Don Bi'zaad

In the Navajo language the title Don Bi'zaad means "Don his words".

Since my wife Nona and I have spent the last 25 years in missionary labors among the Navajo
and other First Peoples of the SouthWest this blog will be notes of memories and events.

Saturday, September 11, 2004

9/11/2001

Since I am beginning my memories on 9/11/2004, I felt it fitting to give my memory of that dreadful day 3 years ago.

I had just went to my home office that morning, and turned on the radio, the report startled me that an airliner had crashed into the first tower. I thought what a horrible accident. I went over to the upper classroom of Crestview Christian Academy, of which I am the Administrator. I told my teacher there, about the accident, and turned on the radio there. At that time we amazingly heard the news of the second tower being hit.

I was dumbfounded. Still not realizing what had really happened.

As we listened it all began to unfold. Such emotions that I can not even now truly recall.

A day truly we will never forget!

Friday September 14, around 10 am I was in my study praying. I was meditating about the city wide Prayer Gathering of the Body of Christ, scheduled for that night at the Gallup High School. Interesting enough this had been scheduled nearly 2 months prior to 9/11. President Bush had asked that all across America that people would pause at 12 pm and pray for our Nation and for the families of those who perished on 9/11. A thought rushed to my mind and I picked up the phone and called our local Wal-Mart and asked for the Manager. When she got on the phone I told her who I was and told her about President Bush Wanting America to stop and pray at noon. I asked her if I could come to the store and pray over the loud speaker there. She paused and then said, please come to the store, I can't let you pray over the intercom but I would be glad to let you pray in the store, and I will announce before and for all that want to join you to do so.

I arrived at the Wal-Mart store at about 20 til, they soon had the manager paged and she met me and set things in motion. She had me go out in front of the store at one of the main entrances. About 10 til she began to announce about every two minutes that there was going to be special prayer for America out front at 12 noon, and invited all customers and employees that wanted to attend to do so.

At twelve noon there were about 10 people gathered, I waited til 5 after, (that's the way it is done in Navajoland), by then perhaps 20 people were gathered. I announce to the people who I was and about what President Bush was wanting us to do, and told them I wanted them to pray with me. I closed my eyes lifted my hands and began to pray. God was on me in a powerful way. I became totally lost in prayer. When I finished I looked at my watch and found I had prayed for nearly 20 minutes. The crowd had grown to way over 50. Cars were even stopped and people standing beside them. Many had tears streaming down their face. God had blessed!