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