way qualified to lead these builds. I have very little experience in this type of thing and yet God has opened the doors and shoved us through. Here is what I do know…we are attempting something so big that without God it is completely and totally bound for failure. However, I believe deeply that with God, He can and will accomplish what He wants to do for His glory. How is this going to work out? I don’t know, but God has His perfect plan all laid out. I feel once again we are on a rollercoaster and the cars are ticking as we are beginning the initial climb. We are getting closer and closer to the top when we will start this ride of our lives. We just have to hold on as He lead and guides!

-tory

From Our Teammate: Melissa Brown

“Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done here.” from Chris Tomlin's “God of This City”

Four years ago I was a college freshmen and came to Arizona with my campus ministry on a mission trip to San Carlos. My heart was immediately broken for this people group. The hopelessness, the longing to be loved and cared for pulled on my heart. Completely overwhelmed I went back home to North Carolina knowing I would be back. I came back for every spring after that and two summers, by myself. Each time God’s will and passion for my life became more and more evident. The spring break of my senior year I interviewed for a teaching job in the San Carlos Unified School District. I found out in May that I for sure had a job either at the Alternative or regular High School. I drove across the country in July to move out here still not knowing if I was at the Alternative or the traditional High School, I did not want to be at the Alternative at all. Well, God had other plans….a few days before teachers were to report to school I found out that I was at the Alternative School.

At the beginning I was unsure of why God put me at the Alternative…”I’m a first year teacher”…”I don’t have the experience”…”Why?”. After the first few weeks it became very clear why God chose the Alternative High School for me. This group of students that lack a couple or all of the following: credits, motivation, belief in themselves, purpose, love and hope. Though these can be found at the high school too, I have more option for one on one time and I see my students for more than 55 minutes a day.

“My eyes are small but they have seen enormous things…” Over half of the students enrolled at the alternative school are parents or are soon to be parents. So far this year we have had two students stabbed near the heart. Also we have had students threaten to kill themselves, though I’m 99% sure almost all have thought about it and some have tried. Some of the things the children in San Carlos have to go through in their lives I don’t know that I could deal with. For example, everyone in your family is an alcoholic yet you have the heart of a teddy bear and you aren’t loved. Being kicked out of the home you’re living in because your baby’s father is not liked and then having nowhere to go. Lying in bed listening to your dad and mom fight in the next room and then the fight ending with your dad killing your mom. Being blamed for every problem your alcoholic mother has. This is just a few of the lives my students have to live. Through all of this no one has shown them how to deal with the pain and hurt. Instead they think very low of themselves, cut themselves or other physical mutilation, drink, do drugs, try and fill their empty hearts with “love” from a gang or a lover. They are crying out to be loved, cared for, thought of and wanted.

From day one I have been transparent allowing my students to ask any question and I would give an honest answer. My students have asked me to pray for them, some have asked to come to church, some ask if Jesus is “cool”, others ask questions about my opinion on things they have seen or heard of the church . God is working on some many hearts.

Pray that God breaks their hearts even more and that more questions will come, a spark will ignite, He will be seen and felt, and that my lost students will be found and come into His kingdom of LOVE.