A White Horse Named Christ

It all started with the "white horse named Jesus":

In the middle of a discipleship class I was teaching last semester, Joey suddenly shared with the class that he had a vision (while reading Revelation) of horse racing....and the white horse was Jesus.  So he wanted to buy a pure white horse and name it Jesus....like the white horses in the book of Revelation (7 and 19).  And he would put the white horse in the race and since its name is Jesus, it would win all the races.  And then he would give all the winning money to the church.

           To say that I was caught by surprised was probably an understatement.  This discussion of "a white horse named Jesus" then slow evolved in the next 45 min. into a whole discussion of the pro and cons (and Christian views) of gambling, drinking, and yes, even prostitution.  Of course, the context of the discussion centered around life on Indian Reservation.  You see, Joey was part Indian (on his dads side from Mexico) and was married to a native American Indian from Sycuan.



            I didn't quite remember how the discussion ended, I only knew that I was restless afterward.  After a night of reflection and prayer, I wrote an e-mail to the whole class and apologized for my inner attitude while carrying on the discussion.  I felt that I was judgmental and unfair.  I am not an Indian.  I did not grow up on a reservation.  I did not experience the historical trauma that the Indian have lived under for generations.  Basically I have talked, discussed, and made judgements out of my total ignorance. 

            I asked Joey to educate me if he would.  I would be willing go to the reservation and learn if needed.  After all, most discipleship process happened outside of the classroom.  Thus began my very unexpected journey into Campo Indians lives.  I met their (woman) Chief Monique La Chappa who is also a Christian.  I worshiped at the small Protestant church on the reservation and visited with the pastor and his wife.  I toured the reservation and saw the wonderful Wind Farm program (income other than gaming).  I listened to the struggles, hardship, and hopes and dreams of the life on one of the poorest Indian Reservation in Southern California.

             Chin-Lee and I thought of how we can do to help, especially in improving their lives without using the gambling money from the Casino.  Later on, Joey started talking about organic farming, and a community garden.....a way of life that is more consistent with Indians tradition, respecting, protecting and sustaining the earth.  Through some interesting developments, I somehow become the one drafting/writing for a grant to build such community/cultural center on the reservation. 

             On Sept. 29, the letter of inquiry was completed and submitted to the Yocha Dehe Community Fund.  You can go here to know more about the Campo India.