Faith in the Almighty by Pam Wilson

Over the Thanksgiving holiday Ron and I, 10-year-old Stephanie, and Jack Wells traveled to Pinon, AZ, to attend a wedding. Racheal and Leslie Tsosie were renewing their wedding vows with a formal ceremony they weren't able to have the first time. Leslie built a new arbor for the reception and when we arrived, he was designing a heart- shaped archway for the background of the tent where the ceremony was to take place. The wedding was beautiful and the food was delicious and plentiful for the 75-100 people that attended. It was interesting seeing the pit they had dug for 16 turkeys to be cooked overnight. Ron took the pictures and the video of the ceremony. Jack offered the blessing on the food and I was asked to help serve at the reception. This was the shortest trip we've ever taken - arriving on a Friday afternoon, going to the wedding on Saturday, and heading home Sunday morning so Stephanie wouldn't miss much school.

Every time we travel to a reservation, I realize what an honor and a privilege it is to be allowed to go there. But I also remember my very first trip, my trip to Pinon. I had just started attending church in December of 1993, after 20 years of going "the way of the world." Ron attended with me on Sundays, but he was not a member. In April, I heard about a week-long series at the New Jerusalem branch on Indian ministry and felt we should attend. I was hoping to get Ron more interested in the Church. It was at these meetings that we heard about the Navajo Reunion; but I didn't know when it was going to be held. It sounded exciting and I knew Ron would want to go, but I knew he wouldn't mention it because I had a problem. For 10 years I had suffered with panic and anxiety attacks and couldn't ride in a car for very long at a time. Still I pondered and prayed about the reunion. Ron was baptized in June, and in July, I finally got enough courage to make a phone call to check on the dates of the reunion only to find I had 2 weeks to make a decision. We were invited to attend an orientation meeting, and a good sister I had never met before approached me and asked if I was going. Without going into detail, I just told her I didn't know if I could handle it. I'll never forget her words as she looked me right in the face and asked, "Where's your faith in the "Almighty?" That gave me something to think about.

We signed up for the reunion and every time I would feel anxious about going, I would put it in the Lord's hands. Then I would feel a peace and joy and know we were supposed to go. We were so excited the morning of the trip. We got up, packed the car, had a road prayer and then wondered what time it was so we could log our trip. It was only 3:00 AM and off we went. The second morning going through Albuquerque, NM, I felt a panic attack coming on. I said a prayer, remembered my faith in the Almighty, and it went away. I've never had another one.

It was at this first reunion that I met Racheal Tsosie and her family. We became very close that week, and have kept in touch by mail and yearly visits ever since. Her family became our family and we wouldn't have missed their wedding, even for such a short trip.

I'm thankful to our Heavenly Father for the blessing I received; for the healing that has made these trips possible.