Monday, March 29, 2010
LIFT in Ecuador
If you are interested in following LIFT's trip to Ecuador, please see our new Missions Blog at www.liftmissions.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Return from the Edge of Civilization
This will be our last post regarding our trip to Arizona. I (Tim Owens) would like to thank you all soo much for all of your prayers through our entire trip... the trip went incredibly well, and we are grateful.
We've been home for just under a week now, which has allowed some time for processing and reflection. I have countless joyful memories of our time--LIFTers spending time with Hopi teens, talking, playing, climbing, showing the love of Christ. We left a tangible imprint of our time through a wide variety of work projects--a new playground, a mostly restored trailer and a new fence, a new patio, trash clean-up, and even an outhouse. One of our main goals with each trip is to be an encouragement to the missionaries we reach, and I think that without a doubt we accomplished that this time.
However, even with all of the joy that I have as I contemplate our trip, I cannot help but to feel more than a tinge of sadness. The Hopi res is in the desert--the sun blazed every day, everywhere you looked a beautiful vista of barrenness extending to the horizon. It truly is a land of austere beauty. And yet, for all the brilliance of the desert sun, the Hopi res is a dark, dark place. It seemed to us that there is not an active Hopi expression of the body of Christ. We met many Hopi Christians during our time, but most of the leadership of the church still seems to be from Anglos rather than native Hopi. This is not the desire of the missionaries we worked with. For the most part, the Hopi simply have not been able to step up into positions of leadership. And as a result the Hopi body has suffered.
We've been home for a week, back from the edge of civilization. My memories are full of smiling children, laughing missionaries, joyful LIFTers, and gracious Hopi. And yet my heart breaks for the Hopi and the stranglehold Satan has on them as a people, that Satan has on their culture. The missionaries we served with are truly heroes of our faith--sacrificing much with very little recognition, support, or even fruit. They have followed God's call to the edge of civilization and are serving faithfully, regardless of the obstacles. We've been home a week, yet they will serve there for a lifetime.
Our trip is over, yet the Hopi remain. Please continue to pray.
We've been home for just under a week now, which has allowed some time for processing and reflection. I have countless joyful memories of our time--LIFTers spending time with Hopi teens, talking, playing, climbing, showing the love of Christ. We left a tangible imprint of our time through a wide variety of work projects--a new playground, a mostly restored trailer and a new fence, a new patio, trash clean-up, and even an outhouse. One of our main goals with each trip is to be an encouragement to the missionaries we reach, and I think that without a doubt we accomplished that this time.
However, even with all of the joy that I have as I contemplate our trip, I cannot help but to feel more than a tinge of sadness. The Hopi res is in the desert--the sun blazed every day, everywhere you looked a beautiful vista of barrenness extending to the horizon. It truly is a land of austere beauty. And yet, for all the brilliance of the desert sun, the Hopi res is a dark, dark place. It seemed to us that there is not an active Hopi expression of the body of Christ. We met many Hopi Christians during our time, but most of the leadership of the church still seems to be from Anglos rather than native Hopi. This is not the desire of the missionaries we worked with. For the most part, the Hopi simply have not been able to step up into positions of leadership. And as a result the Hopi body has suffered.
We've been home for a week, back from the edge of civilization. My memories are full of smiling children, laughing missionaries, joyful LIFTers, and gracious Hopi. And yet my heart breaks for the Hopi and the stranglehold Satan has on them as a people, that Satan has on their culture. The missionaries we served with are truly heroes of our faith--sacrificing much with very little recognition, support, or even fruit. They have followed God's call to the edge of civilization and are serving faithfully, regardless of the obstacles. We've been home a week, yet they will serve there for a lifetime.
Our trip is over, yet the Hopi remain. Please continue to pray.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hello LIFT blog followers!
Kathy Trezise (Tim's wife) emailed us the following email yesterday:
"Tim called me today. Both groups had just come out of the Grand Canyon after great hiking and camping. TO's group had the harder but shorter (20 miles) hike all the way down to the river at the bottom of the canyon. Tim T's group, after a total of 25 miles actually got back up to the rim of the canyon earlier today because they had fewer miles to trek out from their last campsite. The views and weather were fantastic, and everyone seemed to be in great spirits. They were heading back to the Hopi reservation this afternoon, planning on a low-key day including worship and involvement in youth groups tomorrow, with service projects scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. They'll leave the reservation around midnight (Wednesday morning) in order to get to the airport, return the rental vans, and catch their flights back to Albany. The plan is to arrive back in NY around 5:30 PM."
We are excited for their return and to hear about all of their amazing God-given experiences!
Kathy Trezise (Tim's wife) emailed us the following email yesterday:
"Tim called me today. Both groups had just come out of the Grand Canyon after great hiking and camping. TO's group had the harder but shorter (20 miles) hike all the way down to the river at the bottom of the canyon. Tim T's group, after a total of 25 miles actually got back up to the rim of the canyon earlier today because they had fewer miles to trek out from their last campsite. The views and weather were fantastic, and everyone seemed to be in great spirits. They were heading back to the Hopi reservation this afternoon, planning on a low-key day including worship and involvement in youth groups tomorrow, with service projects scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. They'll leave the reservation around midnight (Wednesday morning) in order to get to the airport, return the rental vans, and catch their flights back to Albany. The plan is to arrive back in NY around 5:30 PM."
We are excited for their return and to hear about all of their amazing God-given experiences!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
I just spoke with Tim T for 6 minutes! He and the LIFT team are currently rock climbing with a couple of youth groups (approximately 20 children) and a few leaders. They drove 2 ½ hours to the border of New Mexico and Arizona to climb a beautiful 40 ft. wall in the middle of the dessert.
As of today, they have finished most of their projects with the Wight missionaries. However, after hosting such a large group, the Wight family decided that they will definitely need an outhouse in the future! Whitney and Rachel dug a 6’ x 3’ x 3’ hole for the new outhouse and the team will build the rest of the outhouse on Monday.
The Wight family is hosting another missionary, Chelsea from Canada, but they did not have suitable accommodations for her. Leave it to the LIFT team to re-model a living space for Chelsea! They had a lot of fun gutting, dry walling, painting, etc.
Tomorrow at 5:00 a.m. the LIFT group departs for their three-day journey in the Grand Canyon. Scott and Melinda Wight will join the group on their adventure. Tim Owens will preach on Sunday so that Scott can join them. All LIFTers are healthy, but Libby will not partake in the Grand Canyon adventure as she has a hip injury.
Tim says that they are all grateful for our prayers, so keep it up!
As of today, they have finished most of their projects with the Wight missionaries. However, after hosting such a large group, the Wight family decided that they will definitely need an outhouse in the future! Whitney and Rachel dug a 6’ x 3’ x 3’ hole for the new outhouse and the team will build the rest of the outhouse on Monday.
The Wight family is hosting another missionary, Chelsea from Canada, but they did not have suitable accommodations for her. Leave it to the LIFT team to re-model a living space for Chelsea! They had a lot of fun gutting, dry walling, painting, etc.
Tomorrow at 5:00 a.m. the LIFT group departs for their three-day journey in the Grand Canyon. Scott and Melinda Wight will join the group on their adventure. Tim Owens will preach on Sunday so that Scott can join them. All LIFTers are healthy, but Libby will not partake in the Grand Canyon adventure as she has a hip injury.
Tim says that they are all grateful for our prayers, so keep it up!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
I had a surprise call from Tim Owens at 5pm this past Sunday.Tim gave lot’s of updated information and I’ll do my best to capture it though please know I am sure to have missed some points
Everyone is doing well and they have been quite busy. On Friday the LIFT team took down a playground that was in very poor condition and put up a new playground – all in one day. It was a blessing to see the kids playing on it once it was done.They have been busy with work projects; one work project involved remodeling one of the missionaries homes that was in very bad condition. They have been very involved with all kinds of youth events. It seems that racing is a big part of the Hopi culture and the LIFT team got involved with a 5K race the other day. On Sunday they lead part of the church service including worship. They have been involved in some of the after church youth groups geared toward JHS and HS kids., one of which is called Jumpstart which is almost LIFT-like in it's approach. Know that everyone is doing well and I know there would be more to tell but I couldn’t retain it all. Know that they are doing well and continue to need prayers. Later this week they go off into the canyon for their adventure trip.
Also - If I understood Tim correctly, there is no cell service on the reservation.
Everyone is doing well and they have been quite busy. On Friday the LIFT team took down a playground that was in very poor condition and put up a new playground – all in one day. It was a blessing to see the kids playing on it once it was done.They have been busy with work projects; one work project involved remodeling one of the missionaries homes that was in very bad condition. They have been very involved with all kinds of youth events. It seems that racing is a big part of the Hopi culture and the LIFT team got involved with a 5K race the other day. On Sunday they lead part of the church service including worship. They have been involved in some of the after church youth groups geared toward JHS and HS kids., one of which is called Jumpstart which is almost LIFT-like in it's approach. Know that everyone is doing well and I know there would be more to tell but I couldn’t retain it all. Know that they are doing well and continue to need prayers. Later this week they go off into the canyon for their adventure trip.
Also - If I understood Tim correctly, there is no cell service on the reservation.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Greetings from Hopiland!
This update is coming to you direct from the Reservation (or "Res", as everyone here refers to it). We have a access to the net today for a short time, so I thought I'd offer a brief update.
We have completed two amazing days of climbing in Jack's Canyon. Everyone enjoyed the climbing, many of us had new successes, many worked through frustration and failure, and we all enjoyed encouaging each other We spent about an hour last night talking through life lessons that can be learned through climbing...it was a really rich time for us all.
Today we have divided forces for two different work projects. Half of us are installing a new plaground that we've purchased for the ministry compound we are staying at (where the Wights live and work). The other half of us are helping another local ministry by rehabbing a trailer for one of the single missionaries to live in.
We are going to put on a fun run/walk for the Hopi tomorrow. We are very excited, and expect a large turnout--weekend races are a big deal here. We are hoping to meet a lot of the locals through the race and also Sunday's church activities.
We all miss our families, and are having a wonderful, growing, stretching time!
Tim O
We have completed two amazing days of climbing in Jack's Canyon. Everyone enjoyed the climbing, many of us had new successes, many worked through frustration and failure, and we all enjoyed encouaging each other We spent about an hour last night talking through life lessons that can be learned through climbing...it was a really rich time for us all.
Today we have divided forces for two different work projects. Half of us are installing a new plaground that we've purchased for the ministry compound we are staying at (where the Wights live and work). The other half of us are helping another local ministry by rehabbing a trailer for one of the single missionaries to live in.
We are going to put on a fun run/walk for the Hopi tomorrow. We are very excited, and expect a large turnout--weekend races are a big deal here. We are hoping to meet a lot of the locals through the race and also Sunday's church activities.
We all miss our families, and are having a wonderful, growing, stretching time!
Tim O
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Nov 4th update
While we had the first dusting of snow this morning here in Speculator, NY ... the weather is a bit warmer in AZ. Latest report from yesterday evening is as follows:
Tim T. called from the Hopi Reservation, where the LIFTers spent the day. They toured the reservation and went to a museum. The Hopi women were making an authentic Indian meal for them last evening (Wed.). It was a low-key day, but they were all tired and appreciated the slow pace. The closest town to where they are staying is known as the oldest, continually settled town in North America, and possibly in all of the Americas.
On wednesday the group enjoyed rock climbing in Jack's Canyon. Tim called probably 8 times via his cell from the middle of the dessert, because there was reception. . . but it would last only about 15 seconds each time, so the info we received wasn't so complete.
Back here at Camp, we're keeping them in our prayers and encourage you all to do the same. (:{)
Tim T. called from the Hopi Reservation, where the LIFTers spent the day. They toured the reservation and went to a museum. The Hopi women were making an authentic Indian meal for them last evening (Wed.). It was a low-key day, but they were all tired and appreciated the slow pace. The closest town to where they are staying is known as the oldest, continually settled town in North America, and possibly in all of the Americas.
On wednesday the group enjoyed rock climbing in Jack's Canyon. Tim called probably 8 times via his cell from the middle of the dessert, because there was reception. . . but it would last only about 15 seconds each time, so the info we received wasn't so complete.
Back here at Camp, we're keeping them in our prayers and encourage you all to do the same. (:{)
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