Day in the Life

Today I just wants to touch on my experiences with a Menonite church and their pastor, Daniel. We went on this intense rock climb to the top of this Mesa. On the top was a prayer pile, a pile of rocks that is to bear families burdens. You carry your burden (the size depends on the weight of the burden) up the Mesa and lay it on the pile. Then you are lifted of your burden. Daniel told me also about the prayer leaves that were in the cracks of the rock. They are from a certain plant that is around the area, the plant is used to empathize with the burdens on the pile. He also said that if you use a different plant, you are mocking the prayers and their burdens. I picked a prayer leaf, put it by the smallest rock (every burden, no matter the size is still a burden). Then you reach out your hands (sort of cupping them) and pull them towards your lips and back out. Repeating that 4 times. Although I am a Christian, I think this is a wondrous thing.  It is going through life with this burden on your shoulders and finally, one day, giving it all to God. Saying, "God, I have carried my burden around for so long.  I'm tired, I want to give it to you.  You died on the cross to carry my burdens for me and heal me. I give them all to you." If I had carried my burden up that Mesa I would have laid it on the pile. Daniel has just touched my life so much, learning that no matter our background, we can always find God in everything we do and no matter where we are or what we are surrounded by. Now I know why God chose me to be in this group (our big group was split up into two groups, one in one town and another being nomads for a week).  He wanted to let me know that even in the midst of sin and Satan, we is always with us. I have always had a hard time finding God and seeing him in my everyday life, but now I know that I can find him in the smallest of ways. After getting split from our group and a good fall,we get down the mountain and see even more amazing things. Carvings from Spaniards thousands of years ago, that were seen by Daniel's great great grandfathers, also a rock with old Navajo carvings and a rock that was struck by lightening. God is great. Am I right?? He keeps these historical markings around to show us His glory and his majesty. After we got back to the two group members at the car, we headed to the tent revival in Arizona, about 3 or 4 hours away. We set up our tents and got ready for the revival. Although I couldn't follow most of the service (due to it being in Navajo), I people watched. My dad loves loves loves to people watch, I always make fun of him for staring at people. But today I think I would have made my dad proud. I sat and watched how much these people opened their lives and lay raw for God. It didn't matter if they sang off key or jumped around in their testimony and no one had any clue what they were saying up on the stage.  They weren't taking to men, they were talking to God. There was no pride, there was only a humble servant bowing before Christ. It shows you how much Americans have to learn, we are all set on helping the impoverished Navajo people. When we are the ones that are poor, poor in spirit. I want to be rich in Christ and learn now to surrender everything to Christ. I am not here to judge, direct and correct, that only leads to forced change and resistance. I am here as a humble servant of Christ, here to love and accept, listen and learn, and to serve and partner. Doing those things leads to respect, trust and dignity with a final mutual influence. This is the only way that my trip will be truly successful. Longest entry so far, hopefully my life is now starting to mold into what Christ wants for me.