I arrived early at the church and met with Dr. Page Wages and the mission team preparing to depart for Arizona. A number of people from NRN joined us as we prayed for the team. Here is summary of their mission:
Christian Veterinary Mission: Navajo Mountain
July 25 - Aug 8, 2010
Navajo Mountain is located on the border of Arizona and Utah in one of the most remote desert locations in the United States. The mountain towers above the canyons surrounding it, standing alone in the desert. There is only one road to Navajo Mountain; it travels between canyons, rock formations, and valleys. Twenty miles from the mountain base, the road is dirt and rough, but people live on the mountain and somehow make a living in this desert land – their home. The closest grocery store is 1.5 hours away and gas is 45 minutes away, so anyone traveling to the mountain must plan accordingly.
At the base of the mountain, there is a boarding school to serve the many, many families who live on or near the mountain. Rough dirt roads branch off into the desert brush, right and left, leading to family hogans and houses. Most families have their own livestock (sheep, goats, or cattle). With 80 acres of land needed to support a single cow, the livestock wander in hopes of finding some food. Water is even more of a problem. Navajo Mountain averages 6 inches of rain a year, that’s it.
During the last 3 years, we have made short 2 week visits every summer to Tuba City and Navajo Mountain. Each year, we did multiple spay and neuter clinics in two different locations, and worked over 250 sheep and goats and 75 cows, with the numbers increasing each year. Irrigation systems were also placed and explained. But, most importantly, relationships were made. We were recognized by some of the people we met each year. And each subsequent year, many more people came to talk to us. Kids came and played with us, and we were invited to join family celebrations. The last two years, we were recognized at Pioneer Day, which is one of the most prestigious recognitions for the Navajo.
Kent Graymountain, a Grazing Official, took us from family farm to family farm to work with the livestock. We vaccinated and dewormed whatever we could find and catch. Cattle were pregnancy checked. The people were so thankful for Dr. Galphin’s “magic hand” which could tell the exact day the cow got pregnant. For these people, livestock are money and pregnancies mean more cattle. We were thanked over and over for our love and willingness to come out into the middle of the desert to help our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Despite our work – small animal, large animal, irrigation, and painting – we also found some time to see some sites and reflect on the majesty and wonder of Our Lord’s creations. Sitting on the rim of Navajo Mountain, we could see Utah mountains in the distance to the north, rain to the west, and canyons below. Miles and miles of landscape seemed to jump out at us. It was so beautiful. God created this world for us; whether it be desert or the tropics. God made the land for us to love and love to use. The Navajo have made the desert their home and love the land, the animals, and God. Through our work with their animals, we have helped decrease their worries about illnesses in their food production animals and lessen the small animal population through spays and neuters.
The first year we traveled to the Nation, we planted some seeds of our love on Navajo Mountain. By returning again each year, we have proved our love for them. This year, our love will shine.
Jesus gave us two commandments: 1. Love your Lord, our God. 2. Love your neighbor.
Although we can’t speak their language and don’t understand all their traditions, our goal is that they will see Jesus in our faces. We hope that this ongoing mission has shown them our love.
Join me as we pray daily for the North Carolina State University Christian Veterinary Fellowship members of the short term mission to the Navajo Nation.
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