Navajo News

A Publication of La Vida Missions, Inc.

Bringing the Gospel of Jesus to the Navajo

Vol. 58 No 1 www.lavidamission.org 505-786-5539 January 2020

Christmas at La Vida Mission

Christmas was a fun time at La Vida Mission. We had a
“White Elephant” gift exchange, gifts for the students from
their sponsors, a Christmas program that included both musi-
cal and skit performances from every class and several of our
staff. Pictures are included from both rehearsals and Sabbath
morning performance.

Christmas Dinner
Following the Christmas Program on Dec. 21,
2019 dinner was served in the cafeteria for about
90 people. Students, families, staff and community
members came to enjoy “chicken” with dressing,
sweet potatoes, whole kernel corn, green beans and,
of course, cranberry sauce. Also served were home
made rolls, pies,
cakes and as-
sorted cookies.
Some staff “elves” were busy baking cookies and
making rolls while others toted chairs and tables
from the gym and helped set them up. “Elves”
helped to serve AND to clean up afterwards, a much
appreciated help.
Lee McIntosh, Cafeteria Manager
Navajo News January 2020

From the Director’s Desk:

Family...
We put a picture of the La Vida Mission family in the December Navajo News.
Today I want to share a picture of my family. Each of our children, their spouses
and all of their children are here for Christmas. They have come from Portland
(Oregon), Casper (Wyoming) and Chicago (Illinois) and La Vida Mission (New
Mexico). It is the first time in a very long time that we have all been together at
the same time and it is wonderful. We have eaten together, talked a lot, celebrated
Christmas, played games and finished several small important projects here at the
mission.
A few months ago we were donated a manlift, but it needed some repairs. And
more recently we received a fork lift that didn’t work. After diagnosing the problem
and replacing some parts on the fork lift, Stan (maintenance supervisor), got it run-
ning and used it to lift up the man lift that needed work underneath. After the repairs, they used them both to replace all the lights
in the gym (went from 6000 watts of halogen to 1500 watts of LED electric lights – what a savings and brighter
light)! The manlift will also be used to replace some deteriorated wiring high in the ceiling of the church. The
group also finished a retaining wall in the basement of the Benton House (boys’ dorm). Thank you to our sons-
in-law and grandsons (Mark Cornett & sons, Ron Lorenson and Sanal Panakkal and, of course, our son Stan) for
helping in these and other projects (including splitting firewood and cleaning).
Just before New Year’s Day, our family is all going together to Western Washington to celebrate the life of my
little brother, Richard. He died shortly before Christmas on the birthday of our other brother (Herbert) who died
1 ½ years ago. Family brings joy and laughter and sometimes tears.
Families that laugh, worship and work together bring joy and satisfaction to each one. The La Vida family
works, plays, studies, eats and worships together. And that creates family bonding and love here at the mission.
But I am looking past the tears to the joy set before us because God so loved the
world that He gave His only son for us and adopted us as His children to live and reign
Navajo News with Jesus forever. We will have total joy then, unmixed with sorrow. In this world our
A publication of joy is always tempered with pain and sorrow. Not so there – every tear will be wiped
La Vida Missions, Inc. away, no more pain or sorrow or crying because the former things will be passed away.
January 2020 Vol. 58, No 1 No more death! I so want Jesus to come soon! He has promised to make everything
new. I will be young again – no more discomfort or disease! We can count on it. Jesus
Navajo News is published monthly said “These words are trustworthy and true.” And yes, he said “I am coming soon!”
by La Vida Missions, Inc. Does that excite you? It does me! There will be fun things to do there. We will
Bulk rate postage paid at
build and inhabit, plant and eat. We will long enjoy the works of our hands through the
Phoenix, Arizona
La Vida Mission, a supporting ministry ceaseless ages of eternity. There we will get acquainted the rest of our family and love
of The Seventh-day Adventist Church, all of God’s children from every nation, tongue, tribe and people – from Grandpa Adam
serves the Eastern Navajo Nation. It op- and Grandma Eve to all of God’s children all over this earth in every age. Now that will
erates a K-12 Boarding school for Navajo be a great family reunion!
children, clinic, water/mail/clothing ser- Pastor Steve
vices and an evangelism outreach for the
Navajo community. The mission is located
off Highway 371, 55 miles north of I-40,
just south of mile post #56, or 50 miles
Mr. Ben’s Boys
south of Farmington, New Mexico. What is the morning routine in the boy’s dorm?

Director Every day when I’m at the Mission, at 6:30 in

Pastor Steve Gillham
Editor
Gayle Smith
Send address corrections &
correspondence to
P. O. Box 3308
Farmington, NM 87499
UPS/Fedex Shipping Address
Lake Valley Area
700 CR 7730
Crownpoint, NM 87313
Telephone (505)786-5539
Fax (505)786-7650
E-mail: office@lavidamission.org
Website: www.lavidamission.org
Donation Information
Make checks payable to:
La Vida Missions, Inc.
Federal Tax Exemption #85-0168123
La Vida Missions, Inc. is a
nonprofit corporation of New Mexico.
the morning, I go over to the boys’ dorm and
we run around the Mission and go to La Vida Hill
to have our personal prayer to God and a short
devotional lesson for the kids. This helps us to
be prepared for the day, and it also strengthens
us physically, mentally, and the most important
part, spiritually.
It says in the Spirit of Prophecy. “We have
come to serious times. Events in our world call
upon every follower of Christ to be totally in ear- Some of Mr. Ben’s Boys, minus the guy
with the beanie, that is Mr. V.J.
nest in our relationship with God. To strengthen
this relationship and satisfy our emotional and
spiritual needs, we must learn the power of prayer.” Pr 1.3
Linked with God through prayer. To teach the children to have a personal devotion to
God is one of the most important lessons that we can teach them.
After our daily exercise and devotional on the hill, it’s breakfast time, cooked by Mr.
Ben, and a shower, before going to school.
VJ Panganiban

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Navajo News January 2020

Coming Home, Ministering to Family! Christmas Celebration at

Coming home to the Philippines every 2 or 3 years has the Big Girls’ Dorm
always been a great experience for me. I believe it’s the
One evening Ms.Donna and Mr. Harold
same for everyone who had been away from their families
made a special dinner at the Big Girls’
and loved ones for quite some time.
Dorm and invited Ms. Catherine, our High
On Dec. 8, our first Sunday in the country, we celebrated
School teacher. They had a great evening
my Dad’s 90th birthday along with some hundred and fifty
enjoying each other’s company.
biological and church family members. The festivity was
mixed with tears though as we ministered to a first cousin’s
family who had cardiac arrest and died the day we arrived
home. Thank God for the promise of the second coming
and the hope of the resurrection!
On the second week of our vacation, we joined
the much awaited wedding of a 41year old
nephew which was followed by a week long family
reunion on my husband’s side of the family, 95%
of whom are Non-Adventist Christians that we
have not seen for 40, 30, or 20 years. We praise
God for the opportunity to witness the love of
Jesus to them at our morning and evening family
They also
worships. One favorite part of the reunion was
had fun creat-
the “Family Hug” that we introduced to them after
ing gingerbread
prayer of each worship time.
houses for
But another HUGE and important part of our vacation was my side trip to Camarines
under the tree.
Norte in Southern Luzon for an ocular survey and ground preparation in relation to La
Each one had a
Vida Mission’s projected overseas mission trip in December 2020 where we plan to in-
special stocking
volve our Navajo students and mission staff in a Health and Family Wellness Evangelism
as well.
Campaign in the area. While visiting the place, I was able to attend their Voice of Youth
crusade, join in their communion service and thanksgiving celebration and conduct a
Renewal of Marriage Vow for 3 lovely couples. The people are excited about the plan to
have the La Vida Mission group visit by the end of this year. Please help us realize this
goal by joining us in prayer and by partnering
with us through your gifts and financial dona-
tions for this cause. You can mark your gift “LVM
Overseas Mission Trip 2020”. Thank you very
much and may our Heavenly Father richly bless
you this coming new year.
Bulletin Board
- Dorie Panganiban, LVM Outreach Director
Special Thanks to:
In Memory of •Our Heavenly Father for providing our
needs.
George & Margaret Armstrong by Lanny & Barbara Davis
Ruth Gerst by Mary Lou Peckham •Faithful donors who support LVM with
Anne Gutman by Morris Gutman prayers, financial and other donations
Albert Lind by Margaret Lind (including Box Tops for Education).
Barry Lizer by Art & Oradelle Lizer
•Student sponsors for their many
Dr. James Maxwell by Ann Maxwell
contributions, prayers, letters and
Larry McCoy by Nancy McCoy Wearner Christmas gifts for the students.
Brenda McDonald by Pat & Rhonda McDonald
O.J. & Millie Mills by David & Elizabeth Johnston •Echo Food bank, Farmington, NM for
Frank Putnam by Dr. Clare Putnam a weekly supply of produce and other
Paul & Genevieve Rittenhouse by Genevieve Rittenhouse necessary food items.
Emily Smith by Ramona McCurdy
Kenneth Smith by Lola Smith •Neal Kelley & Sharing Ministry for a
Albert Willis III by Ell Willis truck load of food and a large variety of
Albert Willis, Jr. by Ell Willis other produce and clothing.

In Honor of •Sussie & Mindy Thompson for

School, art, dorm, kitchen and medical
supplies, toys, clothing and hats
Irene Kalina by Andrew Kalina
Perry & Patti Scholder by Charles Reynolds •Don Steinert & other donors for
new key machine.
Thank you to all of the donors who make a difference at La Vida!

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Navajo News January 2020

Projects Update
We took the students to the Montrose, Colorado church – a church that has taken a special interest in La Vida for years. They
treated us like royalty, sending us home with gifts and pledges. Neal Kelley (one of their members and also a La Vida board member)
comes down to see us almost every month, sharing food, clothes and encouragement. He is usually accompanied by others such as
Don Steinert, 1st elder of the Montrose church. (see pictures below of our Montrose trip)
Recently Neal asked me what he
could tell the church about our most im-
portant projects for the near future. This
is what I told him. While there are several
projects for the future, the two I consider
the most important are 1) the proposed
addition to the east side of the gym which
will house our new Community Services
Center downstairs and Pathfinders/Ad-
ventures upstairs, and 2) Adventist World
Radio’s vision to broadcast to the Navajo
Nation.
The first project is very doable. I
expect it can become a reality very soon,
possibly in the coming year. All we need
are the volunteers (Mission Groups) to
build the addition and funds to purchase
materials. Please mark your gifts “Mis-
sion Improvement” and encourage your
church (and/or school) to organize a
Mission Group to help with the building
and clean-up. We would also welcome a
donor willing to give funds for a match for
this project.

Next project: Dine’ Adventist Radio

“God is working to spread

the end-time gospel across
the Navajo Nation. Doors are
opening for possible purchase
of a 100,000-watt frequency
that will reach 90% of the
Navajo Nation. This will be like
having a church that seats up
to 200,000 people with doors
open 169 hours per week and
nearly everyone who attends is
a visitor.” – Pastor Dale Wolcott
The new radio station is a monumental
task. It involves three union conferences,
and 4 local conferences (Rocky Mountain,
Texico, Arizona and Nevada/Utah) and lots
of money. The start-up will cost about
$300,000, half of which AWR (Adventist
World Radio is covering). The confer-
ences are also providing some funding, so
we need to raise about $100,000 more to
get the radio station on the air.
It was a wonderful trip to
I believe we serve a Great Big Wonder-
Montrose! The church members
ful God. If He wants it to happen, it will
fed us several meals and gave us
happen. Do you want to be a part of this
a place to sleep. We were also
miracle? Let us pray and ask for God’s
able to visit the Ute museum,
leading. Gifts to this project should be
the Black Canyon of the Gun-
marked Radio Ministry.
nison and Fort Uncompahgre.
God bless you as you join us in prayer
Thank you, Neal Kelley and Karl
and support of these two very important
Schwinn for arranging these fun
projects.
and educational opportunities.
Pastor Steve