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Show L --I I - - , I Holy Women .... and that is exactly what Our Lord would have called you all - the Episcopal Churchwomen. For really you ar e t he Mary sand Marthas of today. This December finds us all with a big question. Now that the Missionary Supply Work Assignments have come to an end, what do we do? Here is our story. Do you realize that over the past year we requested and r eceived a worth of $6,000 in new clothing for distribution to the Navajo People? Of course, this request was handled through the office in New York and was assigned to many groups over the United States. Now it is r ecommended that cash gifts replace this program. We certainly do not r efuse cash gifts because often we can buy locally for discounts and the transportation is much less - therefore, the money goes farther . However, in the past you have actually done the work for us in ordering the clothing and fulfilling our specific needs in sizes, type and material. To r eplace such a program here at the Mission would r equire a full time person who should r eceive a salary beginning at least at $4,000 per year. This person would have to handle correspondence, order from suppliers and distribute. We simply have no such person available ! You see, it would take almost twice as much cash to achieve the same benefit to the People, because you have used your hands for us where you are, and we have been your hands her e. What to do? We cannot see clearly at this point but surely need your suggestions to help us. For now, we believe it means more cash donations to meet emergencies which we will try to handle. We also believe it means r eceiving as much as you can send in good, used items and in handmade articles. Sometimes you will have to determine if the cash for shipping is more valuable than the used clothing contained in the shipment. Please do not send unwashed or torn clothing - it must have good use left in it. Some still send shipments collect to us and this offsets any benefit when we have to pay the charges, as you can see. Please find out if your church has an MRI or Missionary Fund from which we could obtain a grant. Fight for your Mission because it is fighting for you! Pray For Us .... who labor here. We need Holy Strength. Courage, Knowledge, Patience and Understanding to live at peace with each other and to show the Light of Christ to others. In order that you may remember us at your altar, here are names and family members of those who work daily on the Mission staff and Head Start School at t he end of the year 1967: Father Wayne and Jo Pontious, Alice, Mary Jane, Ann, John, Mark Richard and Sally Maryboy, Leo, Hiram, Sally Ann, Daisy Claude and Daisy Benally, Blaise, Mathilda, Sharon, Claudia Tom and Lucille J ones, Arnold, Raymond, Rex, Linda, Lorraine, Ranee, Lucille, Shirley Ann, Victoria Ann Albert and Mary Ann Jones, Brenda Lee, Melvin, Virginia Byron and Eileen Black, Joe, Joyc·e Allen and Lydia Carson, Pasty, Reuben, Jim and Jackie Howard, Robert and Susie Blackwater, Jay Roy and Delores Dugan, Nona, Nita Catherine Pickett and Jeannette Harvey Herold and Marjorie Goddard (now speaking in California) Buena Gaines AtJa Elmer Kay Bierbasz Harriet Dmitruck Nick Lyndon Marie Lockett Jay Heisel Ed Wirth David Police Wi lliam Stash Next Year in 1968 .. on St. Christopher's Day, July 25, the Mission will celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Even if this occasion were the same as our 20th Anniversary in 1963, it would be quite an undertaking. 2,500 people were present and a t hree day Navajo ceremony was held at the same time. This year we hope the new church will be ready for the birthday! In 1968 the Navajo People will celebrate t he 100th Anniversary of the "Long Walk" back from t he concentration camp at Fort Sumner New Mexico. Then t here were 6,000 in t he Navajo Tribe. In 1968 t hey will be 120,000 strong! We will join with the Navajo People in this great year of rejoicing. We hope many will plan their vacations to stop by on July 25 to help us ce lebrate. If you cannot come, you may help ce lebrate anyway and the last page te lls how. Now we are providing postpaid enve lopes fo r your response, believin g that more r eaders can rep ly more easi ly. A new medical center will soon be built at our first outstation, Montezuma Creek. The Navajo People of the area will help to restore San Juan Bautista, the outstation church there for nearly ten year s. Soon you will r eceive t he res ults of a year long s urvey of f inances, organization and efforts to be efficient - to face change in a real way and hold our brother's hand as he faces change in many different ways. And so 1968 will be a busy year for us a ll. May t he Lord Bless You. May the Blessing of the Christ Mass be with You and Yours All Through the Yea r |