St. Alban's has an active partnership with the Navajoland Area Mission in New Mexico. We have sent money during the past two years to assist the Navajo Episcopalians with production of a culturally appropriate Navajo language Christian Education curriculum.
In June of 2005, 13 of us drove the 1200 miles to tiny St. Luke's Church in Carson's Post, New Mexico, where the Navajoland Convocation was held.
The Rev. Carol Tookey, Vicar of the New Mexico Region, was in charge of making sure we knew what we needed to do to help and not simply be in the way! Part of the group worked all day in the kitchen, cooking, serving meals and doing the clean-up for the Convocation. We also were in charge of child care during the meetings, so several of our folks led children's activities about the Anglican churches in West Africa. This was interesting to the kids, and fun as well. During this time the children assisted with the completion of a bunch of ragdolls21love, which will be sent to children in the Sudan, Africa, who are suffering from the terror of abuse and forced displacement as the Navajo once endured.
The highlight of the weekend was the Convocation Eucharist. The Rt. Rev. Mark McDonald of Alaska confirmed three young people, the children performed a couple of African songs and presented the dolls to be blessed, and then ordained a beautifully strong Navajo woman, The Rev. Rosella Jim, to the transitional Diaconate.
Rosella was ordained in January 2006.
The Navajo Episcopal Church is small, wonderfully friendly and visionary - and very poor.
We saw the need, and caught the vision.
They are in a real financial crisis now, which we can all help to alleviate. Any donations that we receive marked for the work of the Church in Navajoland will be sent in their entirety to the Area Mission office in Farmington to be used for the needs they know best.
You may also send your money directly to:
Navajoland Area Mission
All Saints Church
1257 Mission Avenue
PO Box 720
Farmington, NM 87499
