Thursday, July 23, 2009
Our Trip to Canyon de Chelly
We were up at 6:30 to eat breakfast and receive communion and then on the road to Canyon de Chelly by 8:15. On our way, we saw stunning views of monoliths rising from the red desert floor. Hues of orange, brown, pink, and copper made us whip out our cameras for lasting memories. Black streaks down the canyon walls making shapes that one could guess they resembled this or that. In actuality, they were water seeping down the cliffs.
We met our guide, Eleanor, who had us climb into her Chevy Suburban and 9 people had close community, but only for short periods as we were all jumping out looking at the petrographs on the rock face and listening to Eleanor give the history of each one we saw. Caves high up in the steep walls were home to Anastazi, Hopi, and then Navajo in different time periods. In 1854, the Navajo were rounded up and made to walk what is known as “the Long Walk”. It was one of the saddest times in their long history and remembered by all.
We were surprised to see the greenery on the desert floor. Many shrubs and plants and cacti and Russian Olive, Tamarisk, and Cottonwood trees dotted the canyon floor. The Park Rangers plan to cut down many of the non-native trees (Russian Olive and Tamarisk) because they take so much water out of the ground. It does rain and flood in the Canyon, but there has to be more water to sustain the natives who live there in the summer. If any one doubts the existence of our Creator, they need to view the grandeur of his work in Canyon de Chelly.
We stopped at a local grocery store in Chinle on the way home from a wonderful day of sightseeing. This store is about 35 minutes drive from our Mission and serves the people in our community. Kathy and Susie are teaching a nutrition class involving healthy snacks tomorrow. They spent time price shopping and choosing ingredients that are reasonably priced and readily accessible. Basha’s, the store is a regional chain. High on the near the front are Navajo words. We weren’t sure what they said but we surmised they were words of welcome. The aisles were crowded with Navajo people of all ages. There were mommas with children, grandmothers with adult children and grandchildren, and some business men holding a few items.
Kathy and Susie were grateful for the opportunity to experience local shopping trip. This will be helpful tomorrow when they teach the class. They bought food items at the store to use in the demonstration and they will be able to discuss substitutions to healthy recipes based on available food items and prices. It was really fun to gain insight into a piece of Navajo everyday life.
Conversations on the Road to Canyon de Chelly
“There’s a prairie dog to the left…
Now look to the right! There’s another!”
“Pastor keep your eyes on the road!”
“There are horses trotting right beside the highway! Use your brakes!”
“Which pedal is that? Ha. Ha. Just kidding.”
“There are Indians in the car!”
“Where? Wait it is just a CD of traditional Navajo chanting.
Oh! Did I wake you up? Sorry, I will turn it down.”
“Here is Hubbell’s Authentic Trading Post. They say really, really great things in here. Hum, I see high end rugs and jewelry. There goes some petrified wood. The colors, Whow!!
We’re driving again. The road is looking narrow. Look how close we are to that. It goes down, down, down; get over to the right more. Whow. What a drop! Pastor keep your eyes on the road!”
Contributors: Betty Ann, Susie, and Shirley
We met our guide, Eleanor, who had us climb into her Chevy Suburban and 9 people had close community, but only for short periods as we were all jumping out looking at the petrographs on the rock face and listening to Eleanor give the history of each one we saw. Caves high up in the steep walls were home to Anastazi, Hopi, and then Navajo in different time periods. In 1854, the Navajo were rounded up and made to walk what is known as “the Long Walk”. It was one of the saddest times in their long history and remembered by all.
We were surprised to see the greenery on the desert floor. Many shrubs and plants and cacti and Russian Olive, Tamarisk, and Cottonwood trees dotted the canyon floor. The Park Rangers plan to cut down many of the non-native trees (Russian Olive and Tamarisk) because they take so much water out of the ground. It does rain and flood in the Canyon, but there has to be more water to sustain the natives who live there in the summer. If any one doubts the existence of our Creator, they need to view the grandeur of his work in Canyon de Chelly.
We stopped at a local grocery store in Chinle on the way home from a wonderful day of sightseeing. This store is about 35 minutes drive from our Mission and serves the people in our community. Kathy and Susie are teaching a nutrition class involving healthy snacks tomorrow. They spent time price shopping and choosing ingredients that are reasonably priced and readily accessible. Basha’s, the store is a regional chain. High on the near the front are Navajo words. We weren’t sure what they said but we surmised they were words of welcome. The aisles were crowded with Navajo people of all ages. There were mommas with children, grandmothers with adult children and grandchildren, and some business men holding a few items.
Kathy and Susie were grateful for the opportunity to experience local shopping trip. This will be helpful tomorrow when they teach the class. They bought food items at the store to use in the demonstration and they will be able to discuss substitutions to healthy recipes based on available food items and prices. It was really fun to gain insight into a piece of Navajo everyday life.
Conversations on the Road to Canyon de Chelly
“There’s a prairie dog to the left…
Now look to the right! There’s another!”
“Pastor keep your eyes on the road!”
“There are horses trotting right beside the highway! Use your brakes!”
“Which pedal is that? Ha. Ha. Just kidding.”
“There are Indians in the car!”
“Where? Wait it is just a CD of traditional Navajo chanting.
Oh! Did I wake you up? Sorry, I will turn it down.”
“Here is Hubbell’s Authentic Trading Post. They say really, really great things in here. Hum, I see high end rugs and jewelry. There goes some petrified wood. The colors, Whow!!
We’re driving again. The road is looking narrow. Look how close we are to that. It goes down, down, down; get over to the right more. Whow. What a drop! Pastor keep your eyes on the road!”
Contributors: Betty Ann, Susie, and Shirley
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The day started earlier than some of us would have liked, but eventually we all were up and showered and ready for breakfast. Many of us are trying new foods and new recipes for familiar dishes this week. Kathy made muesli (Swiss oatmeal) last night and put it in the refrigerator for breakfast this morning. It was a big hit with everyone—a healthy, whole-grain start to the day without having to cook (and eat) hot oatmeal on a hot day. We’ll post the muesli recipe for anyone who is interested as soon as we find a minute to do that!
Susan and Kathy, the two nurses on the team, finally met Marina, the Certified Nursing Assistant who works at the Health Center. Kathy and Marina had been talking by phone to plan the health care activities for the week, and we were very eager to meet her and to get to work. Marina showed us around the health center and described her work. The mission is lucky to have such a dedicated, knowledgeable, compassionate person to staff this clinic until a nurse practitioner can be recruited to work with her.
We got to work organizing the materials that we would need for the foot care clinic at the Senior Center in the afternoon. Marina was delighted to see all of the socks, foot creams, powders, and nail clippers that we had collected from Hope and St John and purchased for the clinic. From a nurse practitioner friend of Kathy’s, we also had donations of items necessary for assessing the feet of people with diabetes, who tend to have circulation and neurological changes in their feet. After a quick lunch, to which we invited Marina, we loaded up a mission van and headed for the Senior Center across the highway. Pastor Schwartz came along for support and to take photos, some of which she is posting with this blog entry.
We had enough supplies for 45-50 people, but we had a smaller number who came to the clinic. Marina thinks that despite the posters that she placed all over town, many elders were not aware that we were offering this service today. We had 11 people come for foot care, so we had plenty of supplies and plenty of time to spend with each one. Kyla and Kayla came over for an hour to help, too. Their assistance, along with Pastor Schwartz’s, was very welcome. We were able to make referrals for some elders to the podiatry clinic in Chinle, one of the two closest locations where people in Rock Point can get that kind of care.
While we were working with Marina at the health center and senior center, Shirley, Betty Ann, Kyla, and Kayla continued to paint the walls of the kindergarten room hallway. We all are amazed at the creativity and artistry demonstrated by these talented individuals. The colors are beautiful, and the scene as it unfolded on the wall was truly delightful. As I write this, Winnie the Pooh’s outline has taken shape on one wall, overlooking a stream with a frog sitting on a rock in the middle of it. I think that the frog is Kayla’s pet—she met him last night outside her apartment while he was searching for (and finding) a bedtime snack of beetles. The entire interior of the school is being repainted this Summer, so lots of people are in the building, working on various rooms. They have all admired the work of our painters, and we have admired theirs as well.
Susan and Kathy, the two nurses on the team, finally met Marina, the Certified Nursing Assistant who works at the Health Center. Kathy and Marina had been talking by phone to plan the health care activities for the week, and we were very eager to meet her and to get to work. Marina showed us around the health center and described her work. The mission is lucky to have such a dedicated, knowledgeable, compassionate person to staff this clinic until a nurse practitioner can be recruited to work with her.
We got to work organizing the materials that we would need for the foot care clinic at the Senior Center in the afternoon. Marina was delighted to see all of the socks, foot creams, powders, and nail clippers that we had collected from Hope and St John and purchased for the clinic. From a nurse practitioner friend of Kathy’s, we also had donations of items necessary for assessing the feet of people with diabetes, who tend to have circulation and neurological changes in their feet. After a quick lunch, to which we invited Marina, we loaded up a mission van and headed for the Senior Center across the highway. Pastor Schwartz came along for support and to take photos, some of which she is posting with this blog entry.
We had enough supplies for 45-50 people, but we had a smaller number who came to the clinic. Marina thinks that despite the posters that she placed all over town, many elders were not aware that we were offering this service today. We had 11 people come for foot care, so we had plenty of supplies and plenty of time to spend with each one. Kyla and Kayla came over for an hour to help, too. Their assistance, along with Pastor Schwartz’s, was very welcome. We were able to make referrals for some elders to the podiatry clinic in Chinle, one of the two closest locations where people in Rock Point can get that kind of care.
While we were working with Marina at the health center and senior center, Shirley, Betty Ann, Kyla, and Kayla continued to paint the walls of the kindergarten room hallway. We all are amazed at the creativity and artistry demonstrated by these talented individuals. The colors are beautiful, and the scene as it unfolded on the wall was truly delightful. As I write this, Winnie the Pooh’s outline has taken shape on one wall, overlooking a stream with a frog sitting on a rock in the middle of it. I think that the frog is Kayla’s pet—she met him last night outside her apartment while he was searching for (and finding) a bedtime snack of beetles. The entire interior of the school is being repainted this Summer, so lots of people are in the building, working on various rooms. They have all admired the work of our painters, and we have admired theirs as well.
WOW What a Great First Day!
Wow what a great first day in the painting area!!!! We accomplished more than what we had expected and it looks great. We are only in the first stages of the painting job, but today we finished painting the crystal blue sky and white fluffy clouds for the kindergarten hall way. It took us a lot faster than we had expected. Now we can relax the rest of the days….. just kidding…we have a lot more work ahead of us in the next few days, but so far all is well!
Kyla and Kayla
Kyla and Kayla
Monday, July 20, 2009
We're Here
We have arrived!
This afternoon about 3:00 PM we arrived at NELM and Rock Point. I know, I know, we were supposed to get here yesterday. But yesterday, well, yesterday is a story.
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Sunday morning seven of us met at the Gate A-1 at 8:00 AM, or well, shortly thereafter! We boarded the plane for Chicago Midway. Although not sitting together, we were close enough to feel like a group. Two of the flight attendants struck up a conversation with Kathy and Susie about where we were going and why we were going and a bond was created. And those two were nuts. Southwest has been known to use some creative, humorous flight attendants and they do liven up the flight. These two did just that! Fortunately, they were on the flight all the way to Phoenix.
In Phoenix we took out two cars, BIG cars, really necessary because we had luggage and food and paint and supplies to transport. The drive was absolutely beautiful: Saguaro cactus, prickly pear, tumbleweed, and as the elevation changed so did the vegetation. At Flagstaff we stopped for food and paint. We were tired, had changed time zones, and driven for several hours in Arizona heat. Several suggested that we really needed to stop and spend the night here in Flagstaff. So, we ate and checked in. Within a half an hour of checking into the rooms, all eight of us were asleep.
This morning we got up, ate breakfast together at the hotel and started out. Of course, we forgot a couple of things last night and we needed gas for the cars to we had to stop again, a couple of times. And the stops are an opportunity to bond in a new and different way.
Oh, my Gosh! Once again, the changes. Flagstaff is high and in the midst of mountains and majestic evergreens. Just beautiful. As we drive toward the north and east it changes again. No more abundant cacti. No more evergreens and lush green. It is dry. Very dry.
And so, after hours of driving, with stops only for pictures, we arrived at Rock Point. Since it was afternoon we needed to be in touch with folks, let them know we are here and get started with projects. The nurses got busy. The painters started schlepping. But I’ll let them tell you their story for today.
This afternoon about 3:00 PM we arrived at NELM and Rock Point. I know, I know, we were supposed to get here yesterday. But yesterday, well, yesterday is a story.
<Sunday morning seven of us met at the Gate A-1 at 8:00 AM, or well, shortly thereafter! We boarded the plane for Chicago Midway. Although not sitting together, we were close enough to feel like a group. Two of the flight attendants struck up a conversation with Kathy and Susie about where we were going and why we were going and a bond was created. And those two were nuts. Southwest has been known to use some creative, humorous flight attendants and they do liven up the flight. These two did just that! Fortunately, they were on the flight all the way to Phoenix.
In Phoenix we took out two cars, BIG cars, really necessary because we had luggage and food and paint and supplies to transport. The drive was absolutely beautiful: Saguaro cactus, prickly pear, tumbleweed, and as the elevation changed so did the vegetation. At Flagstaff we stopped for food and paint. We were tired, had changed time zones, and driven for several hours in Arizona heat. Several suggested that we really needed to stop and spend the night here in Flagstaff. So, we ate and checked in. Within a half an hour of checking into the rooms, all eight of us were asleep.
This morning we got up, ate breakfast together at the hotel and started out. Of course, we forgot a couple of things last night and we needed gas for the cars to we had to stop again, a couple of times. And the stops are an opportunity to bond in a new and different way.
Oh, my Gosh! Once again, the changes. Flagstaff is high and in the midst of mountains and majestic evergreens. Just beautiful. As we drive toward the north and east it changes again. No more abundant cacti. No more evergreens and lush green. It is dry. Very dry.
And so, after hours of driving, with stops only for pictures, we arrived at Rock Point. Since it was afternoon we needed to be in touch with folks, let them know we are here and get started with projects. The nurses got busy. The painters started schlepping. But I’ll let them tell you their story for today.
Friday, July 17, 2009
What do people think about this?
Members of the congregations and the community have enthusiastically shown their support for the Mission Trip.
In the Fall Pastor Schwartz began a program called the Pennies per Pound Initiative. Out of concern for her own health and the desire to raise some funds so that congregational youth could have some financial support and encouragement to go on the Trip, she began a very public weight loss program. She enlisted two committees, one to be her health team, which they named themselves the "BBB"s, and the other the financial team. The BBBs met with her every other week to monitor her progress, give her support, and consider ways in which the congregation's health could be enhanced. The financial team was to receive commitment cards and be responsible for the money end of the program. Pastor announced her intention to lose weight and asked members of the congregation to support the process by pledging x number of pennies for every pound she lost between December 1, 2008 and the end of June 2009. The monies collected would be used to support any congregational youth who wanted to participate.
For newspaper articles on the Pennies per Pound see http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09141/971544-56.stm and http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/photo_145016.html?TB_iframe=true&height=460&width=720
Some members of the local community, after reading the newspaper articles, made donations to the cause. One family made memorial monies available so that a member could go to NELM. Several members of St. John baked cookies and sold them at the Swissvale Community Day. The proceeds were earmarked for purchasing paint and painting supplies. On several Sunday mornings team members talked about the clinics that the nurses would be offering for those in the Navajo community who live with diabetes. The foot clinic especially would need white diabetic socks, nail clippers, soap and lotion. Folks who could brought in socks and soaps and some donated money so that the Team could buy the items.
In the Fall Pastor Schwartz began a program called the Pennies per Pound Initiative. Out of concern for her own health and the desire to raise some funds so that congregational youth could have some financial support and encouragement to go on the Trip, she began a very public weight loss program. She enlisted two committees, one to be her health team, which they named themselves the "BBB"s, and the other the financial team. The BBBs met with her every other week to monitor her progress, give her support, and consider ways in which the congregation's health could be enhanced. The financial team was to receive commitment cards and be responsible for the money end of the program. Pastor announced her intention to lose weight and asked members of the congregation to support the process by pledging x number of pennies for every pound she lost between December 1, 2008 and the end of June 2009. The monies collected would be used to support any congregational youth who wanted to participate.
For newspaper articles on the Pennies per Pound see http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09141/971544-56.stm and http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/photo_145016.html?TB_iframe=true&height=460&width=720
Some members of the local community, after reading the newspaper articles, made donations to the cause. One family made memorial monies available so that a member could go to NELM. Several members of St. John baked cookies and sold them at the Swissvale Community Day. The proceeds were earmarked for purchasing paint and painting supplies. On several Sunday mornings team members talked about the clinics that the nurses would be offering for those in the Navajo community who live with diabetes. The foot clinic especially would need white diabetic socks, nail clippers, soap and lotion. Folks who could brought in socks and soaps and some donated money so that the Team could buy the items.
On Sunday June 12 at both Hope and St. John, members who were going to Rock Point were commissioned during worship. They promised to be examples of the love of Jesus Christ and faithful and understanding. The congregations pledged their support. At St. John congregational members were invited to come forward and lay hands on those who were going as a sign of their blessing.
Oh yes, Pastor lost 31.5 pounds. Monies pledged and received as a donation total in excess of $900.00.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
How did you decide to go to NELM?
Many members of Hope were introduced to the work of NELM in a Temple Talk given in December of 2007. The next month, at a retreat for Hope leadership and in the midst of some brainstorming, one of the members suggested that maybe there was a way that we could become more involved in the work of the Mission. Eyes lit up. One of the women said that she would look into it. She did and found that medical and dental services are needed there. Discussion about the possibility of some of Hope's members going to Arizona on a Mission Trip began. We looked at the NELM website for more information. The mission sent us books about its history. Hope Circle designated that a percentage of the proceeds from an upcoming flea market would be sent to NELM to support the Clinic. Folks continued to talk and members of Hope's sister Church, St. John of Swissvale, were invited into the discussion.
In June a group of medical/dental professionals from both congregations met to discuss the need for and possibility of a trip to the Mission in Arizona. In September Pastor Schwartz visited the Mission and spoke with staff members to get a better feel for the Mission and their needs. She came back to Pittsburgh with a video and more information. In the mean time leadership decided that the proceeds of that years Oktoberfest would be designated to assist the Mission by financially supporting members who were interested in making the trip. In discussing the needs of the mission for maintenance and light construction work, the medical folk decided that we should broaden our scope. Certainly many could hammer nails, paint walls, and clean and their skills are needed, too. And so the dreaming of brainstorm was on its way to becoming a reality in time.
To read more about NELM check out their website at http://www.nelm.org/
In June a group of medical/dental professionals from both congregations met to discuss the need for and possibility of a trip to the Mission in Arizona. In September Pastor Schwartz visited the Mission and spoke with staff members to get a better feel for the Mission and their needs. She came back to Pittsburgh with a video and more information. In the mean time leadership decided that the proceeds of that years Oktoberfest would be designated to assist the Mission by financially supporting members who were interested in making the trip. In discussing the needs of the mission for maintenance and light construction work, the medical folk decided that we should broaden our scope. Certainly many could hammer nails, paint walls, and clean and their skills are needed, too. And so the dreaming of brainstorm was on its way to becoming a reality in time.
To read more about NELM check out their website at http://www.nelm.org/
See you tomorrow!
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