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November 22nd, 2007 From: - Management [from: Megan Thurston]
Hello everyone! Well, it has been an age since I've written, I think. I say "age" because my students and I are on a Tolkien kick. We're reading The Hobbit and will be reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy . Hopefully they are as prepared as they think they are! They seem to be enjoying the fantasy aspect…most of them are. For my poorer readers, it has been a little daunting, but they haven't given up and that makes me very happy.
Right now it is my break. I have a break every morning from 9-10. I should be finishing my grades, but it is so boring and slightly depressing! It is much more fun to write a note, drink some cocoa, and listen to Christmas music on my TV. My dogs are playing in the living room, except Sally who is sitting right next to me. My puppies have been very mature lately. No books, DVDs, CDs, or furniture has been chewed on for over a week, nor has there been any messes on the floor. It is indescribable how wonderful that is. I pray it continues. A friend, Kelli Wilson, has been helping me walk them in the afternoon after I get back from driving the bus. Kelli is our first grade teacher. She walks Sally while I walk Buddy and Barkley. Cassie, the tripod, isn't put on a leash unless she is in town. Her stopping and going is too much of a nuisance for her to be on a leash.
Well, now it is Wednesday. My students and I are almost finished reading The Hobbit. Next they will have to write a five paragraph essay about it. Reading, thinking, and writing…what a dangerous and daunting proposition!
We are definitely ready for a little break. I think school on Monday will be much more interesting than a normal Monday! I also hope that some students think about how much they really do like school and won't do anything foolish to jeopardize their position here. A high schooler was suspended yesterday for coming to school drunk. His dad is working and not at home, so U. drives himself to a bus stop or to school. So, he drove himself to school while he was under the influence! Our school is his last chance since he has already been kicked out of some public schools, kicked out for alcohol and drug use. Please pray for him and his father. Aside from that, school is going along normally. I am seeing tpyical amounts of affection and disrespect from the students. Yes, disrespect. Remember I teach teenagers!
I have a lot to be thankful for…plenty of wood for my stove, dogs that are growing up, classroom work that is getting done, junior high students that are getting excited about basketball and the holidays, and of course all the people that support me!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving, love, megan
November 12th, 2007 From: - Management [from Kelli Wilson]
Wow! October was a very busy month for us here at the Mission. Every weekend and many week nights we had something going on. As a result I have a very messy house—at least I like to blame it on that. The month kicked off with a Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) teacher conference down in Phoenix. I had a great time, was reminded of many things, and generally encouraged. I really enjoyed the family that put Megan and myself up. I also enjoyed getting to know more of my co-workers on the road trip. I also saw my first saguaro—very exciting! After the conference, Anne Denny went to Kansas to a wedding and she and a friend, Andrew Hawkinson, drove back a new bus for the Mission. We are very excited to have that and at the amazing way that God provided it. It was also a blessing to have Andrew here for a day. The next weekend we had a garage sale here at the mission. Since I just moved in, I didn't have anything to contribute. So Megan and I took her four dogs to a park in Cortez, Co. She thought it might be a good idea to not have them barking all day long. About the middle of the month, the mission hosted a Singspiration. Several of the area Navajo churches came together and organized a 2 ½ days of singing, concerts (local people), preaching and food (of course—lots of food!). It was a huge success. Many people were either challenged or encouraged through the weekend. That Friday marked the end of the first quarter and we had to prepare the report cards—a very scary and stressful process. Then on Tuesday we had an open house in which I got to finally meet many of my students' parents. It was a lot of fun, and amazingly I wasn't at all nervous—praise God!! The next weekend we had a work day here at the mission. We don't have a maintenance man this year so we took a Saturday to try and accomplish a lot of things. We cut firewood, winterized all the water coolers, changed furnace filters, replanted flowers, fixed chairs, and many other things that I've already forgotten. A family from Colorado came and helped out that weekend—it was so neat to meet them and see their desire to help out in whatever way is possible. Do you know of someone who might be interested in coming out here and being a maintenance man for a weekend, week, month, or year or more? The next week was Halloween. My kids definitely got sugared up even before they left school to go Trick-or-Treating. I left school early on Halloween to fly to Iowa for Elaine (my former roommate and best friend) and Eric's (another good friend from college) wedding. It was so wonderful to see friends again and laugh about old times. We had a great weekend, but not nearly enough sleep! Other than that, not much happened. I hope and pray next month's newsletter covers a lot less events. One thing I learned this month is that God definitely knew what he was doing when he created weekends—and they ought to be treated as sacred events. I very much enjoyed this Saturday!!! It was a great day of rest, time in the Word, time with friends, great food, and my house is so much cleaner!!! I pray that you can find time for a refreshing weekend or even just a rejuvenating hour or two!
In Him,
Kelli Wilson
November 6th, 2007 From: - Management [from Megan Thurston]
Well, here it is another school year. In fact the first quarter is half-way done. How is it possible for something to feel like it is taking forever, when you see that it is going by faster than you realize? No wonder junior high teachers are slightly "off"! At least, I am!
We have thirteen fun, goofy students this year. One student came all the way from Canada! Another student came back after living in town (Farmington/Kirtland) for several years. The rest are repeat business. I have three students who are not at grade level. Their language arts skills are between grades 3-5. Please pray for them to be encouraged as they work; please pray that I will have wisdom and patience to teach them. Some students are in that rebellious stage and are routinely obnoxious. Pray for them as well, that they will learn self-control. Please pray for my self-control too!
On the whole, this group of students gets along well and is helpful to each other. I pray that they learn more about following God this year, and that they become better thinkers and doers in general.
November 5th, 2007 From: - Management [from Anne Denny]
BAM! BAM! THUMP! BAM! Strum, strum, strum, plink, plink, strum, BAM! These are typical noises you hear each day in my new music room. I wish there was audio in our newsletters but you would probably hit the mute button as fast as you could find it so it’s just as well. I am having a great time teaching music again this year and especially love having my own room with a door that locks. The elementary grades get to come once a week to sing, play the bells, keep rhythm with sticks and look longingly at the pianos, guitars and trap set that I reserve for the upper grades. Then I get the older girls and boys for an hour each day while their counterparts are in PE. We can already accompany many praise songs on both the guitar and piano but our solos leave something to be desired. My goal for the students is that some day they will be able to use these skills to build up the local church in worship and enhance their own personal worship to the Lord. I’m thankful that the Lord appreciates a joyful noise but I don’t think we need to remain at the noisy gong, clanging cymbal stage in our musical development.
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