Today, we learned.
Starting off the morning at Rehoboth Christian School near Gallup, New Mexico, Mr. Blake Shue traveled back to Kindergarten to volunteer with Mrs. Gillson’s class. Below you will find a list of the following things he learned:
Starting off the morning at Rehoboth Christian School near Gallup, New Mexico, Mr. Blake Shue traveled back to Kindergarten to volunteer with Mrs. Gillson’s class. Below you will find a list of the following things he learned:
- Kindergarteners have an unbelievable amount of energy, even at 8am
- The fundamentals of learning to read & write
- Recess is an absolute blast
- The art of making paper airplanes has come a long way in the past decade
- Becoming distracted is a regular occurrence for 7 & 8 year olds (Blake’s initial arrival did not help)
Above, you will find a video from our drive with Pastor Mike Meekhof, an amazing religious leader in Zuni, NM. First read the passage below and then watch if you are into it. Warning: we are not professionals & there may be some choppy parts but hopefully you get the idea.
After spending the morning at Rehoboth, we ventured south to Zuni, New Mexico to explore the life of the Zuni Tribe. The Zuni Pueblo is nestled in a scenic valley, surrounded by enchanting mesas and encompassing about 450,000 acres. Smack dab in the middle of the village, you will find Zuni Christian Mission School (and Church). Mike Meekhof, the dedicated pastor at ZCMS was our host for the first part of the day, introducing us to the excited local students and explaining the history of the people, their traditional beliefs, and the way in which the deeply dynamic tribe has evolved over the years. From reciting Psalm 23 with the little ones to playing hoops during recess, we were inspired by the amazing & progressive work that is going on with the children in this region. With a heart on fire for God, Mike and his family absolutely opened our eyes with their sheer dedication to making faith-based change in the community. With hopeful plans to go deer hunting, the weather had another agenda so instead, we spent time together sharing stories over coffee, stopping in a local jewelry shop, and driving through small dirt streets lined with sandstone & adobe homes. After our insightful drive through Zuni, the Smiths- Alex (Administrative Officer), Rachel (5-8th Language Arts teacher), and their adorable baby girl Olivia- invited us to join in on their daily after-school activity. Driving 2.2 miles into the high desert to take a stroll towards a mesa, we were (yet again) astounded at the natural beauty of the Southwest. On our chilly yet peaceful waltz through the soft mixture of sand and clay, we could look down to find pottery shards from hundreds of years ago and look up to see the gorgeous red tint of the mountainside. We were sincerely blessed with their local perspective which introduced us to a place we would have never walked or let alone found. Working up a hearty appetite, we gladly accepted an invitation for yet another home-cooked meal at Mike and Ardy's home. It is amazing how good it feels to be many miles from home sitting around a dinner table with people (maybe even those you just met) who make you feel welcomed, loved, and part of the conversation. Those hours of fellowship truly had an impact on the both of us and we would like to thank all who were a part of it. With plans to visit again, we packed up and drove back to Rehoboth with no music needed- the stars and some real conversation were keeping us content enough. Below, you will find a list of some additional things we learned:
If you have been inspired by the Zuni Christian School Mission and would like to help out, we recommend one of two things: 1) click here or 2) purchase something off their Amazon Wish List by clicking here.
Today, we find graditude in the cotton candy-like clouds that created a sensational backdrop, the energetic smiles of children, and in learning about a culture we would have never properly understood without visiting.
- When with the right crowd, you can play Dutch Bingo anywhere in the United States (this is more so on Hannah’s end than Blake’s...if you are from the Christian Reformed hood of West Michigan, you know exactly what I’m talking about).
- Although Zuni has a rich cultural heritage, like communities in many places, the tribe struggles to live as a healthy community. Tribal authorities are acutely aware of the devastating effects of alcoholism and diabetes on families. Poverty, broken families, suicide, and limited economic opportunities are also facts of life in modern day Zuni. The growing number of Zuni Christians is deeply convinced that spiritual solutions are fundamental to restoration and rejuvenation (words taken from the ZCMS website).
- Taking images or video footage of traditional Zuni religious ceremonies is forbidden. Thus, we were rather careful while documenting our experiences around town.
- To a certain degree New Mexico's Indian Reservations function as states within states where tribal law may supersede state law.
- The word "Pueblo" is used to describe a group of people, a town, or an architectural style. There are 19 Pueblo groups that speak 4 distinct languages. The Pueblo people of the southwest have lived in the same location longer than any other culture in the Nation.
If you have been inspired by the Zuni Christian School Mission and would like to help out, we recommend one of two things: 1) click here or 2) purchase something off their Amazon Wish List by clicking here.
Today, we find graditude in the cotton candy-like clouds that created a sensational backdrop, the energetic smiles of children, and in learning about a culture we would have never properly understood without visiting.