Manuelito Navajo Children's Home

Thankfulness--continued

2011-12-14T14:35:00.004-07:00

Let us continue to be thankful for Who's image we were created in, for who we are, for what we have given us, for what we can do in Christ, and for the abilities of others. To mention one thing here I am thankful for is, this great country we live in -- the United States of America!

New Caps!

2011-11-15T15:46:00.001-07:00

We were blessed recently with the delivery of 100 hand-knitted caps. They are beautiful and our children and staff were excited to receive them. Thank you to the Orangevale, California Church of Christ and to Arthur Allen of Portland, Oregon for this wonderful gift.

Chore Time

2011-10-04T15:05:00.002-06:00

Acts 8.4 . . . A Calling for Today

2011-09-15T17:26:00.002-06:00

It seems that the common strategies for church growth consist of a polished and charismatic preacher, a large and ultra-modern facility, and dozens of active programs, among other flashy qualities. The mega-church model is certainly effective, and it is a good thing that these groups are making large impacts for the sake of Christ. BUT, there is another way to share the Gospel . . . more subtle, and even under the radar, but no less important and necessary.

Vocational ministry has been around a long time, even since the beginning days of the church. In fact, vocational ministry certainly predates the professional variety. I doubt Peter ever took much of a paycheck for his preaching . . . perhaps he benefited from the provision of a meal here and there, and perhaps the use of a "bed" to lay his head. And, Paul, often labored with his hands to make possible his evangelistic work. Certainly, the prospects of a consistent salary, housing allowances, IRAs, health insurance, and the like, were centuries away from becoming reality, and, it may seem now, the norm, and expected. BUT, in the beginning days of Christianity, the Gospel was shared, for the most part, by neighbor to neighbor, from one layman to another.

Christianity has made impressive gains in the past 20 centuries. Millions upon millions of people profess faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. And, professional ministry has surely played a big role in this spread. BUT, how much of the growth is the product of ordinary men and women sharing their faith with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers? Surely, a considerable amount.

The example of Acts 8.4 is often overlooked . . . a quick bridge verse connecting the stoning of Stephen with the remarkable ministry of Philip. The verse reads, "So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news" (HCSB). This description comes following a statement that the apostles had remained behind in Jerusalem. The church continued to grow, despite the persecution. The church continued to grow, because of the testimony of the laity . . . average, ordinary men and women convicted in their faith and devoted to sharing what they had discovered in Jesus. Yes, the professionals hit the paths to the mission fields, as well, and educated preachers would make their mark for the sake of Christ. BUT, the church grew, largely, because of the efforts of countless nameless believers.

I live in the western United States, near the shared border of New Mexico and Arizona. Churches here are, for the most part, small, aging and struggling. The mega-church model exists hundreds and thousands of miles from us; it is a model that does not mesh with reality here. The growth strategies of a highly skilled and polished preacher, an imposing facility, and around-the-clock programming are often qualities that are unrealistic here. So, how is the church to grow? Through simplicity, basically, and because of the labors of ordinary men and women. In other words, the ones sitting in the pews must get up and work, and lead, and follow in the steps of Acts 8.4.

BUT, here's a thought and a modern calling . . . how much good could be done by couples trained in various fields--teaching, medicine, business, etc.--relocating from large and effective churches to small and struggling ones? What I am suggesting is that couples and individuals, mature in their faith, and from communities where the church is strong, relocate to areas in the West (and other parts of the country) where the church is weak. For example, a couple graduating with education degrees from Abilene Christian University might choose to find jobs in a town like Aztec, New Mexico or Holbrook, Arizona or Blanding, Utah for the expressed purpose of becoming active in the local church and being a boost to that congregation . . . taking this course, instead of finding employment in Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, cities where the church is strong, and where one's addition to a congregation would be largely inconsequential (in terms of that church's effectiveness in ministry and outreach).

I call this a modern calling inspired by the example of Acts 8.4, and I find it an important and necessary strategy for church growth in areas where the church (and the Gospel testimony) does not have the footprint it does in other places.

I have devoted a new blog to what I am terming the Acts 8.4 Calling. This will be a sounding-board and bulletin board with the expressed purpose of encouraging and facilitating vocational missions (and, particularly, of the variety described in this article). The articles I post there will include profiles of communities where the church is alive but in need of help; in other words, an introduction to places where "transplanted" Christians could be a big help. These profiles will include a description of the communities at large, a survey of employment opportunities, contact information (where known), and other vital information. I invite your feedback and contributions.

Help me make this Acts 8.4 calling a meaningful and productive ministry.

Recent Birthdays

2011-09-06T15:21:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday, Iesha!

Happy Birthday, Theresa!

Norman & Cathy Atchison's cottage celebrating Everett's birthday

"Doc" & the gang at the August birthday party

Alyssa picking an item from the treasure box at "Doc's" August birthday party

Monica & Jimi with their presents from "Doc's" August birthday party

Happy Birthday, Everett!

New Roofs

2011-09-02T15:09:00.006-06:00

We are proud of our new roofs! Over the past four summers, service teams from McPherson, Kansas (2008-2011), Saltillo, Mississippi (2009-2010), and Albuquerque, New Mexico (2009) have come to our campus and replaced the badly worn roofs on our cottages, school building, office building, staff residences, and other structures. We are greatly indebted to their hard work and generosity.

A Motley Crue . . . That We're Very Proud to Call Our Own!

2011-08-29T14:55:00.001-06:00

Back To School

2011-08-17T13:07:00.002-06:00

Chapel at Gallup Christian School on Monday, August 15, 2011.

Our new school year has gotten off to a great start.

$10 a Month Can Help Provide a Home for a Child in Need

2011-08-16T16:06:00.003-06:00

$10 isn't much these days. It will not buy you dinner for 2 at McDonald's. It will not buy you a movie ticket on a Friday night. It will barely put 3 gallons of fuel in your car. BUT, $10 given by you each month to Manuelito Navajo Children's Home can help us provide a good and loving home to children in need.

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home has been caring for children for over 50 years. We have opened our doors to hundreds of children who simply need a warm bed to sleep in, nutritious meals to eat, a school to attend, and the constant love and attention of Christian parents.

Raising a child is never easy, or cheap! Manuelito Navajo Children's Home seeks to provide the best of care and resources to the children entrusted to us. We must rely on the generosity and involvement of others to do all that is necessary. Your giving, even if it is $10 a month, helps us do our best.

Will you help us provide for children like Monica (pictured above)? Join our Top Ten Club today by committing to give $10 each month to our ministry. To register, simply put a check in an envelope with a short note telling us your intention. Then mail it to us at:

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home
PO Box 58
Gallup, NM 87305

To arrange giving via debit or credit card, please call our office at (505) 863-5530.

Thank you for your goodness, and may God bless your generosity.

An Appeal

2010-09-23T00:22:00.000-06:00

Six years ago, I knew very little about the Navajo people (Dine') and the vast and beautiful Navajoland (Dine'tah). My education on these matters is still a work in progress, but in these past 6 years I have come to have a great respect and love for the Navajo. I find their history fascinating. I admire their triumphs (Navajo art, in particular, is among the most creative and beautiful of that of any culture in the world). I grieve over their challenges. I am anything but a "bleeding heart," but I am ashamed of the way earlier Americans treated the Navajo and other native peoples.

After six years of living close to the Navajo Nation reservation, I have witnessed firsthand the foolish (and, I will add, racist) policy of generations past of rounding up native peoples and driving them to "reservations." Often, our government placed these peoples on lands that were the poorest and most remote. No walls were built, but once the reservation boundaries were determined (and changed many times, by the way, by the bureaucrats in Washington), little effort was made to teach the indians new skills, or to provide modern infrastructure that would make assimilating into American culture easier. There were some basic and noble efforts made, to be sure, but these were few and far between. Most cruel of all, perhaps, our government brought in alcohol to "pacify" the indians and to quell dissension and revolts. Oh, what great tragedy alcohol has brought to the reservations.

The past cannot be undone, but the present and future can be better, much better. As I live and work among the Navajo, I see a people who love life, who are bright and industrious, who are honest and good-natured. I see a people who, when given half a chance, can excel and do great things. I continually pray that the resources and opportunities needed for continued and accelerated advancement of the Navajo will come. Share this prayer with me.

Of course, my primary interest here is with the children of the Navajo nation, particularly those children who are in crisis, whose families are beyond dysfunction and who are in great need. We at the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home are striving to help these children and families. We need partners in our ministry to enable us to extend our reach and to take more children into our care. Will you help us? Please make a contribution to our cause today.

As you consider this plea, let me share with you some statistics that describe, in some small measure, life on the Navajo reservation:

There is 58% unemployment on the Navajo reservation
Annual per ca pita income is around $7,300 (try feeding and housing a family on $7,300 a year!)
32% of houses lack plumbing
20% of houses lack electricity
50% of children drop out of school
Fewer than 7% of adult Navajos have college degrees
90% of the population is impacted by alcoholism (either personally or through a close family member)
The median lifespan among men living on the reservation is 46 years (read this sentence again! . . . that's over 30 years shorter than in the wider American society!)
20% of families are intact; 80% of families are fractured!

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home is just one of the efforts by Churches of Christ to share the love and message of Jesus Christ to the Navajo. Today, churches can be found in at least ten communities on the Reservation. Many of these congregations are being led by Navajo preachers. In the coming days and weeks, I will introduce these workers here on my blog and on my Facebook group, Churches of Christ Navajo Mission. Please pray for these men, their families, and the churches with whom they work. Pray for the effort to bring Christ to this beautiful and noble people. Do more than pray, become involved personally and financially.

New Birth!

2010-04-13T22:45:00.001-06:00

Jessie has called Manuelito Navajo Children's Home her home since 1999. Tonight she claimed faith in Jesus Christ as her own and was reborn! We rejoice with her, her siblings, Merle & Annette (her houseparents for the past 10+ years), and with all the faithful.

You who have supported MNCH over the years share in this celebration, for you have made possible a home where our Lord Jesus is celebrated and where faith can spring forth and grow. Jessie is the third of our children at MNCH who have been baptized since September 2009.

Thanks to the UNM Christian Student Center!

2010-03-18T21:51:00.002-06:00

What a blessing to have the group from the UNM Christian Student Center in Albuquerque with us this week. Friendships were made. Projects were completed. Memories will last. We look forward to seeing these good people again!

Kiwanis Birthday Party

2010-03-16T23:22:00.005-06:00

For the past few years, the local Kiwanis club has hosted monthly birthday parties for the kids at Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. Doc and his crew plan some terrific parties, and they are always a highlight of each month. Tonight, a very special and newly-minted 4-year-old was honored.

Skating w/ the Crew from UNM Christian Student Center

2010-03-15T22:01:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Jim & Judy Christian for opening up the Skate Connection!

Prepping for Leadership Training for Christ

2010-03-13T15:35:00.006-07:00

The kids at Manuelito Navajo Children's Home are busy preparing for the Leadership Training for Christ convention to be held in Phoenix, Arizona over Easter weekend. LTC is always a highlight of the year and involves many kids and families from MNCH and Gallup Church of Christ.

Today has been spent preparing scrapbooks for the convention. The kids are sorting through photos taken during the past year and arranging them in creative ways.

Sweet 16!

2010-02-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Basketball at Zuni

2010-02-22T23:01:00.000-07:00

Not many photos of the actual basketball games (the lighting in these gyms just doesn't work with my little camera), but here are some cute pics, nonetheless. My "guest" photographer is in three of these photos (can you guess who?).

Recent Pics from MNCH

2009-10-14T15:39:00.000-06:00

Cottage #3 on Vacation

2009-09-15T14:15:00.000-06:00

Cottage #1 on Vacation

2009-09-05T11:22:00.000-06:00

Sunset at MNCH

2009-09-05T11:19:00.000-06:00

Children of MNCH: Past & Present

2009-08-17T17:52:00.000-06:00

The 50th Anniversary Celebration for Manuelito Navajo Children's Home was a great occasion. Here is a photo of the "children" of MNCH, past and present, who attended on Saturday.

Celebrating 50 Years!

2009-07-20T15:15:00.000-06:00

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home is celebrating 50 years of operation August 14 & 15 with a Homecoming Celebration on our campus. Plan on joining us for this special event.

Friday, August 14

5:00 p.m. - Meet & Greet in the Gymnasium

6:00 p.m. - Dinner (Hamburgers)

Saturday, August 15

10:00 a.m. - Ceremonial Parade in Gallup

12:00 m. - Meet & Greet in the Gymnasium

1:00 p.m. - Lunch on Campus (Brisket)

4:30 p.m. - Ceremonials at Red Rock State Park

For information, e-mail Norman at atchison_norman@yahoo.com.

New Roofs at MNCH

2009-06-04T23:01:00.000-06:00

Groups from McPherson, Kansas and Saltillo, Mississippi blessed MNCH with three new roofs when they visited our campus during the last week of May. These caring Christians worked tirelessly and the end results of their work is beautiful. They re-shingled the roofs on the Roehr's cottage, the Gallup Christian School class building, and the roof on the small house where one of our teachers lives. To top it off, they re-shingled the playground fort.

MNCH exists because of the generosity of people and churches like those in McPherson and Saltillo. God has blessed us with so many good partners who help make possible our ministry to children in need.

G. C. S. Graduation

2009-05-17T20:27:00.000-06:00

LTC 2009

2009-04-29T15:37:00.000-06:00

On the Road Again

2009-01-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

Jeff Foster left today on a trip to Texas, Tennessee and Missouri to share the news about Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. He will be thanking many long-term supporters of the home and giving a report on our work in Gallup. He will also be seeking new supporters for our ministry.

Jeff will be attending the Sunset Workshop in Lubbock, Texas on January 21-24. He will present the MNCH advertising display. He will have lots of literature available and MNCH cookbooks for sale. If you are in Lubbock, come by our booth.

Jeff will be attending the annual Bible Lectureship at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee on February 1-6. He will have our display booth set up there, as well.

On February 8, Jeff will be speaking to churches in Joplin, Missouri and Cassville, Missouri, reporting to these two churches about the work at MNCH and thanking these partners for their faithful and generous support.

Jeff is trying to line up other speaking engagements in the Lubbock area of January 25 and in Nashville, Tennessee on February 1. If you can help, please e-mail Jeff at jeffrfoster@gmail.com, or call him at (505) 488-3479. Thanks.

10 Questions

2009-01-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

Can you answer these questions related to the cross of Christ?

I led the authorities to Jesus. Who am I?

One of his followers cut off my ear. Who am I?

I was the first to try Jesus. Who am I?

Pilate sent Jesus to me. Who am I?

I washed my hands of him. Who am I?

I gained my freedom, but he died. Who am I?

I denied him at the darkest hour. Who am I?

I carried his cross. Who am I?

I took his mother into my care. Who am I?

I gave my tomb, but he didn't need it for long. Who am I?

_______________

A photo from Ceremonial (August 2008)

One Solitary Life

2009-01-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

One Solitary Life by Henry Drummond

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city.

He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away.

He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing--the only property he had on earth. After he died, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of man's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that one solitary life.

Dolphins Beat Scorpions

2009-01-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

Our girls' basketball team defeated the team from Jones Ranch School 37-10 on Tuesday evening, at our home gymnasium. We play again at Jones Ranch on Thursday.

Great job, girls!

A Pressing Need

2009-01-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home had a very blessed 2008. We are growing, and were blessed with the addition of two children to our residential group care program in 2008. We also welcomed a new single mother and her two small boys. We have much room for continued growth. With the proper resources, we could ultimately house 24 children in our residential care program, and 2 or 3 single mothers with children.

Can you help us work toward this goal? There are many children on the Navajo reservation in need of a good home. Can you help us open our doors to them?

Our greatest need, at the moment, is a third couple to serve as house-parents.

We are presently operating two cottages, with the Roehrs (6 children) and Atchisons (2 children) as houseparents. State requirements mandate that each couple receive an off-duty week per month. This means we must place all 8 children in the care of one couple or the other at least two weeks a month. Each cottage is licensed to provide care to a maximum of 8 children at a time. So, you can see, we are technically at the maximum in terms of present staffing and the number of children who can live on campus. To extend beyond this, we need to hire a couple who can serve as relief house-parents for both cottages, allowing us to house up to 16 children, 8 per cottage.

Can you help secure the funding necessary to hire a relief house-parenting couple? If you can help, please send your contribution to Manuelito Navajo Children's Home; P.O. Box 58; Gallup, NM 87305. Thank you for your compassion for children in need.

Whispers

2009-01-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

A child's love is like a whisper,
given in little ways we do not hear;
But if you listen closely
it will be very clear.
They often do not say it loud
but in how they come to you--
Daddy, will play with me?
Mommy, tie my shoe.
The many ways they tell you
change as they grow--
Dad, I made the team today!
Mom, I've got to go!
Pop, I need some money;
you see, there's . . . this girl at school.
Mama, I've met a boy today,
and, wow, I think he's so cool!
Dad, I've got something to tell you,
I think that she's the one.
Mom, he asked me to marry him,
would you love him as your son?
Dad, I've got some news for you:
it's gonna be a boy!
Mom, I'm kind of scared of this,
yet I'm filled with joy!
A child's love is like a whisper,
given in little ways we do not hear,
but if you listen closely
it will be very clear.
They often do not say it loud,
but in how they come to you--
Grandpa, will you play with me?
Grandma, tie my shoe.
It is never ending,
a blessing from above.
Listen to the whispers
of your child's love.

Author Unknown

Dolphins vs Cougars

2009-01-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

Our basketball teams were in action last night against teams from Zuni Christian School. Our girls lost 20-43. Our boys won 39-37.

A Grand Christmas

2009-01-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

Scenes from this past Christmas. Thank you to all those who made the holidays so very special for our children. May God bless you in this new year.

Dolphins Basketball

2009-01-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

The basketball season for the Gallup Christian School Dolphins will resume on Thursday, January 8 with a home game against Zuni Christian at 4:00 p.m.

Come out and support the Dolphins.

Snowed Under

2009-01-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! May your 2009 be filled with many blessings.

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home has welcomed the new year with a fresh covering of snow. The forcast was for 2-4 inches, but there's nearly a foot on the ground on our campus. It is beautiful.

Sharing Christ with the Navajo People

2008-12-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Manuelito Navajo Children's Home was born out the desire to share the Gospel of Christ with the Navajo people. In fact, we began as a preaching mission with a series of meetings held at Manuelito, New Mexico back in the 1950's. Many Navajos came to these meetings and heard the Gospel preached. However, something began to happen: families would come, the parents would return home, having left their children behind. These parents decided that the missionaries could care for their children and provide them a good home, something the parents were unable to do. Thus, a preaching mission became a children's home . . . almost overnight. We are still doing our best to providing a home for children in need, and ministering to families who are in crisis, but the mission of sharing the Gospel with the Navajo people remains at the heart of what we do.

Photos from Our Open House

2008-11-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

The Family that Kicks Together . . .

2008-11-15T13:50:00.001-07:00

An Open House was held on the campus of Manuelito Navajo Children's Home on Saturday, November 8. We had a lot of funning welcoming in over a hundred guests from the Gallup community and beyond.

A highlight was the karate Kick-a-Thon hosted by our very own Jim & Judy Christian. Among the several who received belt promotions were Greg Peterson and his oldest daughter, Haley Peterson, both of whom were awarded the black belt. Younger daughter/sister, Shelby, was awarded the brown belt. Greg serves as an elder for the Gallup Church of Christ and is president of the MNCH board of directors. Congratulations to the Petersons.

Basketball Champs!

2008-04-14T10:46:00.000-06:00

The Promise of 2008

2008-01-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! I pray that your 2008 is blessed and that you and yours will be filled with prosperity and goodness.

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home enters 2008 with a lot of excitement. This new year promises to be a good one for the home. Among the highlights will be the arrival of new houseparents. Norman and Kathy Atchinson will be moving here in a couple of weeks. More will be reported on this later, but join with us in praying for this new couple.

We have been blessed with snow this week! Several inches fell Sunday night and throughout Monday. It is beautiful. And, the kids got an extra two days of Christmas Break as school was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. But, it was back to the books today. Please pray for our kids as they go through the Spring semester.

Would you like a report on the work at Manuelito given to your congregation? I will be traveling around the country in 2008 visiting churches and telling the news about Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. I would like to give a report to your congregation. Please contact me, and arrangements will be made. Please call me at (505) 488-3479, or e-mail me at jeffrfoster@gmail.com.

Have a blessed 2008!

Little Girls

2007-12-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

They're as cute as they can be

When they're two years old or three

They are something to adore

When they're three years old or four

Would those charms could long survive

Which are theirs when they are five

But they have such lovely tricks

When they've journeyed on to six

Their their little legs grow stout

And those two front teeth come out

Seven and eight and nine they stage

What is called the awkward age

After that, through many a year

All their graces reappear

Loveliest creatures on life's stage

Little girls -- at any age!

(A Poem by Mrs. John Wilson; published in Along the Navajo Trail, March 1966)

Little Children

2007-12-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

God gave to us some little children,

To lead and guide for a little while.

And the pleasures of this noble task,

Replaced the emptiness of the past.

We taught these children to love and pray,

And to be useful in every way.

And by example of our life,

We led them in paths of life.

Hand and hand we traveled on,

In service to Him who is on the throne.

Guided day by day His written word.

And not by opinion which we often heard.

Riches of this world were not ours to share

But day by day we knelt in prayer.

We gave our thanks to our God on high,

As our fleeting days went by.

And when our life on earth is o're,

Our soul shall fly to that eternal shore.

But our influence we ever trust,

Will be in these children God gave to us.

(Author Unknown)

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

2007-12-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

The Heart of a Child

2007-12-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

Whatever you write on the heart of a child

No water can wash away.

The sand may be shifted when billows are wild

And the efforts of time may decay.

Some stories may perish, some songs be forgot,

But this graven record--time changes not.

Whatever you write on the heart of a child,

A story of gladness or care

That heaven has blessed or earth has defiled,

Will linger unchangeably there.

(Author Unknown)

It Is Easy Enough

2007-12-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

It is easy enough to pick the flaws

In the work that others have done,

To sneer at the little they have achieved

When your task you haven't begun.

It is easy enough to fuss and find fault

When others are doing their best;

To point out errors others have made

When you have done nothing but rest.

It is easy enough to cavil and carp,

To criticize, scoff and deride,

For few of us have ever done perfect work

No matter how hard we tried.

It is easy enough not to think of the best,

And to dwell all the time on the worst;

And perhaps it is proper sometimes to find fault,

BUT be sure you have done something first!

(Author Unknwon)

Shingles Are a Flyin'!

2007-12-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

Stewardship

2007-12-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

(This appeared in the Along the Navajo Trail bulletin from October 1970)

I bought gasoline, I went to the show;

I bought some new tubes for my radio;

I bought candy and peanuts, nut bars and ice cream;

With my salary lasted, life sure was a scream!

It takes careful spending to make money go round;

One's methods of finance must always be sound.

With habits quite costly, its real hard to save;

My wife spent ten "bucks" on a permanent wave.

The church came round begging. It sure made me sore!

If they's let me alone, I'd give a lot more.

They have plenty of nerve! They forget all the past!

I gave them a dollar the year before last!

The Soul of a Child

2007-12-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

(A poem by George Bailey)

The soul of a child is the lovliest flower
That grows in the garden of God.
It climbs from weakness to knowledge and power
To the sky from the clay and the clod.

To beauty and sweetness it grows under care,
Neglected 'tis ragged and wild;
'Tis a plant that is tender and wondrously rare,
The sweet wistful soul fo a child.

Be tender, O gardner, and give it its share
Of moisture, of warmth and of light;
And let it not lack for painstaking care
To protect it from frost and from blight.

A glad day shall come when its bloom shall unfold;
It will seem that an angel has smiled,
Reflecting a beauty and sweetness untold,
In the sensitive soul of a child.

In the breast of a bulb is a promise of Spring,
In the little blue egg is a bird that will sing;
In the soul of the seed is the hope of the sod,
In the soul of a child, is the Kingdom of God.

An Indian Version of the 23rd Psalm

2007-11-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Great Father above a Shepherd Chief is. I am His, and with Him I want not. He throws to me a rope, and the name of the rope is love. He draws and draws me to where the grass is green and the water is dangerous not. I eat and lie down and am satisfied. Sometimes my heart is very weak and falls down, but he lifts me up again and draws me into a good road. His name is Wonderful.

Sometime. It may be very soon. It may be many, many moons. He will draw me into a valley. It is dark there, but I'll be afraid not, for it is in between those mountains that the Shepherd Chief will meet me, and the hunger that I have in my heart all through this life will be satisfied.

Sometimes He makes the love rope into a whip, but afterward He gives me a staff to lean upon. He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods. He puts His hand upon my head and all the "tired" is gone. My cup He fills till it runs over. What I tell is true. I lie not. These roads that are "away ahead" will stay with me through this life, and afterward I will go to live in the Big Tepee and sit down with the SHEPHERD CHIEF forever.

Teaching By Example

2007-11-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

(This article was written by Trey Morgan; it was published on his blog, 11-20-2007.)

Famous child psychiatrist Fritz Redl used to say to groups of parents: "Get out your paper and pencils. I am going to tell you the three most important things you will ever need to know about raising children." The parents would wait breathlessly for his words of wisdom. Then he would say, "Example, example, example."

In case you doubt the importance of teaching by example, think about your own childhood. How were you most influenced to become the person you are now? Chances are that the person you have become was influenced mostly by the example set by your parents. One of my biggest fears as a preacher is preaching the "how to live" on Sundays and not actually living that at home with my family. Making my walk match my talk is so important to me. I try to ask my kids periodically, "Am I doing at home what I'm preaching on Sundays?"

I was reminded recently about my walk matching my talk when my sarcastic son Taylor, who's just like his father, reminded me of something I said in a sermon that I didn't want to hear. I'd been trying all summer to get some new grass seeded in a bald spot in the front yard. My sons and all their neighborhood friends decided our yard was the best place for their Sunday afternoon ballgames (which is why there is the current bald spot). So I stepped out the front door and said, "Guys, if possible watch my new grass over there" (translation: "Stay off my new grass or I'll choke you"). Taylor quickly shot back, "Hey Dad, don't forget you're raising boys around here, not grass." That was an exact quote from a previous sermon I'd done just weeks before. Ouch!

Does your walk match your talk when it comes to your children? Or do you do dumb things that your children clearly see?

Do we tell our kids to be honest and then tell them when they answer the phone, "If it's for me, tell them I'm not here?"

Do we tell them to obey the law and then speed down the highway when we're running late?

Do we lie for them to get them out of trouble? Do we write them notes saying they were sick when they weren't?

Do we tell our children to control their anger and then go ballistic at one of their ballgames when a referee makes a bad call?

Do you tell your kids they're not allowed to watch rated R movies and then go see them yourselves?

Do we praise our children for excelling athletically and academically more than we do spiritually?

I understand that none of us are capable of perfection or anything close to it. We all lose our tempers, say things we're sorry for, are not always as kind as we would like to be, maybe even cheat a little here or there. We are human and so are our children. Perfection can be expected of neither. When we screw up we need to apologize to them and ask for their forgiveness. When we apologize, we're teaching them that when they make a mistake it's not the end of their world, but that they can admit it and grow from it.It is essential as a parent that your kids see your walk match your talk. And what ever you do, make sure you don't forget that you're growing kids not grass.

In Daddy's Steps

2007-11-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

I watched him playing 'round my door,

My neighbor's little boy of four,

I wondered why a child would choose

To wear his dad's old worn out shoes.

I saw him try with all his might

To make the laces snug and tight,

I smiled to see him walk and then

He'd only step right out again.

I heard him say, his voice so glad,

"I want to be just like my dad."

I hope his dad his steps would choose,

Safe for his son to wear his shoes.

And then a shout and cry of joy,

A "hello Dad," and a "hi-ya, boy."

They walked along in measured stride,

Each face aglow with love and pride.

"What have you done today, my lad?"

"I tried to wear your old shoes, Dad.

They're big, but when I am a man

I'll wear your shoes, I know I can."

They stopped and stood there hand in hand.

He saw his son's tracks in the sand.

His words, a prayer, came back to me,

"Lord, let my steps lead him to Thee."

(Author Unknown; reprinted from Along the Navajo Trail, June, 1983)

Who Are My Neighbors?

2007-11-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

N is for neighbor. Many of us have neighbors who are not actively involved in church or Bible study.

E is for employees and employers. Are all the people you work with actively involved in a church?

I is for interesting people. Every day we meet a lot of interesting people who are not actively involved in church or Bible study.

G is for general contacts--people at the bank, spa, classroom, service station, or grocery store.

H is for hobby friends--people who share our interest in antiques, needlecraft, stamp collecting, etc.

B is for baby. New babies are born daily, and this is a natural time for parents who have been inactive to get involved in church again.

O is for occupational friends--people in the workplace who admire and respect you.

R is for relatives--children, parents, brothers, in-laws, etc.

This list shows that you as a Chrsitian really do have a wide circle of influence. Share your witness with these neighbors. Let them know that God cares for them.

His Most Productive Crop

2007-11-11T13:27:00.001-07:00

One growing season a farmer had a beautiful crop of grain. But a week before the harvest it was wiped out by a hailstorm. His son expected the farmer to lash out in bitterness and despair. But instead he accepted the loss in a spirit of faith and quiet acceptance.

Today his farmer's son is a person of faith who has also learned to live with failure and loss. He thinks of this devastated grain field as his father's most productive crop because it taught him a lesson he ha snever forgotten.

When it comes to our own children, we should remember that lessons and values which we try to teach them are more easily caught than taught. Modeling the right behavior before our children is a lot more effective than lectures and empty words.

Why Are We Losing Our Children?

2007-11-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

(The following is an article written by J. C. Choate and published in The Voice of Truth International, vol. 40.)

The story is the same in home after home, congregation after congregation. We as the Lord's people are losing our children -- 70% by the time they are independent adults! Our most precious possessions grow up and leave home and leave the Lord. Why? How can this be? Don't we love them? Aren't we providing the best for them? Aren't we giving them spiritual guidance? Don't we care for their souls? Don't we want to see them go to heaven?

Surely we think we are doing all of these things, but still, we are letting them slip away from us to be lost in this life and in the world to come. What a heartbreaking tragedy! They could have been such a blessing to us, to their own families, and to the world, and to the Lord's cause if they had only stayed true to their commitment to God. Through their faithfulness, their families and many others under their influence could have been added to the Lord. Instead, their faithlessness will affect many souls for many generations to come. How heartbreaking this is!

Our children are our treasure. They bring joy and happiness to our lives -- but what happens in so many cases? It seems that they are "here today and gone tomorrow." With our jobs and with our busy lives, we let the years slip away. We had great plans for our children. We wanted to give them the best -- and maybe we thought we were, but maybe there was too much emphasis on material things and not enough permeation of the spiritual in our daily lives.

Of course we loved our children, but maybe we didn't take the time to show that love. We gave them material things, but did we give them our time? Did we supervise them as we should have? Did we let them see TV programs that were not good for them? Did we allow them, year after year, to be taught evolution and other atheistic beliefs in school, without providing them a strong enough foundation of faith and true scientific knowledge to enable them to withstand the onslaught of error?

Did we allow them to be involved in social activities that were not good for their spiritual welfare? Did we allow them to have the kind of friends that were a bad influence?

We took them to worship but did we teach them how to worship? Did we teach them the deep reverence and love for God that they need in this world of evil?

Did we set the kind of faithful example before them that they needed? If we were erratic in attending the assemblies of the church, or were hypocritical or lukewarm in the living of Christianity, our children have spotted the sham. If we were spiritually weak ourselves, we would have been unable to give them the discipline they needed. Is it any wonder, then, that in many cases as soon as our children go out on their own, they leave the Lord behind and begin to live the wordly life that their new freedom allows them?

Of course the foregoing description is of the typical nuclear family with both father and mother in the home -- what we would call a stable environment. But there are many children today who grow up in a one-parent household. This happens in some cases in spite of every effor tfor it to be otherwise. But with single fathers and mothers, with the necessity to earn a living to provide for the needs of the family, and with the resulting lack of time for the children, the probability of giving them the needed spiritual and ethical foundation is greatly reduced.

There are other children who are mistreated or abandoned by their parents, and they may become wards in foster homes; or if they are old enough, they may become "homeless," without supervision, provision for their physical needs, or any spiritual guidance. Typically, many of them end up on drugs, with a promiscuous life-style, victims of sexually-transmitted diseases, participants in gangs and crime so that prison or death is their lot.

This is a bleak picture, isn't it? Yes, it is. But how can we turn it around? Can it be turned around? Can we save our children? Is it too late?

For some it is already too late; for others there is still time, but it will not be easy. We are faced with a wicked, materialistic world, a world of drugs, sex, lack of discipline, and lack of respect for God and his Will. Where is it going to end? We as parents are going to have to wake up to what our children are facing, the kind of temptations and challenges they are dealing with every day of their lives. We are going to have to love them passionately, and give them the kind of foundation, training, and discipline they need. We are going to have to take the time to read and study the Bible with them, to instill in them a deep love for God and His word, to pray with them, to train them in spiritual work, and to give them secular work and responsibilities that will make them strong men and women.

But that's not all. We are going to have to help them make the type of friendships that will bring out the best in all involved. We must monitor their school work, what they are being taught, and how they respond to it. We have to get them involved in a spiritual perspective to life, all day, every day -- not just to be seat-warmers in the various assemblies. We must teach them by example and logical explanations to dress modestly and neatly. And children must be taught to respect their elders and those in authority.

The church also has a very important role in this crucial education. The elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, and all the members must be aware of the children and young people, committed to working with them and helping them to grow in spiritual and moral knowledge and application. Our children deserve sound Bible teachers and classes that will lead them to spiritual maturity. They don't need entertainment programs that will constantly be focused on trips and fun and games and food. Children who are trained in involvement in spiritual service projects, Bible bowls, youth meetings, Bible camps, gospel meetings, and campaigns for Christ will mature to be hard-working Christian adults. In contrast, too often when entertainment is the focus in activities, they lose interest when the entertainment ends.

Children must be brought up in an atmosphere where they enjoy being with the Lord's people and engaged in His work. Both parents and the church need to show paramount concern for our young people, realizing that we have a very short period of time to ground them in the truths so vital to their souls. Oh, there are so many things that need to be done, and can be done -- someway, somehow, we must save our children!

I Believe In Children

2007-11-06T10:18:00.001-07:00

I believe in children . . . little ones, big ones, chubby and thin ones. There is faith in their eyes, love in their touch, hope in their attitude. I thrill with them at life's joys, run with them through tall grasses, bow with them in worship, and hold them close in tragedy.

I believe in children . . . the fragile dream of yesterday, life's radiant reality today, and the vibrant stuff of tomorrow.

Yes, I believe in children . . . for wherever I go, to mountain village, industrial center, or open country, I find yesterday's children who were nurtured in the things of Christ at work in the buildings of the Kingdom of God.

(Author Unknown)

Welcome!

2007-11-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hello! Welcome to this corner of the World Wide Web. This is Day One of our blog, and we are pleased you have dropped by.

Along the Navajo Trail is a blog that will provide news and information from the staff of the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home as well as inspirational articles, spiritual insights, and observations on life. Postings will be made frequently, so please make a habit of dropping by.

Postings will be archived and indexed on a frequent basis. Links will be provided, giving you quick access to important and interesting web sites.

A blog is first and foremost a platform to communicate. Communication must be a two-way street. So, please, take advantage of the "Comment" function on this site. We want to hear from you.

Let me introduce myself. I am Jeff Foster, and I am new to M.N.C.H. I am serving the Home in the capacity of Development and Church Relations. I will be traveling around the country sharing the news about M.N.C.H. and raising much needed support for the Home.