Update...

Greetings friends and family,

We have now been in Dine Bikeyah for 9 months, since July 2010.  Now in March, we are happily settled.  Not that is without issues; in fact, right now we are stuck in Flagstaff most of the time, due to issues with our truck battery and possible other complications with the truck.  But that is not getting us down.  We leave with the college in a little over a week for the annual trip.  This year we will be going to Gallup, NM and helping out at many churches in the area.

We have just a little over a month of this college year left.  For the summer, Rob is thinking of working at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch. I am looking for a summer job, to catch up on school bills and put Rob in good shape for next year.  Late July and early August we are planning a quick trip to Kentucky and Kansas to visit supporting churches, prior to Rob returning for his second of four years.  I will be finishing up a few classes, then doing distance learning.

Prayer Requests:
* For the truck, that it wont cost much to repair.
* For both of us to finish out the college year well.
* For the Navajo youth we work with in Kayenta, while we are gone.

Needs:
* Rob - Good projector with computer hook ups.
* Me - Bicycle for Flagstaff travel (cut on future gas expenses)
* Gas Funds (with rising costs, travel is harder and needs greater)

Blessings all!

Wiic'ita

Wiic'ita means, as close as we can tell the tattooed people, and today is translated Wichita.  Wiic'ita was the northern camp of the Kitikiti'sh, who were called Wiic'ita by neighboring tribes, and Quivira by Coronado and his men in 1541.  As early as that, 1541, the Kitikiti'sh were already settled in their summer homes, at the conecting of the Little and Big Ar'Kanazi Rivers (Arkansas, said in Kansas as Ar'kansas, which is closer to the correct Ar'Kanazi).  The first settlements here were the grass lodges of the Kitikiti'sh.  By 1870's Wiic'ita became known as Wichita, or by it's nick name "Cowtown".  And was a major stop on the Cimeron Trail of the cattle drives.

To this day, Wiic'ita is the largest city in Kansas, having quickly surpassed Topeka and Kansas City, KS (not to be confused with Kansas City, MO, which is larger).   Know still as the "Cowtown" and also as the Air Capital of the World", as it has more airplane plants than any other city in the world.  These days, Emerald City Expo, a steampunk festival, is held here, in part at the Historic Wichita Cowtown Museum; many of who's buildings date to the 1870's and 1880's and were moved to this site for preservation. As well, the Great Plains Renaissance Fest and Sedgwick County Zoo are not to be missed.

There are so many more neat things to tell about Wiic'ita, as I grew up here, but those must wait for another day...

No Battery and Coming Rain...

Last summer, I traded my beloved 1984 Ford F-150, Tsalagi, with my Dad, for his 1997 Dodge Dakota, Gypsy.  Thursday, I went out to pick up food for our weekend trip to Toh Di'neesh Zhee (Kayenta), but Gypsy would not start.  I checked the connections, but they were tight.  I jumped her, but she did not jump.  So now, we have to get a ride in to the shop and prayerfully, they honor the warranty, and trade us batteries.

The truck being down, has us walking about town more, and for the first time in our 9 months here, I am beginning to feel like I am beginning to know our neighborhood.  We live in Sunnyside, which is in east Kilinidi. We are just a few blocks from our grocery store, a short walk to the barber, a long walk to the indoor Farmer's Market, and long walk to wal-mart.  Even more fun though, we are a short walk to Big Lots.   Soon, I will go hunting for parks, so we can spend more time outside.  I am looking for seeds for our garden, and trusting the spring rain that is coming will melt the snow on the raised beds.

How I long at this time of year, that I had a good bicycle.  My last bike, Meg, had to be left in Shikaakwa when we moved.  I so miss the wind in my face and the puddles spashing under my wheels.  That, and with the cost of gas these days, I could sure save alot...