Dear praying friends,

We sure enjoyed all the Christmas cards and letters again this year. We do not do a Christmas picture anymore now that there are no children at home – maybe we should start sending pictures of our adorable grandchildren. Speaking of which, we are happy to report that there are two more on the way. Rex and Shawna and James and Eryn are both expecting late summer. We had a wonderful time together over Christmas – we all met at Davey’s in Des Moines, Iowa. We got stranded on the way home in Tucumcari NM for nearly two days but made it home safely.

We are still short of staff but God gives grace to carry on. A young lady from California is coming in a couple of weeks so that will help and Doug and Jeanne Crabb are planning to come for the month of March. We still could use more short term help – even for a week or two – especially in the area of maintenance or in the bus barn. Keep praying that we won’t get sick – especially the three bus drivers. Also pray for Ranson Tom’s back, that he won’t experience too much pain. He is to have surgery at some point.

We had a nice group of students from Cedarville University here Jan 1 – 6. They did some really special chapel times for our students. Then on Jan 12 a kids choir from Korea came by and did a wonderful program for us. We expect several more groups throughout the spring. These are always an encouragement and blessing to us and the students. Pray that students will respond to the gospel message presented.

We are progressing nicely with the career development center plans. We are researching buildings and getting quotes at present. A group from Littleton, Co. is planning to come in early June to erect it. We will probably offer classes in the fall of 2008. We still need teachers for this program. Auto shop and wood shop.

Ruth and the ladies are ministering to about 20 Navajo ladies through the weekly craft class. Pray for solid relationships to be built and that many will then come to the ladies conference scheduled for Jan 26 and 27. Ruth is also getting the hang of her new job as bookkeeper and actually enjoying it most of the time. Thanks for praying for her in this.

Our new computer lab is finished and a great learning center for our students. We have 15 pretty good computers but need about 10 more to be fully equipped. Thanks to all the youth groups and others that worked and gave to see this project accomplished. You can see pictures of it and many other mission happenings at www.drewnels.net.

Thank you for your prayers and faithful support of the mission work. It seems several adult Navajos are close to salvation so we are encouraged.

John & Ruth Bloom

New Year’s Day 2007

It seems like our lives are just a series of adventures. I don’t know if it is because just getting up and facing the day is an adventure, or because the Lord wants us to keep trusting Him every day.

We managed to finish our first semester at Emmanuel Mission only panting a little from tests, papers, programs, report cards and present wrapping. We were keeping a keen eye on the weather preparing our much anticipated journey back to Kansas to visit children, grandchildren and friends. However,keen eyes are not always enough. We ran into blizzard conditions coming off from La Veta pass and took shelter with some long time friends that we hadn’t seen for over 20 years. What the Lord will do to get the Lord’s people together to encourage one another!
We finally did reach home and had a delightful Christmas with our family. But now getting back seems to be the problem. We are still in Garden City troubleshooting bad weather and car trouble. Just now Darrel came in and said, “Let’s go.” So I will update you later. If you read this on the first or second, be praying for us!