On the Road to Ramah
Eighteen of us from Central Baptist Church in Center, TX↗︎ for our Navajo Nation Mission Trip and rumbled into Ramah late Monday, dusty but delighted to serve alongside Missionary Russell Aaron and Missionary Jason Herndon. The desert air smelled like adventure—and smoked chicken.
First-Night Fellowship & Petrified-Wood Hunting | Navajo Nation Mission Trip
After polishing off brownies that surely came straight from heaven’s bakery, a few of us girls headed out for a sunset stroll. Moments later the missionaries piled us into a van, crunched up a rocky ridge, and turned us loose to hunt petrified wood. Our youth pastor claimed a 200-pound log for his yard; the boys hauled it down, wheezing the whole way. Back at the house we played games and crashed early—Tuesday would be huge.
Tuesday’s Marathon Soul-Winning | Navajo Nation Mission Trip
Breakfast burritos in our bellies, we grabbed boxes of John & Romans and launched into marathon soul-winning: two hours of door-knocking, a water break, repeat. The Navajo Nation’s wide-open sky felt endless, and so did the need for the Gospel.
HOPE Program Testimonies—Freedom From Addiction
Sitting in on the HOPE program on our Navajo Nation Mission Trip, it reminded me that missions isn’t just about numbers or travel—it’s about people. These men weren’t perfect, and they weren’t pretending to be. They were honest about their struggles, but they also had a desire to change. Their willingness to open up encouraged me deeply.
One man said that if it hadn’t been for the missionaries’ help and the program, he wasn’t sure where he’d be. It reminded me that we all need people in our lives who’ll walk with us through the hard stuff.
If you’ve never seen the power of God working in the middle of real brokenness, I highly recommend you visit a ministry like this. You’ll walk away changed too.
Lessons Learned & Zuni Pueblo Outreach
The rest of the week was filled with more soulwinning, helping out around the church, and learning about the unique culture of the Zuni Pueblo. We got to see how missionaries tailor their outreach to meet the cultural needs of the people they serve—and how important it is to listen first before trying to speak truth into someone’s life.
Every community is different, and this trip reminded me that while the message of the Gospel never changes, how we share it might. These missionaries live and serve in areas with deep tradition, poverty, and spiritual need, and they do it with such grace and perseverance.
If you’re looking for ways to support missions without leaving your state, check out the work going on at NavajoLand Baptist Missions or consider supporting Streams in the Desert Baptist Mission. They’re doing the kind of work most people only read about.
How You Can Pray
Pray for open hearts and strength for the Aarons and Herndons. And if you ever need a quiet place to pray about missions, book a weekend at Bland Lake Hideaway↩︎—East-Texas peace at its best.