SUPAI, Ariz. — More than 20 years ago, the last set of full-time missionaries left the pristine canyons surrounding this remote Native American village.
Now, Elder Frank Jasper and Sister Patricia Jasper — Alaskans — regularly greet people from the front porch of the LDS meetinghouse with a smile and hand wave. They were called as the first full-time missionaries in two decades to the reservation nearly one year ago.
"We were shocked when we opened our call," Sister Jasper said. "It was a little interesting."
Supai is remote. Only two ways are open to the town of Supai: an 8-mile trail or helicopter. The only vehicles in the town are tractors or Kawasaki Mule utility vehicles. Supplies and mail are brought in daily by pack animals Monday through Friday. They can be seen leaving the town early in the morning, making the three-hour ascent to Hilltop, Ariz.
The Havasupai operate a mail pack train. Each piece of mail sent from the reservation bears a special postmark to this effect. Most residents leave and enter the canyon by helicopter. By helicopter, it's only a five-minute ride from Hilltop to the landing field next to the cafe. Tourism provides the main economic base for tribal members, with jobs in various tribal-run enterprises like the lodge, tourist office, cafe and grocery store. Federal programs, such as housing projects and the clinic, provide most of the jobs. A resident doctor, supplied by the military, provides both outpatient and emergency services. If an emergency occurs, a helicopter from the Arizona Department of Public Safety can be dispatched to lift someone out of the canyon.
The people of the Havasuw 'Baaja Tribe are known as people of the blue-green waters. Their tribe has always inhabited the Grand Canyon.
In 1919, when Grand Canyon National Park was created, the tribe was restricted to 518 acres. Since then, through a series of petitions to the federal government, the tribe has added 251,000 acres to the reservation.
Elder and Sister Jasper serve in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission, the same mission where their son served about 30 years ago. Their calling is for one year and Sister Jasper said it is going to be hard to leave when their mission is over.
"I love the storms," she said. "Especially when the water comes cascading down the cliffs."
The Church has a building that is reminiscent of early buildings outside of the United States. The Jaspers live in a room in the back of the Church building. There is the main area that serves as both the chapel and cultural hall and two other rooms for meetings or other activities.
The Church worked with the Havasupai Tribal Council for a long time before it could get a building on the reservation, Elder Jasper said. "The building space is very limited."
LDS Church members from the Kingman Arizona Stake and also from Prescott, Ariz., combined to renew Church building and missionary efforts about two years before the OK for the building was given. The building was made possible from volunteer labor and materials.
It wasn't an official chapel until Elder and Sister Jasper arrived. The white building that once looked like another home was given a steeple and an official Church sign.
President Scott H Charon of the Kingman Arizona Stake, told the Deseret Morning News two years ago that much of the credit for renewing activity in the Havasupai Tribe goes to Doug Angle, former first counselor in the Peach Springs, Ariz., branch. Peach Springs is the nearest town to Supai, about 60 miles away on the Hualapai Reservation.
Brother Angle began by organizing service projects and helping Supai residents fix up their homes and yards. Through his efforts, Church members began to identify themselves in the village. At the time, others had expressed interest in hearing Church lessons and some had been involved in the old Indian Student Placement Service.
Elder Jasper estimates there are some 60 members on the reservation. The tiny branch has an attendance that ranges from four to 18 each Sunday. Attendance normally is determined by the time of year and events that are happening both on and off the reservation. It is an extension of the Peach Springs Branch.
Tiny Hanna was among the first baptized members of the Church in the early 1970s. He was baptized in Havasu Creek and for a time he served as a branch president.
Brother Hanna has a problem with his eyes and recently had laser surgery. He attends Church when he can but sometimes has a hard time making the trip of about two miles across the reservation.
The Church is waiting on approval to have a transportation vehicle to pick up and drop off members for services and activities. The tribal council decides and assigns everything, Elder Jasper said. The tribe numbers about 630 people, according to the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. It is governed by seven elected tribal council members who serve two-year terms.
President Charon said Church President Harold B. Lee visited Supai in the early 1970s.
"President (Gordon B.) Hinckley is personally interested in what is going on here," Elder Jasper said.
Sister Jasper tutors children in English and Carol Rogers' two sons regularly attend. Dalbert Jr., 12, and Dayton, 14, are also two of very few deacons on the reservation.
While Dalbert Jr. speaks to his mother most comfortably in Supai, he does not shy away from learning English. He works with Elder and Sister Jasper six days a week to improve his reading comprehension.
"We spend quite a bit of time tutoring," Sister Jasper said, "teaching them how to read."
Elder and Sister Jasper said their work mainly consists of service and being a presence. They do get the opportunity to teach missionary lessons and about once every other month, the elders come to proselytize for a day.
"We've have a really good response (from people toward the Church)," Sister Jasper said. "It's getting better all the time."