2024

She was going home. She was so excited to see her family. Home was the Navajo Reservation. There were no schools on the reservation in 1955. She and others attended school out of state. Summer vacation was going to be so much fun. She would see her cousins and share stories about their school and what new things they learned. She and her cousins would herd sheep, make traditional fry bread. Oh how they all missed the taste of mutton with blue corn. She was fourteen and ready to embrace her native life all summer. She would ride her horse in a group with friends. They would ride to the trading post and treat themselves to a little candy. At school candy was not allowed. It’s bad for the teeth the students were told.
The girl was interested in teeth and one day she decided to be a dental assistant. The dentist at school let her help sign students in for check-up’s. She saw students in pain, but the dentist fixed the problem. I want to help people, she smiled to herself.
She rode home in her parents’ buckboard wagon. The trail was long and rough. When she left home to attend school, she cried. Now she could smile. I love learning she said to herself. Home is great, but I want to return to school.
She slept in her hogan home for the first time in many months. She woke and could smell the coffee bubbling on the fire outside. Her spirits soared, she ran outside to find her favorite horse. His name was Cloud. He was the color of a cloud full of rain. She took a long ride. She returned home happy and out of breath.
Come here her dad said, I want to tell you something important. Yes father she answered him in the Navajo language. She was very obedient as all Navajo children were taught in those day. Her dad always looked stern but she knew he had a soft heart. Tomorrow there is going to be a wedding. You will marry the person we have chosen for you. Her father’s voice was soft but stern. Then he said your traditional clothes are ready. In the morning clean your hair and wipe your teeth, and he said your new moccasins are waiting. The girl could not believe what she was hearing. She could not think for the pounding of her heart. She wanted to tell her dad of her dream to be a dentist helper. She wanted to help people in pain. But her culture forbade her talking back at a time like this.
The next morning she readied herself. There waited the moccasins. I will not wear them she said to herself. I will wear my school shoes. They are so pretty and they are called saddle shoes.

Many people arrived. The butchering of sheep started early in the cool of the day. The cooking fires would soon be ready to prepare the feast. People were happy. Everyone was greeting each other. Soon the medicine man arrived. The girl hung her head as she entered the teepee. She did not want to be here. Oh, Great Spirit help me, she prayed. The feast lasted many days. At last, the young couple was alone. I will find a way to make him hate me she said. I will burn the bread, I will act ugly to him, he will leave. But he didn’t. She was not a wife; she would not talk to him. She felt mean and hateful.
One day he said something that made her stop in her tracks. I hate Christians he repeated it twice. Right then she got a bright idea. She knew some people that were Christians. She went to them just to spend time away from him. As the months went by she started hearing about God’s love. She was feeling sorry for her attitude toward her husband. The months went by then one day they both accepted Gods calling on their life.
They learned to read the Bible and grow up in His grace. The years flew as they raised their family. They decided to start a Bible class and over the years many Navajo people found Jesus as their Saviour.
A note from Sylvia Webb…..
A teenage grandson of this couple also has a calling on his life.
Pray for “Riley” as he learns to share the Salvation story with his Navajo people.
Riley has been a sponsored child since he was small.
With Much Love and
Appreciation,
Sylvia and Sylvia