July 2016
Dear Friends in Christ,
About every 3-4 weeks, Janet goes to a local nursing home to visit one of the ladies from Tuba City. Because of the age of this lady, she doesn’t speak much English, so Janet takes a Navajo Christian (Helen) with her to translate. Together we sing in Navajo and Helen reads the Scriptures in Navajo. On this last visit, we found 2 other ladies that we knew that are now residents there and visited with them also. One of them was more fluent in English, so Janet was able to read the Scriptures, though we still sang Navajo Hymns. One of them stated that she had to miss the last 3 Navajo Bible Studies and was praying that someone would come and worship and share God’s Word with her. How nice to find that you are an answer to prayer!
Mesa View Baptist Church had their annual Camp Meeting, “Echo in the Pines”, this month in Echo Canyon on the Reservation, Sam was asked to teach the young people and Janet helped with the music. They have a small block building that the adults were meeting in and a tarp and canopy set up for the children. As we were finishing the first teaching session, the rain began and water started to accumulate on the tarp and canopy and we had to shorten the session. We successfully got the kids under a more reliable roof when we noticed that the canopy had collapsed. In the evening session, the lesson was continued in the eating area; a log lean-to. How surprising to find that several of the “wigglers” that seemed to be only disturbing the class-time, were actually listening and remembered what was taught earlier and able to answer questions during the review time. A good reminder, teachers, that you don’t really know what God is doing in the hearts as you teach. Just stay faithful! It was also encouraging to have a mom tell us the next day that her son had enjoyed the class and was up until 1 A.M. talking about it.
In the middle of July, we spent a week in Inscription House as Ts’ah BeeKin Church for their VBS where Sam taught the adult English speaking class. The theme was “Family Focus” so Sam taught on the various roles in the home; husband, wife and children , as well as finances. It was a good week with at least 4 professions of faith and many more decisions being made to make changes that will be pleasing to God.
The day that we arrived home from Inscription House, Sam taught once again at a Navajo Family Bible Camp held annually here in Flagstaff. He had the English speaking class Sat. PM as well as both services on Sunday and again Monday AM. We saw many familiar faces that we have worked with over the 44 years of ministering here among the Indian people, so it seemed like a family re-union with our Christian brothers and sisters. This year’s focus was on the book of Revelation and the Doctrine of Future Events (Eschatology). Though the teaching was mostly for Christians, we know of 3 that made professions of faith during the classes.
July 30-August 9, Sam will be in Alaska. Pray for safe traveling, as well some reasonable bids for the exterior construction for the radio station building. It was suggested that it would be better to get a local contractor to do the initial building, due to the cost of travel and transporting the needed equipment, as well as lodging for workers while on the site. We are hoping that this can be completed this winter (after the summer fishing season is completed) and the interior work can be next summer’s project.
July 20 our 4th great grandchild was born: Peter Parker Chick; 8 lbs.; 21”; parents-Hannah & Jonathan Chick. (Hannah is Faith’s daughter.) The following day, Peter was transferred to Maine Medical Center due to breathing problems and is presently on a feeding tube with breathing aids to help him expel the liquid in his lungs. We would appreciate your prayers for the Chick family at this time.
Thank you for your prayers, as well as your gifts !
II Cor. 2:11 “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.”
In Christ,
Sam & Janet Grammer