We finally did it. We visited missionary friends whom we’ve supported for years. Did we have to purchase tickets for flights, make sure we had current passports, and receive special vaccines? Nope.

We simply drove to this third-world-type nation located less than two hours east of Phoenix, Arizona. We arrived at the San Carlos Apache Reservation with two cars full of donated food and toiletries, very little compared to the need we saw.

The lack of nearby job opportunities, transportation, and other factors have led to rampant poverty. (Unemployment is above 75%.) Small homes filled with thirty family members of multiple generations is typical. Many houses have no electricity. Alcoholism, illegal drug use, abuse, poor health, suicide, and gang activities are common.

But in the midst of all this, there is hope. In 2002, Dale and Diana Lawrence, with a lot of help from God, started Arizona Reservation Ministries in Globe, Arizona. The goal of their team is to “come alongside the San Carlos Apache Nation so that they will know of God’s great love for them.”

This is done through outreach ministries to adults, children, and youth. They have a program for building homes and also work hand-in-hand with the churches on the reservation. Meeting the physical needs of people leads to meeting spiritual ones, and is done with intentionality and much prayer.

In Galatians, Paul writes that the one thing the church leaders in Jerusalem requested of him was, “[C]ontinue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” (Gal. 2:10).

May we also eagerly “remember the poor.”

If God puts Arizona Reservation Ministries on your heart, there are many ways to help. For specific prayer needs, ways to give, information on short term ministry, or for more about ARM, go to https://azrez.org/.