Comingtoaclose

So, I definitely feel awful for not writing, and it's probably because I didn't have time, and honestly, I didn't know what to say.

Some things in Arizona went terribly wrong, and Chris Clum (exec director of EM...and our friend) decided to pull us out of AZ and send us back to New Mexico. They have been working on the relationship with the church and community for a long time, and through some difficulty communicating, Chris decided it was no longer healthy for us to be there. I cried for an hour when I first found out. It was incredibly hard to think of leaving, and even harder to know that we weren't able to say goodbye. We met with James on Saturday morning right after the team left and told him we had been relocated and then left. Thankfully, I was able to say goodbye to Felix and Rachel who had come to the church, but everyone else would find out from James after we were gone.

To say the family was upset would be an understatement, and unfortunately, for many reasons I don't know or understand, the family is blaming me for a lot of things. I was the most vocal with them, and while Chris and Molly got tired of all the drama and hurt, I loved them too much to stop trying. I threw myself into the family, learning all I could and spending every spare minute with them. This ended in my own demise since I was the easiest to blame for things since I am also technically the "leader" of the three of us. I've been trying hard not to internalize these things I am hearing second-hand and not to be hurt by all of it, but it sure is hard, knowing that I love them so dearly. I know that God is doing a work through all of this and I'm trusting that my name and my heart will be preserved by Him alone.

So here we are, back in New Mexico. Last week was wonderful and the team was just incredible. I mean, we've enjoyed every team, but each week, meeting new people who are giving up their time and money and heart to serve the Lord and His people is always refreshing and encouraging. And this past weekend, Staniel came to see me and we had a blast. I was able to sneak a quick goodbye before we left Arizona, but it was incredible to get to spend time with him again. He's coming up again for our last weekend, which happens to be in 4 days. He's taking me to Gallup and then we'll meet the others back at the church and I'll go home Sunday morning. Only 5 more days here. It's crazy to think about. Bittersweet- I'm ready to be home and see my family and eat something other than the 5-day plan we repeat every week! haha But it's also heartbreaking to leave this place and these people I have fallen in love with. I will certainly be taking it with me. I'm thinking I might have a daughter one day with the middle name Nizhoni, which means beautiful in navajo. I'm bringing home LOTS of Navajo tea- which is proven to heal a sore throat in one cup. :) I'm bringing back some Blue Bird flour- which is the ONLY flour used for fry bread. It will be really hard to say goodbye to Staniel too, but I'm sure I'll see him again someday. These places have become my home and I will definitely be back.

More later, there's work yet to be done.
Laura Marie

Back Home...well my 2nd home at least...

We’re back in Arizona! Finally!!!!! I missed this place so stinkin much. Last week was our first and only week in Twin Pines. So last Saturday, on July 4th of all days, we packed up in Toko’i, and headed to the other side of Farmington to get to our new site. When we got there a bunch of people were at the church shooting fireworks. That made me VERY happy. I LOVE fireworks. ☺ I had been so depressed all weekend because the whole family in AZ was heading to the Apache Rez to visit their family there and go camping. And of course, we had a team and couldn’t leave. The pastors at the new church, Harry and Blanche Domingo, couldn’t be more opposite from Herman and Marie in Toko’i. They were so welcoming and hospitable and loving. I couldn’t have asked for more from them. They tried so hard to help us and even opened their homes for us and the team to shower so we wouldn’t have to build showers. The team, on the other hand, was our most….challengeing… yet. We quickly found out that most of their parents made them come, and the team was leaving a day early so they could drive over to Anaheim and go to Disneyland. So there were a lot of tainted motives to be there. From the first night the students, 15-year-olds mind you, were swearing and talking about drinking and sex. Even the leaders wouldn’t follow the dress code- the first night, one of the girl leaders who was 22, came out to brush her teeth in shorts that looked more like underwear and a spaghetti strap tank top and none of the boys were wearing shirts. And that was just the first day. I really had to lean on the Lord and remember that they deserved just as much of my heart as last week’s team did. They complained less as the days passed and we just prayed that maybe this week could be a seed planted. So they left this past Friday and we drove back here to AZ and dropped off our van and headed to the GRAND CANYON. We camped overnight (illegally because all the campsites were “full”) and got up to watch the sunrise. It was so great. Molly’s boyfriend Joel and his brother Cody had come to visit and went with us. They all hiked down the canyon and I hiked around the rim, going to the ruins, museum, watchtower, and trading post. It was a great relaxing day. So we got back here Saturday and started getting ready for the week. Seeing everyone in church yesterday morning was like the highlight of my life. Everyone back together again!! I sat with Felix and Rachel (my friend that gave me her necklace and barrette)- they are probably the ones I am closest to in the family. Then we drove to Page to get groceries for the week and hurried back for one of the girl’s birthday party. It was incredible to be with the family again. Now I gotta get ready for the team to be here- lot's to do!

Blessings,
Laura Marie