One of my favorite places on this earth is the White Mountains of Arizona. It’s arid. It’s dry. But it’s beautiful, because of both the scenery and the people who live there.
For almost two decades, I have been connected with a ministry that exists in that area of Arizona. That ministry reaches out to the White Mountain Apaches and, to a lesser degree, the Navajo people who live in the area.
In the summer of 2001 or 2002 — I can’t even remember what year — I took a group of teens and adults from our church in Indiana to American Indian Christian Mission. That was the beginning of what would become a long relationship, although I didn’t know it then. Our group had an incredible time, and the impact we made was big, no doubt. But the impact on our own lives was far, far greater.
Since that trip, I have been able to take multiple groups to AICM, both teens and adults, over the years. And each time, it left an indelible mark upon my life. One community in particular, the small town of Cibicue, is especially dear to me. I visited that town on that very first trip, and have managed to make it back there almost every time since.
Cibicue is a small town, and it suffers from the same sense of hopelessness and despair as much of the rest of the White Mountain Reservation. Drugs, alcohol, abuse, and suicide are rampant, and a ministry such as AICM offers hope that otherwise might not be found there.
Last year, my oldest daughter served as an intern with AICM for the summer. She has returned for a second summer this year. Watching her grow has been amazing; I think she matured spiritually, over the ten weeks she was there last summer, far beyond most of her peers. And I can’t wait to see what God does in and through her experiences this summer.
What I didn’t expect was how her experiences would build on of my own, and provide the opportunity for me to grow more. Even though I wasn’t there for the summer, and I’m not with her there this year, her growth has caused growth in my own life. My prayer life has deepened, my trust in God’s provision has strengthened, and my ability to see people as God sees them has grown.
The ministry that AICM accomplishes is a very needed part of life on that reservation, but at the same time, it’s no different than any other area of this nation and our world. The message of the gospel reaches out and can change lives. I have seen it happen too many times to count. And the way such ministry continues to change even my own life is nothing short of amazing.
I don’t know if you have ever taken a short term mission trip to a Native American reservation or not. But if you haven’t, I encourage you to consider it. It has been life changing in so many ways, and I look forward to seeing how God will continue to work through the ministry of AICM in my own life, in the life of my daughter, and the rest of my family and church family.
I expect it will be phenomenal!
Question: Have you ever visited a mission that serves on a reservation? If so, how did it impact you? If not, what could you do to plan such a trip? You can leave a comment by clicking here.