-SAN JUAN MISSION TODAY-

 -SAN JUAN MISSION TODAY- 

by Mark B. Bradford

As Stalwart pioneers gathered together, the “San Juan Mission” was their call,

Selected families organized to get going, before summer changed into fall.

Bringing together belongings, loading up wagons with needed supplies,

Simple was their strong faith in church council,
seeing their unified effort through spiritual eyes.

Bringing animals and livestock; horses, chickens, and cows,

The journey laid before them, constituting uncharted and eventful miles.

They traveled together very wisely and were willing to help carry each other’s loads

All persisted in staying humbly happy, for these pioneers had a call to build new roads.

Willingly they prayed daily, for the guidance to protect and defend

Their families, tasks, and belongings, even for their new found friends.

Adults constantly taught children lessons, of learning in all of their new chores,

Blessings or miracles attended them often, through travels, from heavens open doors.

Some nights called for long reflections; on all the daily sacrifices, efforts, and pain

Of their treading through relentless elements of hot sun, harsh winds or soaking rain.

Encountering the roughest of elements, might cause blisters in minds, bodies, and hands,

But properly enduring trials or tribulations, earns intelligence which continually expands.

Their opportunities, trials or blessed outcomes, became the history we tell of their past,

Repeated for generations with reverence, something that will infinitely last.

The Ute, Navajos and Anglo learned to tolerate, then lean on each other more and more,

Accepting and then trusting each other’s efforts, as common goals became sure.

Now to sustain ongoing education, share language changes or religious beliefs,

We have to break down borders, boundaries and fences, and heed counsel from wise chiefs.

Regardless of our culture, living does matter, to self, God and mankind.

Today’s posterity of the Four Corner’s Region, receive refinement in their own due time.

Living is not just to make life easy, in comfortable choices of the best,

But is to build up and refine our testimonies, centered in our souls and firm in our chests.

Today’s San Juan people, battle the same elements of living with evil temptations or pain,

As we respect our lands we’ve always lived on, in making our livings and our gain.

A power hungry and distant people, trying to mandate for the rest of us all,

Seems to forget who pays the ongoing price, they lack legal respect or historical recall.

If we all look at the bigger picture, of who gets stepped on the most,

It’s the local common folks trying to scratch out a living, with no hidden agendas to boast.

Communities filled with multicultural neighbors, getting rejected causes bitterness and pain,

We all watch our own ancestor’s efforts being trampled on and be washed down the political drain.

With efforts going out to individuals and families, to unite through signatures or signs 
To protect our sacred lands and homesteads, we can make a political dent in our side of the line.

Those who fight 'Ol Scratch's battles, often scream loud as they profoundly boast,

But during the process we stay focused, on how lands brings us blessings, even from outside hosts.

Our mission from that first day to now, impeccably is still the same

We honor, respect, and protect our lands and heritages; with our souls, minds, and names.

With efforts going out to individuals and families, to unite through signatures or signs 

To protect our sacred lands and homesteads, we can make a political dent in our side of the line.

Our mission from that first day to now, impeccably is still the same 

We honor, respect, and protect our lands and heritages; with our souls, minds, and names.

Mark B. Bradford    8-16-2016