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Show 4 essential than -it was, for a new generation is coming along, 80% of which has had some schooling; however, there are still many older ones, and the 20 % of the younger ones, who can be reached only by those who speak their language. New staff members will not have the long, hard struggle that we had, combined with the physical work of getting roofs over our heads. We still would welcome applications from young or middle aged persons who are anxious to give themselves to the work of God in the spirit of joyful sacrifice, with whatever gifts they have, from priesthood and te.aching to cooking, dishwashing and gardening. I y IOUTH always has its charms, and we admire them, but we love also to think of the joys that can come only with years. The priest who stays in a parish long enough to baptize and maybe even to marry the children of couples he baptized and married in his young days, knows a delight that is hidden to youth. Even after eighteen years of St. Christopher's we have some such joyous experiences. Example: On the eve of Memorial Day a family of 'six Navajos came in from about 20 miles to the East, to ask for baptism. We hardly knew them at first. Gradually we remembered. Back in 1944 we were making one of our first . trips into the Montezuma Creek area. We had an Army jeep, with which we could travel up the wash without worrying about roads or trails. At one point where the wash went through a steep-sided sandy arroyo, a little boy in a red shirt came running, having slid with remarkable agility down the sandy wall. We had seen no sign of nearby habitation. Already we had become accustomed to the idea that Navajo children regarded us as distributors of candy, clothing or other desirable things, and we were prepared for anything - except what we heard. "My father said, you come and pray over my new house." He said his father's name was Big Bitterwater, and his own name was Dan. Of course we responded to the invitation; by the time we got to the new hoghan, they had seen us approaching, and a fine Pendleton blanket had been spread |