Mud Huts

(written 7/16/12) The past 2 days have been spent in yet another Navajo community. This one is near the center of the reservation and very traditional. They have so many awesome traditions that they are trying to keep alive and use to glorify God with. According to Pastor Daniel Smiley, this is basically taboo. If the other Christians and the other Navajo's found out they were participating in these rituals it would be a big problem. Many of the people, including Pastor Daniel, we're shunned from their families for converting to Christianity. Most of the grandfathers of the members of the congregation were medicine men (they were the physicians of the tribe, but we're also believers of crazy out there things) the legacy was changed and God completely conformed their stories for His glory. There is a lot of chaos on the reservation such as alcoholism, drug trafficking, and abuse. But God is obviously moving and doing great things here, even if it's a slow progression. Pastors like Daniel Smiley are answering Gods call on their lives and being used in incredible ways.
Today, Pastor Daniel took us hiking in a beautiful canyon and showed us cave dwelling remains of the Navajo people. The hike was 2 1/2 miles long with a decent elevation change. It felt so nice to get out and do something that was completely up my alley and enjoying the beauty of Gods creation. I spent most of the hike praying and thanking Him for His creativity and feeling so incredibly close to Him in His beautiful creation. There is no way, in my mind that Gods existence isn't 100% evident when you hike and see the unique and incredible creation all around us here in Arizona. After we came back to the church we're staying at, we helped the pastor and some people mud a traditional home. They mud this house every year because the snow and sun destroy it. We had to legit mix the mud with water and apply it by hand to the structure. We mixed the mud with our feet and used our hands as trowels to put it onto the wall. As we worked, the story of the Israelites continually flashed in my head. We worked on this house for 4-5 hours, but the Israelites worked for pharaoh every day, all day. That was the majority of their lives and most of them never saw a better life. We enjoyed the time in the mud today and really had fun together working, but if that was my entire lot in life, I'm not sure I would be able to continue day in and day out. Somehow, the more we worked, the more I realized that my trials and my tough times were all for a greater purpose. Just like the Israelites were allowed to stay in slavery for hundreds of years for Gods glory, I was also allowed to walk a difficult road. The things I have walked thru have might not brought an instant return or instant great testimony, but they have brought God glory in so many aspects and I know they will continue to shape me and help others like me to trust in Gods plan a little bit stronger and a little bit harder. It's funny how God uses things like mud houses to make you aware of how great He is and how perfect His plan is.