Welcome to Patrick and Molly Gary, the newest members of the Lutheran mission’s growing staff.

Molly’s role will be in the mission school where she will be working with our excellent teachers to coordinate curriculum planning and special services for the students. She has been a professional in elementary education for 25 years. She comes by her talents naturally. Molly’s father was a revered high school agriculture and biology teacher for his entire career.

Patrick will be working in the office to streamline our bookkeeping systems, train future new employees, and to create brochures, videos, and other media for fundraising and general communications. As a long-term, small business owner of an award-winning marketing communications firm, Pat brings practical experience and fresh ideas to our mission office team.

We know our friendly community will welcome the Gary’s to the mission and Rock Point!

Molly Gary

Thank you for welcoming us so warmly to this community. Being here is a long-held dream come true. As mentioned above, I have spent my career in education at almost every level. I started in higher education as a Director of Housing and Student Services and at one point I briefly taught high school while another teacher was out on leave. My passion though has always been at the elementary level. Who wouldn’t love all those hugs! I’m so happy our students will be back in person this year. I can’t wait to meet them!

In addition to teaching, I share my husband’s love for music. We really enjoyed all the live "concerts in the parks" when we lived down in the Phoenix area. I also love to read, travel around the United States, especially California, watch movies, and keep up with our children, grandchildren and extended family.

I’m very much looking forward to learning from all of you about your foods, customs, natural remedies and traditions. Please don’t ever hesitate to introduce yourself if you see us. We would love to meet you!  

Patrick Gary

Even though Molly and I grew up in the northwoods of Wisconsin, I want to share, with you, my long-held love of the Colorado Plateau. I can think of no more beautiful land that I have ever travelled through. Last week we visited, too briefly, Monument Valley and Canyon De Chelly. We will be back there again, soon — and many more times in the future. Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon also call us with their deep connections to human spiritual souls. And, as you know, they are only the beginning of the treasures this land holds for those of us fortunate enough to call it “home”.

Along with music, history, geography, and meeting new people — my passion is distance running. Recently, I achieved 10,000 beautiful miles logged in the past 15 years. I've crossed dozens of rivers on my runs including, last month, the headwaters of the Missouri, Mississippi, and Wisconsin rivers. These days you are likely to see me in the mornings crossing the Chinle Wash bridge and putting on a few miles "out back" of the mission or behind the community school. I look forward to waving "good morning" to you if you're in the neighborhood!

Try Reading the Bible in Navajo (Diné)

Háálá Diyin God éí nihokáá' dine'é t'áá íiyisí ayóó'ájó'níigo bąą haye' t'ááłá'í há yizhchínígíí baazhníłtį́, áko t'áá háiida boodlą́ągo baa dzólíhígíí éí doo ádoodįįł da, nidi iiná doo ninít'i'ii bee hólǫ́ǫ dooleeł.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave up His only unique Son, so that whoever relies on Him shall not be lost but have everlasting life.

(Translation from Navajo to English)