LVM Outreach Department and team – Farmington, New Mexico … Nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate fellowship with one another at the La Vida Mission* (LVM) in Farmington, New Mexico, at their local Christmas tradition, the Annual Community Christmas Fiesta, December 13.

Located far from the city and without much entertainment or big stores, malls, or other places to visit, La Vida Mission attracts gatherings and events among the local community providing source of joyful experiences and merriment in the community, especially during special seasons such as Christmas.

The Community Christmas Fiesta was prompted by the joy of community gatherings and by their love and desire to continually serve their friends of the Navajo Nation and neighbors and share with them the love and gospel of Jesus.

The services offered during the Fiesta include a free flea market, door prizes, spinning wheel prize, and games. Food bags, snacks and refreshments, and a Christmas lunch were also provided.

For this flee market, the school gym was filled with all kinds of goodies from groceries and food goods to clothes, shoes, bedding, and various household items. There were even small appliances and furniture to the delight of attendees.

A Food Court is run at the event that served the people non-stop and the door prizes were something those in attendance looked forward to as well. Organizers of the event were grateful to have enough door prizes for everybody.

There was also a much-anticipated propane give away of which 135 attendees received propane refills. This giveaway is truly a blessing during this cold season.

This Community Christmas Fiesta was blessed by donations from churches within the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) through the efforts of Pastor Mike and Cathy Kissner of the RMC Community Services Department,** the Navajo PRIDE NAPI (Navajo Agricultural Product Industry), and Bimbo Bakeries USA. Organizers of the event also want to thank the families, friends, and even a La Vida staff member who donated financially to help with the event logistics.

Dr. Robert Gardner, the newly elected La Vida Mission board president, with his wife, Kimone, have made several trips from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, during their weekly clinic at the Mission and, on many other different occasions, to deliver support for the Fiesta. They not only led in the health spinning wheel prize corner but also brought and donated most of the door prizes.

The guests at La Vida Mission always ask organizers where they get all the people who come to the events because all they see is barren land and a few houses here and there when they drive to La Vida. You may not see them but they’re there, they’re here, and yes, they do exist, so La Vida Mission and its local Seventh-day Adventist congregation can continue to share the love of Jesus to them.

* Please note that LaVida Mission is not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) nor the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.

** The volunteer efforts of Mike and Kathy Kissner were not in their official capacity at RMC.

—LVM Outreach Department team and VJ Panganiban, La Vida Mission Church outreach director, and his wife, Beth. Photos supplied.