Vander Wagen

Sadly, we are a generation all too ignorant of history, particularly local history. Count me among them. Of three prominent local names, Miyamura, Munoz and Mossman, one wonders how many local residents could muster any knowledge of historical significance regarding those names. I would strike out on Mossman.

For the more than two decades that we have lived in the area, we have made countless trips to Zuni, always passing through Vander Wagen, New Mexico. I knew the name only as that of early Christian Reformed missionaries to Zuni, the name of a large extended family, a couple of whom I have had the pleasure of knowing. And I knew those first Vander Wagens would be described as “colorful.”

That pitiful amount of information happily was fleshed out over a recent long weekend in which I read the story of Andrew and Effa Vander Wagen. Wow—what giants, what characters, what champions!! Our community needs to know just a morsel of that story. They are worthy of this column—indeed much more!

Thankfully, a granddaughter of Andrew and Effa, Elaine Thomas, who with her husband runs HalonaPlazaandThe Inn at Halona Bed and Breakfastin Zuni, has compiled a 275 page self-published account of the life and times of her grandparents. Titled “Prayer Warriors,” it was a page-turner—picturing the hardship, the devotion, the contribution of these amazing people.

The Vander Wagens came to Zuni in 1897. This was yet the Wild West,as dozens of their stories confirm. While much of their tale deserves to be told, we have room only for one aspect of their work. As I read through this fascinating narrative, I became so impressed with what the gospel, burning in their hearts, compelled them to do.

Immediately, they were impressed by the industrious nature of the Zuni people—“the women at home, the men on their little farms and out with the stock…we found a self-supporting tribe…” When Vander Wagen found a broken hay mower, he promptly ordered the parts from the East and fixed it, helping to harvest more efficiently.

He offered ideas in agriculture, finding better breeding stock. And he was a skilled horseman, passing on his knowledge to his new neighbors. He and his missionary colleague from Ft.Defiance made windows and doorframes, patterns used in the village ever since. He longed for a blacksmith, a carpenter, a farmer to come and help him.

As was so often the case, the missionaries were the first to bring Western education. In Zuni, the Presbyterians started the education system, but due to lack of funds, had to give it up. The Vander Wagens were early on part of the process, both the formation of public schooling, and the formation of the now hundred year old ZuniChristianMissionSchool.

Mrs. Vander Wagen was a nurse—and for some years, the only trained medical person in the village. In the winter of 1898-99, there was a small pox epidemic. The Vander Wagens went from home to home, administering medicine, teaching good health habits, fumigating houses. Andrew would ride horse to Gallup to pick up medicine, which the doctor planted 5 miles south of Gallup so there was no human contact. 450 Zunis died that winter, while a 1000 convalesced. In their decades of service in Zuni, one wonders how much sickness was cured and lives saved because of this courageous nurse. Indeed, the first hospital in Zuni was started in 1929 in the church parsonage.

Which raises another interesting aspect of the story—in the fall of 1903, a Dr. E.J. Davis arrived in Zuni. Alas, a full-fledged Harvard-trained doctor! But there was one matter that soon became an issue—he was African-American! And the sad truth was that he was not allowed to live in Government buildings, or stay in Gallup hotels. As I hope you could by now anticipate, he lived with the Vander Wagens, who lost some Gallup friends in the process.

These stories go on and on—including the building of the first bridge in Zuni which was tackled by Vander Wagen and his brother Dick. But these samples were selected purposely—to demonstrate yet again that it was the Christian missionaries who were so often at the forefront of health care, education, economic development. And so it is all over the world.

It is not an accident that around the world the majority of hospitals, and the early schools had Christian roots. Yes, think about that the next time you go to RehobothHospital in Gallup, or Sage in Ganado, or Presbyterian in Albuquerque. Why is that so? Because the gospel calls Christians “to give a cup of cold water in my name.” (Matt. 10:42)

Andrew Vander Wagen said it well in 1897: “I have always thought…, build them up materially and physically, and so build a channel through which the Lord of Hosts would let His Spirit pour and pour.”

Two tasks—call Elaine Thomas for a copy of the real deal, 505-782-4547, or email .

And the next time you travel through Vander Wagen on your way to Zuni, give thanks for a couple of legends, Andrew and Effa.

Ron Polinder

Executive Director

RehobothChristianSchool