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The gift of the community of faith! Jesus is calling forth a people to Himself from every nation, language, people and tongue!

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Sunday morning fellowship! The gift of conversation and encouragement!

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Pastor preaching on Sunday morning...what a joy to encourage God's people from God's Holy Word! He spoke from Ephesians 2 about how Jesus came to bring reconciliation with God and that He is the One who can bring reconciliation with others in our broken world filled with broken relationships. Jesus is our living Hope!

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'Beauty abounds in Navajo, NM' by Pastor Jensen

Beauty abounds in Navajo, NM!!! I was struck by the beauty I encountered at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.  It manifested itself in three ways. One, the backdrop for the church is stunning ... the soaring rock faces were ablaze with light, as they reflected the summer sun.  Two, the Navajo people are a beautiful people ... full of love, laughter, stories and creativity as well as a deep sense of family and a genuine desire to honor the Lord Jesus Christ.  Three, the Nortons - Tim, Heidi, Philip and Leslie.  Wow, what a beautiful family!  Individually and collectively, they are offering themselves as living sacrifices to the Lord Jesus Christ for the sake of the Navajo people.  It was such a joy to see firsthand the love they have for the members of the church and wider community! It was a privilege to serve alongside of the other team members from Our Savior and my Mom, but of course.  It was a great shared experience for the two of us....

Beware of the octopus and clam at Deep Sea Discovery Vacation Bible School! The depths of God's love are amazing!

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Sharing the hope of Jesus with all ages!

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'It has been a blessing to me to spend time with the Navajo people' by Scott Deffer

Hello to all of you from Window Rock, Arizona. We have been busy with outdoor work around the church and houses on the property. We finished up today all that we were charged to accomplish. It has been very rewarding to help out Tim and Heidi Norton.   It has been a blessing to me to spend time with the Navajo people, talking and doing crafts. Looking forward to seeing the Grand Canyon and Sedona. I hope all is well with everyone back home. Yours in Christ, Scott Deffer

Karen Jensen, Pastor's mom, has been a fantastic team member! We all are honored to serve alongside of her! And what a gift that she and Pastor Jensen can serve Jesus together on mission!

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Ice cream sundaes are always a sweet treat!

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A woman of grace...Heidi Norton loving God's precious children!

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The fire pit and benches around the pit were designed by our work crew! May many Jesus-centered conversations happen around campfires in the days to come at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo, NM

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Decorating crosses with beautiful gems to remind us of the amazing love of Jesus Christ! 'God demonstrates His own love for us in this way: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Romans 5:8

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No task is too high for our Pastor! Yes he really is that high working in the trees to prevent branches from damaging the homes on the church campus!

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Friday Night Craft Night was a fantastic, faith-filled evening of creative fun! Thank you, Dawn Jorgensen, for organizing this amazing craft!

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'Spreading the joy of Christ and working together' by Michael Goolkasian

Greetings from Navajo Nation!   This has been an amazing trip spreading the joy of Christ and working together.  The Lord is at work here and we are blessed to share in His kingdom, with our Navajo sisters and brothers in Christ and the Norton family.  Thank you for all of your prayers. Michael Goolkasian

Michael Goolkasian, our wonderful team member, has been adopted by all three of these dear Navajo women as their son! Michael has been such a blessing to our team and this community!

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'It has been a joy to serve' by Gary Terhune

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Hi Senders! Thank you all so very much for making this trip possible. It has been a joy to serve in this beautiful country of the Navajo people. Although the temperature was 100 + when we were in Phoenix, the weather up in Window Rock and surrounding area is about 75-80. Great weather to be working in. We have been working hard doing landscape work trimming trees, cutting down dead ones, and chipping all the brush, and branches we have piled up and doing other odd jobs. Devotions have been great on a daily basis and we have had many of the local people join us in this regard. We pray that the Holy Spirit work in the hearts and minds of those people that send children to church and VBS here but don’t come themselves. The people are a very proud and wonderful group. I went down the highway to pick up a file to sharpen the chainsaw and when I walked into the store I was greeted with a very sincere hello how are you attitude. As a whole the people in service jobs are very friendly. Las...

Tim and Heidi Norton, faith-filled, grace-filled, humble servants of Jesus

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It is such an honor to serve once more with Tim and Heidi and Philip and Leslie Norton.  They are role models to me as servants of Jesus.  They put the Navajo people before themselves in sacrificial love.  They love generously, listen patiently, serve kindly and pray confidently in Jesus' Name. They have been kind and gracious hosts to our team of 15 in so many ways!  Please remember this precious family in your prayers.

'It is GOOD to be back in Navajo Nation' by Frank Sienkiewicz

Greetings from Navajo Nation! It is GOOD to be back, visiting in fellowship with our brothers &  sisters in the faith. We see this community being built up with the continued efforts of the  Holy Spirit. Challenges and hardship persist in this beautiful land, among these  children of God, but His work is being done, in His time. Seeds sown,  and watered, are growing. Other seeds germinate months to years thence,  but we wait on the Lord for the harvest. We continue pray for those that  have fallen away or into dependencies in their daily struggles. It is so encouraging seeing how the Lord is using the Norton's  (sometimes know as the Horton's ;) in partnership with the local Dine  strong in the faith. Please continue to pray for this treasured family,  front-line workers in this field. We rejoice in those children coming to VBS, especial the strong  relationship building among the teens. I am so proud of Philip, Leslie,  Adam, J...

Mike Nawoichik measuring and cutting the new floor for the parsonage kitchen and dining room! What a gift to have such skilled servants of Jesus on our team!

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