I recently returned from a mission trip to the Apache Nation reservation in Globe, AZ. I went with 6 others to spend the week working to support an Apache man, James, and his wife, Esther, who are former members of the church/school I attend here in Bellingham, WA. The Apache have become very untrusting of outsiders over time, so much of what our church does is to simply be a presence on and around the reservation. To let the people there see constant visitors from Abundant Life Church in WA. It was an interesting trip because it really was not about me, Meredith, visiting them; it was about members of our community joining in what their community is doing.
Here are some of the homes on the reservation. I was not expecting this, but many of the Apache have become entrenched over generations in a poverty mindset. The bleakness of the landscape only seemed to mimic the hearts of many of the people.
As I mentioned, the Apache have become wary of outsiders and even of each other. I suppose in my mind I figured that they would still live the way I have been taught they used to live: harmonious, tribe-reliant, and tribe-sufficient. Today, though, after years of oppression, they live very segragated lives. According to James, there is not much interaction between different family groups or even neighbors.
One thing I enjoyed was that they are a story telling people group. In this picture Esther was sharing the story of how she and James met. This scene was often experienced because you had to take a seat whenever you asked anyone a question. They would weave a whole story of background details, thoughts, feelings, even a description of what they weather or day was like. Another reason I really enjoyed this is that I felt more listened to than I have in a long time. When an Apache is telling a story, no one says much until the very very end (even though it may seem like they are done about 5 times, trust me, they aren’t). And they extend this same listening discipline to everyone. When they asked me a question I felt like I could say everything that I wanted to say. Often when talking, even with my teammates, I feel (and I’m sure most know what I mean) like I have to get to the point and hurry up because someone is waiting for their split second to jump in with two cents. We like to talk quick and get to the point. That is Not how Apache function. There is a freedom in conversation to speak one’s piece and be heard.
Below is Tracy, our fearless leader; Me and Laurina.
One awesome event was that we were invited to a little girl’s birthday party. What an honor it was to be invited in to a family gathering. Tracy has been coming every year to AZ and the people have truly come to know and appreciate him. We were very excited to be invited to partake in a family event as outsiders (white ones in particular) are not often invited.
This is Brother McCay. He had an intense testimony of being with the Lord and also years spent wandering. He had to have part of his leg removed because of nerve damage due to diabetes. Diabetes has a huge presence on the reservation, even in the youth. Brother McCay is a quiet man who came each night to the tent revival we were attending at Seven Mile.
Here is a picture of the tent where the revival took place nightly. This was the most interesting cultural experience. Each night they would blast at bleeding-from-the-ears volume (don’t worry Mom, I wore ear plugs!) to draw in the neighbors. The music was deafening but it worked. Folks would be driving down the road and literally stop and reverse to pull into the parking lot. Here is where it got interesting. After they parked in the lot, many people would not get out of their cars. Instead, they rolled their windows down and simply listened from their vehicles. The preaching was also deafening but they could hear it in the cars because when the pastor said something they agreed with they would flash their lights and tap their horns! The Pastor each night would constantly extend invitations for them to come under the tent, and some would, but the cool part was that even thought most of them would stay in their cars, people still got saved and would come out to receive prayer!!
This is Mount Baker from the plane. These are the San Juan Islands off the coast of WA.
This was a surprisingly cross-cultural experience but one that I would highly recommend seeing as how the history of Native Americans is incredibly dense and so many people living on reservations have lost a lot of hope for the future. They simply live on the reservation, get their utilities free, land free, and a check every month. There is a lack of purpose. The awesome part is that many of them are hungry for hope and I love that i know the God of hope. Jer 29:11-12 says, “For I know the thoughts I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” When the pastors at the tent preached hope and restoration, the people responded. It was beautiful to see people tapping in to the God of hope, and peace, and a future. God, bless the Apache with the knowledge of who You are.
