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October 30th, 2008

Converting to Diesel

From: John Bloom - School Principal

Immanuel has been bussing students to school and home again for 29 years since the dorms burned down in 1979. We have always used gas busses. Our yearly gas bill is around $20,000. Gas busses are getting hard to find because since about 1995 the industry has only manufactured diesel busses. So last year we made the decision to go diesel. We bought two diesel busses on eBay for around $1,500 each which was a huge savings over previous purchases. We have been pleasantly surprised that even though the price of diesel is higher we are saving lots of money because the diesel busses get better gas mileage than the regular gas busses and they take less maintenance. We believe that the diesel busses will pay for themselves in the first year. So, we would like to purchase two more. They come up fairly regularly on eBay but we do not currently have funds for bidding on one. If you would like to contribute to this project indicate your gift is for the “new bus fund”.

John has been on staff with his wife Ruth since 1988. He is an executive board member of the Mission, the mission staff administrator and elder at the church. At the school he is the principal, teaches high school math, science, physical education, and Bible classes and is also a bus driver. He coaches the volleyball and basketball teams. He also recruits new staff and coordinates the summer youth teams.

October 11th, 2008

October Newsletter

From: Kelli Wilson - Junior High Teacher
Dear Friends and Family,
Have I mentioned the wind that we can get out here?  Today was a particulary windy day.  I left the house to head to school this morning and was nearly blown awway.  I was a bit sad because I had planned to  want take my class on a hike.  Well I was a bit bummed because it is Friday after a long week and I didn’t want to do work any more than the kids did.  Well school began and I noticed one of my girls was wearing stilleto heels.  Even more conformation that we shouldn’t take a hike–right!  Did I listen? No!  I mentioned to my kids that I was planning a hike but they probablly wouldn’t want a hike today.  My girl said that she could go change schools and the rest said they wouldn’t mind the wind.  So we went for a hike up to a mesa close to the mission called Table Rock.  When we got to the top we had trouble standing straight up because of the wind.  By the time we got back we had sand in our eyes, teeth, hair, ears, and who knows where else.  But it was nice to get out of the classroom for a while.  It was the first hike that I took my kids on and with the weather starting to get cooler, I didn’t really want to skip it.  So that was my adventure for today.
Anyway, the school year has got off to a great start.  We are taking a leisurly pace through the book of Acts in Bible class.  On Monday, we will begin Acts 6.  My kiddos have already learned I Corinthians 15:20-23.  They are now tackling Proverbs 3:1-6.  In Math, we are plugging along at a fairly quick pace.  That was one of the reasons for the hike today.  Some of my kids are working so fast that I’m afraid we’ll be looking for things to do come April.  In Geography we have already memorized the 50 states and abbrevitions and 25 state capitals.  We are now working on Canada.  The first bookreport is due next week.  I’m a bit concerned that some might have a heart-attack before we get through this next week!
I would really appreciate prayers for one of my students.  She and I haven’t connected yet, and I think that she might be going through some rough things in her life.  Anyways I would really like your prayers in knowing how to love her in a way that she can hear.  Thanks for all your prayers.
In Christ Alone,
Kelli
Kelli has been on staff since August 2007. She taught 1st Grade during her first year and now teaches Junior High.

October 7th, 2008

News from Lula

From: Lula Tom - Bus Driver

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Immanuel Mission. School is well underway. We have about the same amount of school kids this year, that is, 85. I think the only real new ones are the little kindergarteners, they are a big class this year, 10 compared to last year’s 6.Well this year I started school as the cook of course and now I’m a bus driver. Over the summer break I was getting ready for my CDL license. I didn’t realize how many things were involved with getting a CDL. First I got my CPR training, then my physical exam and drug test, then my driving and written tests, which John Bloom and I drove down to Holbrook, AZ in one of the buses for, he was also my instructor. We had to make two trips down there because they wouldn’t give me both tests on the same day. I also had to do a pre-inspection check on the bus, which was really the only one I was most concerned about. In other words I had to know everything possible about that bus, engine, brakes, suspension, tires etc. With a lot of prayer I was able to pass all of my tests. Then I had to get a drug screen and be fingerprinted which I had to drive to town for three times, and all of this gets sent into the public safety and a background check as well, and I was thinking I’m just a little ole bus driver from Immanuel Mission. It turned out I had to get another drug test done, the wrong one was done, and so I was beginning to think ” maybe I’m not suppose to be a bus driver” because it started to seem like everything was not coming together. Then finally I got the go ahead from Phoenix. So I started driving after school and cooking in the mornings and lunch, I had wanted to do this up to Christmas break and thought by then I should know if I wanted to drive in the mornings as well which meant leaving the kitchen, but we volunteered to watch our grandkids Michelle (3) and Braedynn (18 mos.) so my becoming a full-time bus driver I am able to watch them during the day and still be able to work and help be a bus driver. Right now we have three bus drivers, two of them already teachers. I’ve adjusted well to this new job and I am enjoying my route, and every once in awhile the kids get a little bit hyper, but they are good kids, they know me and I know them.

Ranson is still working in the bus barn. He did have a helper for awhile last spring but he decided to move on to another job. Ranson still has back pain but he is coping with it and is a lot more careful doing jobs. Awhile back he had applied to be a kidney donor for his brother David, and finally got some paperwork for him to get some tests done to see if he would be able to help his brother. I will keep you informed about that.

Our boys Matt and Jeff are doing well in school. They play varsity football. Jeff is the starting quarterback and Matt is the running back. Although Jeff fractured his growth plate on his left wrist the third game into the season, he was so disappointed. He will be out until Oct. 17 game. The doctor looked at it two weeks ago and said it is healing very well. He can’t wait to play again. Matt is a senior this year, it’s his last year to play football and so he’s savoring every moment. He wants to join the marines after graduation. As his mom, I am a bit hesitant to encourage him, but it’s what he wants to do and so I’m trying to be good about it.

Our oldest son Brian is working still in Cortez, Co. He and the kids’ mom are trying to work things out; they are hoping to get back together. For awhile he had been staying with us and driving to work from the mission but it got to be too expensive gas wise. He is currently staying with a friend in Cortez. He had been coming to church with us on Sundays and now since he moved back to Cortez, he doesn’t go. Please pray that he would meet someone that could invite him to church.

We still want to build a house someday. We got our 1 acre from the tribe, but we still need to get an archaeological clearance survey done on the site, that is to scan the area for ancient ruins or burial grounds. That is something the tribe will not pay for so we haven’t been able to get it done yet. Were hoping by next spring it will be cleared. It seems to be pretty safe but it is a requirement by the tribe to have that taken care of.

This year the mission staff is well equipped. Thank you for your prayers for staff. We have three new teachers one from Phoenix, Denver, and Kansas, all young ladies. Cindy, Hannah, and Becky. Pray for them that they will be at ease here, its always hard for new people to adjust to the mission, away from society and being secluded out here.
Finally, thank you for your continued prayers and support always.

Love,

Lula Tom

Lula has been on staff since the Summer of 2001. She is a bus driver and has also been the school cook in the past.