Flooding The Land & Playing Like a Kid

Hi again. Yes, in fact, there is water out here!!

As I mentioned in my earlier post: Aspiring to be a Strong Sponge, an irrigation floods the water to keep the grass green.

And it works!! For about two days (WGM receives water every two weeks),
this plot of land, among many other ones too, appears to look like a green pond.

Below this picture shows how another irrigation system works out in a suburb of Phoenix.

Last night, May 28, I helped supervise children playing, eating, worshiping, and praying at a Friday Church Service. As you can see, I had fun too, jumping on a trampoline after the kids left.

In case you noticed, yes, I shaved my head before I headed West, in order to stay cool. But little did I know that I would receive a new name because of that choice. And I quote, the kids from the All Tribes Church called me: "Knuckle-head." Funny, huh? I think so. I'm OK with it, for now.

As promised, this Cross hangs at the front of the church. I treasure my growing relationship with Him. I hope you do too!! :)

Finally ... Some Pictures For You!! :)

Hi friends. After receiving assistance tonight with my files (thanks Becky!),
I am now able to show you some images of Arizona.

While flying out to Arizona, I had to the opportunity to see the setting sun out West. This picture is the skyline over North Carolina. Four hours later, touching ground for the first time in Arizona was truly incredible. I felt the same incredible feeling when I saw the below sign the next night:

God is such an artist. Painting the sky with radiant colors, capturing this image truly shows what beauty He can create. Do not credit me, credit Him. Thanks Daddy!! :)

My desire is to conclude each photo section with a cross, so that we truly remember that Jesus' sacrifice is the reason that we live, are saved, and are called to share and exhibit His life with others. May Jesus shine through you in a special way today!! :)

Aspiring to be a Strong Sponge

Greetings from Arizona!!


I have arrived! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers over the past few days.

I am now getting used to the heat, as it is definitely hotter than anything I have experienced in Montana. Virginia nor Kentucky come remotely close to this same heat. But I still like it out here.

I am getting used to drinking more and more water to stay hydrated, even when I am not thirsty. I have downed at least four bottles of water. Speaking of, I should take a drink right now. You should too. We can never get enough of that! :)

Yesterday, I helped rake up leaves off the courtyard with Becky Anderson. Earlier today, I shadowed Steve Baldwin as he walked me through how water flows through the use of an irrigation system., in order to have grass out here in this desert.

For the last three days, I have been soaking up everything I have seen and experienced out here, like a sponge. By God-stance, because nothing happens in life by mere coincidence, I opened up my devotions to encouraging words about strength.

Yesterday, I cracked up my Bible to read a portion of Psalm 29.

^"11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

Then today, I read this portion of Scripture from Daniel 10.

¹⁰ A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

¹¹ He said, 'Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.' And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he continued, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

...

¹⁵ While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.

¹⁶ Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, 'I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless.

¹⁷ How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.'

¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.

¹⁹ 'Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,' he said. 'Peace! Be strong now; be strong.' When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, 'Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.'"

While walking around with Steve this morning, I learned how little I know. Yes, I just graduated with a four-year degree from Asbury University in journalism and missions. But I will never stop learning. That lesson was made very apparent to me today. And as long as I keep that type of flexibility during this incredible opportunity and beyond, I will be fine. So, I will continue soaking up whatever moisture of knowledge I can gather, like a sponge.

We are currently preparing for our camps this summer. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, that God would start to prepare the hearts of our campers, as well as all of ours as staff. Please pray that they would become like sponges too, sucking in all that God has for them to learn during their time here.

Keep me updated as to how you are doing this summer. Thanks again for reading, and I will talk with you later, friends! May God bless you in tremendous ways today!!


Joey :)

Learning to Listen

Hello everyone!!


Tomorrow at this time, I should be in Arizona!! I am excited. I am nervous. I am thrilled. But above it all, I am ready to start this summer adventure ... tomorrow!

For one of my requirements before beginning my missions internship, I was asked to read two books about the Native American culture. Larry Littlebird's Hunting Sacred: Everything Listens was one of them, and I was extremely impressed by what I read. But in order for me to have heard this incredible message, I had to listen. So listen to Littlebird, a man who possesses a voice with such terrific insight.


"On another day, following my Grampa, trying to keep the quick pace he was setting as we hurried home, I was placing my feet into the tracks he made. He was aware of me and a little irritated, as I scrambled to keep up with him. Believing I'd figured out how to match his stride, I stretched my legs and quickly leaped from print to print. I was thinking he was irritated because I kept falling behind. Now I thought how proud he'd be, seeing me matching his swift stride. We came to a sandy rise. Suddenly, he stopped. I almost crashed into him.

'Sit down,' he commanded. Both of us slumped into the soft sand. Pointing with his cane toward the way we'd come, he asked, 'What do you see?'

I started to describe the land, bushes, sky, and trees. 'No. On the ground, what do you see?'

I looked back carefully. 'I see our tracks.'

'OK. now, how many?'

Beginning to understand, I answered, 'Your tracks.'

He pointed in the direction we were headed, 'What do you see?'

I looked out across the flat land stretching into distance. 'No tracks.'

He smiled, 'Right. Haadtsi, the land, wherever we are in our life, Haadtsi is here, just like this, waiting for our tracks. We have to make our own.'

That was it. Easily he rose to his feet and moved smoothly into his quick step, heading across the expanse. I jumped up and followed a little off to the side, at my own pace. We crossed that immense land, each leaving our own tracks" (58-59).


It has been a process for me to finally come out of my shell and be who God created me to be. I was never meant to be anyone else. I hope this is a story that brings encouragement for you to simply be who God created you to be. And, I hope this will be a story that I can potentially use to encourage others this summer too.

Thanks for reading. I will be flying tomorrow evening, so if you think about me tomorrow, please pray for my safety as I fly from Charlottesville, Virginia to Charlotte, North Carolina, to finally Phoenix.

Today, I am and will continue to listen. Today, will you? Talk with you soon!!


Joey :)

Preparations

Hi Friends!!


I am just a matter of days away from leaving Virginia and to venture out West to Arizona. I am currently in the process of complying a list of all my family and friends to send updates too. Feel free to pass this blog on to anyone who knows me and would like to hear how my summer is going. I will update you all when I get out West, so stay tuned! Enjoy the rest of your day and I will talk with you later!!


GOD BLESS:

Joey :)