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December 19th, 2006 From: - Management "Hey! Unto you a Child is born!"
Do you also need to be reminded? Isn’t it easy to get caught up in the tyranny of the urgent? Life has gone by at a pretty frantic pace these past few months. I know many of you pray for us here at Immanuel Mission and already know that we are low on staff this year. We lost several close friends who have moved on to other ministries. The Lord has provided teachers, but a "first-year" can never quite fill all the gaps left by someone who had been here for years. I continually find new ways to miss the Niningers and the Douglases as we prepare for each outreach and think, "Well, Leona (Dave, Jerry, Debbie) always did that."
I’ve been teaching 4th grade again, and enjoy the kids. I teach one hour a day of high school math and love that. Each morning I drive the bus and average 2-3 times a week in the afternoon. I love the children but am not as eager for snow as I once was. I’m not the best (read adequate) at getting up a canyon road in the dark when it is slippery.
We were busting out of the library last night at our ladies get together. About 25 of us decorated cookies for Christmas. There were several good conversations about the Lord as we sat together enjoying sugar and each other. I so love these people and long for them to commit to Christ. Their lives would be so much better with the Savior. This is something I shared with the high school kids recently:
Today is the day of salvation. I’ve heard sermons encouraging people to trust Christ today because they don’t know what tomorrow may bring. There are stories of people who left a Gospel meeting and were killed in a car accident on the way home. I don’t think most of us believe we will die tonight even though we know it could happen. The reason for the urgency of turning to Christ is more like this quote from the movie, When Harry Met Sally. Harry runs to the New Years Eve party to find Sally and proclaim his love for her: "It’s not because I’m lonely and it’s not because it’s New Years Eve, I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." That is why we are so eager for others to trust Christ today. It’s not because they might die tonight or He may return before they choose Him. It’s because when you know what abundant life with Jesus is like—full of love, joy, and peace—you want it to start as soon as possible.
Praise the Lord for coming to us; for wooing us and drawing us to Himself. Isn’t He good? I can’t help but rejoice that He chose me. And I want everyone I love to know Him too. Enjoy Him today and live happily ever after.
Merry Christmas,
Anne Denny
December 15th, 2006 From: - Management WHERE’S KING HAROLD?
That’s what my three-year-old grandson asked when positioning the characters in the Nativity scene I sent him. He loAoked at each piece and then said, "Hey, where’s King Harold?" A good question, actually, considering this King claimed to be interested in worshiping the Child.
Let’s see, this is the time to look back at 2006 and recount all its happenings. I’m finding that a little hard to do, not because I’m growing senile (at least I don’t think so) but because the years fly by and there aren’t a lot of stupendous events to write about. For that, I think I’m grateful. Also, I try to keep you updated on Staley Times every few months along the way so at year’s end I, for the most part, have already shared with you what has gone on in our lives.
Last December, we had Christmas with our neighbors here, then one in Phoenix with two sons, then another in Spokane with our other son and his family. Great times together. While in Spokane we got the great news that we were going to be grandparents to another little one. Our son told us the exciting news while driving us from the airport to his home. He mentioned, "oh, by the way, we are expecting again" in much the same way he might have told us that they were getting a new crockpot. And from the back seat, came "What?", not sure I heard right. It wasn’t that Jonathan and Robyn were not enthused about adding to their family, but concerned because he had chosen to quit his job just then and get training to be a Lineman. They weren’t feeling very financially secure at the time. Now, a year later, they have wonderful stories about how faithful God is. How He has been totally Enough for their needs.
In March we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. I could tell hundreds of stories there too about the faithfulness and ‘enoughness’ of God through the years.
We took our neighbor kids to California in the summer and had a wonderful time with these precious two at Disneyland, at the beach, at my sister and her husband’s home, and in particular, their swimming pool from which we had difficulty extricating the kids. We don’t have much water out here in the desert and they were like fish, unable to get enough.
Most of the month of August was spent in Spokane awaiting and then enjoying the arrival of little Lillian Louise. I am NOT being a prejudiced Grandma when I say that she is the most beautiful little girl ever. Her two older brothers adored her from day one. I got to be with them for three weeks helping out as I could. Greg got to come for a few days when we celebrated Jonathan’s 31 st birthday. Micah, the three-year-old mentioned earlier, wanted me to play his video game alongside him. I love games but couldn’t really get the hang of using the joystick to make figures on the TV run and jump and fight enemies. Anyway, at one point, exasperated Micah said, "Grandma, one of us needs to drop out……You really aren’t very good at this."
In October I got to go to a Ladies’ Retreat in the Bay Area. Getting away and surrounded by loving sisters was a real spiritual high for me, and I came home with a new enthusiasm for being a part of what God is doing here. A couple of Bible Studies resulted.
For Thanksgiving we went to Denver and enjoyed our youngest son, Matthew. It was wonderful seeing the Inner City ministry that Matthew works with. He would love to do this full-time if the Lord leads. He works with minority kids from the Projects and there is such great needs.
Those are bits and pieces that I can remember, but what really fills my heart today are not those individual happenings. I want to tell you what a wonderful Companion God is. Day by day, when nothing momentous was going on, He was there. The days and weeks when Greg was bombarded with jobs to be done, constant demands, and the spiritual needs of the church and community……God was there giving patience and strength and love. When our Bus Mechanic was discouraged and quit……God was there pouring out his grace. When our 85 year old neighbor didn’t want to get strong after her hip surgery and wanted someone to care for her around the clock; when she required many trips to town to the Orthopedist; when she was unhappy and complaining……God was there. When many of our staff family announced they were leaving and we questioned if/how we could continue…….God was there.
Well, now we are nearing the end of another year. Our focus is Jesus. Jesus stepping into earth to rescue us from our mess, to give us back all that had been lost. Jesus, come to be our constant Companion through this life, supplying all our needs. We see this little baby surrounded by people who are amazed at him. "Hey, where’s Kind Harold?" He isn’t there because to him Jesus was a threat, not the Greatest Blessing ever. He wasn’t a worshiper. I want to be right there, don’t you? Looking intently at God Himself, wanting to understand the implications in this simple scene, wanting to respond in love and worship.
As this year ends please know how your love and prayers and financial support have enabled us to be here. A lot of the time we don’t see clearly what God is up to but we do know, as we experience it daily, that God came as a Baby at Christmastime…….and He is here.
With love,
Greg and Kathy Staley
December 13th, 2006 From: - Management Hey everyone!
I think the last time I wrote Isaid that you would get a letter in the mail. Well, I wrote it and it should be in the mail this week along with a another letter!
Life is very cold here. THis morning it was ten degrees. Yesterday the high was 38 or something like that. It’s very unusual to so cold all day long. Usually it warms up to 50 by the middle of the day. The dogs are loving the cold, and they love coming in by the fire. Right now I am only using my wood stove to heat the house, but I may turn on the furnace and set it at 60. I’m saving so much money that I am reluctant to turn the furnace on because I’ll just start using it more and more.
We are still short staffed! We would love to have people come for one to four weeks and do maintenance or help in the school with tutoring. We also could use another teacher that could teach fourth grade or some high school math. Ranson Tom also needs help in the bus barn. Maintenance jobs include getting a furnace and putting it in the new place and doing some tiling there. If you are interested in helping let me know or contact John Bloom at 928-674-3616 extension 14.
Right now I am not sure that I will be coming back for Christmas. Between the weather in the northwest and my back which has been hurting since October, I am nut sure I’ll make the drive home. I know I won’t be making a decsion until December 19. Please pray for wisdom.
I hope your Advent time is wonderful and you are all thinking about the real meaning of Christmas.
love, megan
November 10th, 2006 From: - Management (Lorena Herbert)
Often neighbors will come to the Mission to ask for our help. Many of them ask for money, others for a ride back to their home. Some will ask to borrow our vehicle to go to town for appointments or family parties. Still others will ask us to help them with physical labor. We ask our Heavenly Father for wisdom to know how we can continue to meet the needs in our community.
We have an idea that we hope will help them and us too. We plan to call it Community Financial Assistance Program. This program will be open to those who are in need of money. They can weave Navajo rugs to receive the money they need instead of getting money from one of us without earning it. They usually say they want to borrow money but mostly they don’t pay it back.
This program can work with your support. I would like to ask if you would like to buy a Navajo rug. You can order it from our program. I would oversee the weaving of the rugs. Each person would be paid for the work they complete. I would keep in touch with you and mail it to you when it is finished. We want to teach our community that they also can give to others as we give to them.
Here are a couple of things I’d like to share with you.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. I say, time to give and a time to get.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 – NIV)
“Solomon had conducted an exhaustive survey of all the activities, employments, and pursuits that God has given to man to occupy his time.” (Believers Bible Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:10)
October 10th, 2006 From: - Management We want to give you who donated school supplies a big THANKS for the wonderful things you sent. We especially liked the atomic classroom clocks that have their time automatically set to the second.. A signal from somewhere in Colorado resets them each night. We got all the supplies we needed. Things that weren’t sent in boxes were purchased with money that some folks sent to fill in the gaps. We are very grateful for your support. We don’t want for anything at this time and have what we will need for the rest of the year. We are praising the Lord and thanking you, His servants.
Ruth Bloom
October 8th, 2006 From: - Management Well, here it is another year at the mission. New school year must mean a new house, right?
I decided last year that I would not move to a new house; after all, moving every year is a real pain in the neck. In nine years, I have lived in six different houses here…what a record! In July, when I returned home, it was very nice being in my "old house". However, by the end of August, itchy feet and restlessness attacked me in my cute cottage-like house. Hmm, I could save money in a smaller house. Hmmmmmmm, Dave and Leona’s trailer (Dave and Leona Douglas returned to Washington state last June) has a wonderful, big yard. It would be just right for my two dogs! Hmmm, it is a nice and cozy house.
"John, could I move into the trailer?" the words just came out of my mouth. Now about three weeks after talking to John about it, I am in my newest house. The yard is just right for my dogs, Cassie and Sally. I don’t know yet if the house will save, but in the long run, I am confident it will. I know, though, that God will meet all needs as He is always faithful to do..no matter where I live!
Now, what house could I move into next?!
Megan Thurston
October 6th, 2006 From: - Management Ya’at’eeh! This is my second year teaching first grade on the Navajo Reservation. I have enjoyed teaching the children and playing with them, but what I really enjoy is listening to them. They say the funniest things! There is such a big difference between how a little kid thinks and interprets life and an adult…it makes me wonder if what I think I am teaching them is actually what they are learning. Here are a few amusing tells from my secret story vault.
- A little girl raises her hand. “Yes?” “Ms. Jessica, I had a dream last night.” “You did? What was it about?” “I had a dream that I was AN INDIAN! I had my face painted and everything!”
- A student and I were standing on the front porch looking out onto the Reservation. (Home of many Native Americans) “You know what would be cool Ms. Jessica?” “What’s that?” “If there was Indians still living out there!”
- We have a toy Indian in the toy box. During free time, one of the children grabbed the toy Indian and raced over yelling to the other Navajo first graders, “Who wants to be the Indian?!”
- “Time to clean up. Put your notebooks away.” “Is it recess time?” “Yes it is.” Talking to the other boys around him: “It’s time to be talkin’ with the ladies!” Giggling: “Yep, we’ll be talkin’ with the ladies!” A chorus of boys nod their heads and chuckling say, “Talkin’ with the ladies!” –I am guessing that the phrase is off a movie …other then that I have no idea where that came from. All of my first grade boys are into super heroes. One day they were sitting around a table discussing which super hero was the best. One child argued against Spiderman saying, “Spiderman is cheap! He’s got a girlfriend!”
- I was cleaning our new fish tank when the questions began. “It that the fishes new home.” “Yes it is.” (Slightly giggling…when the little giggles start you know something is up) “Are they [fish] going to move in?” “Yes, when I get the tank cleaned out.” The giggling is getting a little louder. “Are they going to move in their suitcases and clothes?” Giggles turn into laughter. “Well, if they had any.” “And their TV and dresser?” Now laughter has turned the class into hysteria. Now I am speechless. Their laughs are so cute it makes me laugh with them…even though I don’t understand why it’s so funny to them.
- Since getting the fish tank I have had trouble keeping the fish alive. I placed 2 big fish and 3 little fish into our new tank. Less then four hours later they died…the toilet burial was held at 8am in the boy’s bathroom. A day later I got a sucker fish, which I thought would be hard for me to kill. Less then 24 hours later it died. One of my little first grade girls went outside to the playground monitor reporting very seriously, “Ms. Jessica keeps killing our fish!”
I am so blessed to be able to teach first grade at Immanuel Mission. It has been a lot of fun and a wonderful learning experience. The children are such a joy and I love being a part of their lives. Thank you all for your prayers. I know that God is using many people to accomplish His work out here.
Jessica Williams
October 4th, 2006 From: - Management My name is Melissa Meinzinger and I am the new Kindergarten teacher. I am 29 years old and for most of my life, I have lived in Michigan, near Detroit. I grew up at Dearborn Chapel in Dearborn Heights. I attended Emmaus Bible College, where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies. I have worked with kids over the years in a lot of different capacities; babysitting, counseling at camp, and teaching Sunday School, but I did not originally intend to teach. However, this past year, I had the opportunity to work at an education program for children with Cerebral Palsy. It was an amazing experience that showed me that I really did want to teach children. The Lord had been prompting me about serving Him here at Immanuel Mission, so after praying and seeking some wise counsel, I asked to be commended by the chapel to teach Kindergarten. I am excited about the opportunities to serve here. I currently have 10 students in my class, and we have been in school for four weeks. I have had the opportunity to meet the parents of a few of my kids.
Teaching here has been a learning experience for me. In some ways, my kids are like many other kids I have worked with. They have the same need for attention, the same desires to have friends and have fun, and the same wiggles when they lose focus or want to go play. But many of my kids have little experience with the Lord, so I have had to start from scratch teaching them about Him. I answer questions like “who is God?”, “where is God?” and my personal favorite, “does God love superheroes too?” (I really had a student ask this!). They also have had little to no discipline, so I really have to work with them at obeying the teacher and classroom behavior. It has been a challenge, but the Lord has been giving me strength along the way. Barely a day goes by that I don’t feel Him helping me along during the times that I feel out of answers or unsure of how to handle a situation.
There is also a ladies craft group, so I can get to know the ladies in the community. I am praying that the Lord gives me the chance to reach the people He puts in my life here and that I would be able to clearly share the gospel with them. I hope that I will be able to serve Him well out here. Though I have only been here a short time, I have already felt the prayers of those at home and would sincerely appreciate your prayers too. I would appreciate prayer for strength and wisdom as I am a bit overwhelmed by all there is to get done and adjust to. Also finding/making time to do all the planning is a struggle for me. I would greatly appreciate prayer about these things. Thank you for your support in prayer!
In His Name,
Melissa Meinzinger
September 25th, 2006 From: - Management Can you teach two old dogs new tricks? Apparently. We’ve threatened to come here for thirty years, and we finally decided to silence the skeptics.
For those of you who don’t know us, I’ll give you the quick run down. Darrel and I met at the Colorado Springs Christian School in the early ’70′s and were married in December of ’74. I had grown up in the mountains of Colorado and gone to school at Colorado State in Fort Collins. Darrel, on the other hand, was a Kansas Farm Boy who had gone to K-State, gotten an Engineering degree, worked a couple of years as an engineer, gotten involved with the Navigators, did his 2-year stint in the army, and then decided to become a teacher. When he began teaching at the Christian school, he would take a group of kids to Immanuel Mission during spring break. Darrel was an elder at the Westside Christians Assembly.
We had five children, and eventually, we took them to live on the farm where Darrel grew up in Kansas. Darrel worked at Central Christian School in Hutchinson, and I stayed home and nurtured children. We had many years of happy fellowship with the folks at the Hutchinson Gospel Chapel and saw our kids grow enthusiastic about the Lord at Kansas Bible Camp.
But now our birds are all out of the nest, and we are looking for adventure. Darrel, at age 72 has been retired from teaching for about six years, but missing it. So he agreed to try his hand at the junior and senior high science classes. I, who am not quite sixty, feel I’ve got a few good years left. I have taught off and on at various and sundry levels and subjects over the years, and so I have been assigned (or should I say, I have volunteered) to teach high school English and geography, high school art, and take care of the library.
We are adjusting well. It is so nice to walk to school and to church; the walk for exercise is like "being in a calendar" (as Miss Becky would say), the neighbors are very friendly, and the kids are a lot of fun once you get to know them. The store, however, is a goodly piece. We thought that might help on the budget, but since we go less, we just spend more when we do go–unfortunately.
The hardest part was leaving our kids and grandkids behind. Grace, our five year old, cried herself to sleep after we left. Oh my goodness! I guess that’s about the only suffering we’ve done as missionaries. There are many delightful people praying for us, working for us, sending us stuff. It’s almost too much! Thanks to you all.
Love Darrel and Barbara Valdois
September 24th, 2006 From: - Management School Data
Prayer Items
We are encouraging retired couples with appropriate skills to come for a few weeks or a few months to help with maintenance. Contact John Bloom at 928.674.3616 (ext.18 daytime) ( ext.14 evenings)
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