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Show # 9, p 3 We asked ~ Episcopalian to tell the world that we were going to need pews. They did, and two parishes responded--one in West LAfayette, Ind. a nd one at Lake Havasu, Az. Transportation was the problem, ann while we prayed about it, two husky parishtoners of Grace Church, Leke ,Havasu, borrowed a truck, loaded the pews, took off at 5 a.m. and h~d them here before we had finished our lunch. Invited to eat and spend the night; their reply "Thanks, but we got to be at work first thing in the morningl" r~ny of our friends have shown surprise at learning that schooling, medical and hospital care are available to the NavaJOS, but it is hard for these living in civilization to get an adequate picture of the People's living conaitions. Sheep-herding is still the most important occupation, ' even though some members of most families have some employment. Children of this area are taken by bus to elementary or high school. From our house td sch~ol, by the route the bus ~s~s, it is about 35 miles, nearly half of it on , dirt road. This means leaving home before sun-up, and often stand ing in snow and rain, for a delayed bus. As these lines are being typed Helen is helping a broken down bus, ~aking children home, while ,the driver tries by h ~ s short wave telephone to reach the rna intenance man and so get repa irs ma1e. We also have, as you know, "Head Start" school, which Diane teaches. Sounds gooa i and is, for s'ome. The Head Start bus is limited to 70 miles tr,ave1 twice 8' .day. H~nry Phi1,lips, Jr., 4-year-old son of our mason contractor, lives beyond that zone. But Henry Sr., to avoid a 35-mile walk to and from work ds ily, is keeping house in our hogan and Henry Jr. is duly enrolled and is being introduced to ~ new world. Not on1Y ,at school, where to get warm one does not gather bark and wood and strike a match, or to get light one does not fill a kerosene lamp, trim the wick and light it, but simply pushes atoggleswitch, so in his free hours he comes to our house, gets scup of milk or cocoa, walks around and touches things. Just as visitors to the Reserv~tlon value the opportunity to see a NavajO home, touch and feel cards, spindles, 100m battens, stone cprn-grinders, so (in reverse) do NavajO children'. So two cultures come together, and each one teaches one. Gas stoves, washing machines, record players are novelties, although transistor radios are now cOmmon and the nearby stations carry complete programs in the Nava,10 language. Req~ests for the Jesus Power buttons continue,_ We have recently se~t 100 or more to Father Dennis ~ennett's parish--and say! his book "Nine O'Clock In The Morning" is just out, and selling like hot ca~es . If you haven't got it, run, quick, to your friendly neighborhood bookshop and get, or order it. It is a "must" in this age of awakening. (,Logos is the' publisher.) And t~ere still seem to be some people who haven't got Father Liebler's book "Boll ~ Heart E.2J:: ~". The sales continue--81l royalties go into our building fund, and 'the buttons are distributed at no profit--so this ~sn·t really a "commercial". "Boil" will be sent, on request, from St. Christopher's Shop if your local bookseller , doesn't carry it. |