By Marj Evans-de-Carpio and Donna Fisher

On Monday, August 21, the sun goes dark for a few brief minutes in a path across North America. What a moment to reflect on our dependence on this glorious source of light and power! Solar Oven Partners (SOP) shared solar cooking experiences in Arizona last month and now want to tell Dakotans about new options for mission based in sunshine.

Advisory Board member and Zealand workshop supervisor Dave Silbernagel had been thinking about areas for SOP ministry expansion. “I was looking at where in the United States do we have extensive sunshine. Arizona is full of it and being down there in the winter months, I [thought] that ovens in the lower part of Arizona would work year around.”
Photos courtesy Solar Oven Partners: In Arizona: SOP Director Marj Evans-de-Carpio, Charlie Schnabel, Dave Silbernagel, Joshua Krumm, Lorna Jost and Rick Jost.

In July a small team (Silbernagel, SOP Director Marj Evans-de-Carpio, Rick and Lorna Jost, Charlie Schnabel, Joshua Krumm) led an exploratory building and teaching mission to at the invitation of FaithWorks-Flagstaff Area Christians In Mission for Navajo families.

FaithWorks Executive Director, Rev. Glen Allen, is a long-time acquaintance of former SOP Director Rick Jost. Rick became friends with Glen at missionary training during the summer of 2000.  They were commissioned United Methodist Missionaries for their respective ministries that fall. Dave says, “I have a great hope that we continue on with the Arizona program—it's very promising.”

Photo: SOP Advisory Board members Dave Silbernagel guides Navajo seminar participants in oven-building.

Marj Evans-de-Carpio shared a positive assessment of the exploratory mission: “It seems that this is the beginning of an on-going relationship! The need on the reservation is real, even though in the USA.”

“Homes are very remote and many do not have utility services ...or reliable transportation, making going out to purchase propane a problem even if they had the money for the propane, which is yet another issue.  So, the solar ovens were a very welcome idea,” says Marj Evans-de-Carpio.   Photo: SOP director Marj Evans-de-Carpio works with Navajo women to construct an oven.

Marj says, “We had a great time getting to know our new friends, both the Navajo and the FaithWorks team!”
Photo: Lorna Jost helps women place a variety of foods into solar ovens to be cooked.

Dave Silbernagel says his main reasons for exploring SOP mission opportunities in the Southwest includes opening safe and affordable solar oven experiences to youth. “I think [some feel that] our out-of-the-country missions…would be putting our youth at risk with their safety. An Arizona trip would not require passports or any of those things. Our trip cost participants about $400 each—that’s well within the reach of a church to take a group of kids.”

“I was impressed by the cooperation and camaraderie during the food preparation,” Charlie says. “We were told to expect the Navajo to be quiet and reserved in their interaction with us. They seemed to quickly warm to the tasks and us.”  Photo: Charlie Schnabel and Ian, a young seminar participant, prepare pizza for the solar oven.

The words of veteran SOP team member Charlie Schnabel hold an invitation for Solar Oven Partners no matter where the teams go. “The excitement when the cooked foods are taken out of the ovens seems to be much the same whether we are in Haiti, the Dominican Republic or Arizona. The words may be different, but the smiles and emotions exhibited are the same. It seems to be a wonder to behold in their eyes.”

To inquire about being a member of a Solar Oven Partners volunteer team, contact Marjorie Evans-de-Carpio via e-mail here. The next trip to the Dominican Republic is scheduled for December 4-15. Invite Marj to share SOP possibilities with your congregation.

Go to solarovenpartnersumc.org to learn the many ways you can donate or volunteer.  Follow Solar Oven Partners on Facebook for more pictures and stories.