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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
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