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November 30th, 2008 From: Solomon Sun - 4th Grade Teacher For the 4th through 6th grades, this year will be filled with a PE schedule that is targeted at maximizing their physical wellness and enjoyment. Each week these grades are met with the challenges of keeping themselves in shape and recording their progress.
Physical education has been something that I have wanted to be involved with and incorporate into my teaching since early on in college. It has been a blessing to see how God has prepared me to work with multiple grades and push them to stay healthy and active.
Each class begins with a list of warm-ups that are laid out on individual progress charts they carry with them. Students are being timed to complete a target goal and record it. This allows me to look over their growth on a weekly basis and record it as a measuring tool. Many, if not all are very excited and involved in doing this. This type of recording gives them the responsibility of seeing where they are in their fitness. Beyond that, we have a wide range of interesting and physically challenging units. These include throughout the fall: volleyball, soccer, floor hockey, football, indoor games, and my favorite, basketball.
One of the main principles about physical education that I desire to stress is the learning and developing of mind and body for lifelong, healthy living. That is what I emphasize PE gives you. We are learning new and old sports related activities that can be used to prevent weight-gain and high-blood pressure, while at the same time increasing the confidence and ability levels of my students.
Throughout the rest of the year I hope to continue a program that gives students the courage and motivation to work hard and keep: Fitness, First.
November 27th, 2008 From: Esther Yazzie - 3rd Grade Teacher When I started working here as a teacher I thought I was going to teach for just one year. But, after a year went by I decided to teach again. I knew this would allow me to enjoy getting more acquainted with the Mission School and Community. I can’t believe it is my fourth year teaching here. This year I am teaching the 3rd grade only, which is great. I have a wonderful group of nine students eager to learn. There are seven boys and two cute little girls. The boys are very talkative and all my students have talents that show in class.
It’s great being around young scholars as they remind me of my self when I was young. When I was a little girl my parents taught me lots of things at home in our own language. Some of the things my parents taught me were: names of the month, days of the week, four seasons, four cardinal directions, and most importantly, my Diné clan and how I am related to others who have the same clan group as mine. My parents used to tell me about Diné history like the Diné Long Walk that occurred in the 1860′s. This year I thought about teaching some of the things I learned when I was young. So, at the beginning of the school year I asked my students if they were interested in learning about some of the things I had learned when I was their age, and they all said “yes.” They especially liked that we would learn about the different clan groups and how they are related to each other by clan. After school started we learned about clans and kinship, and found out that in some form of relationship by clan we have sisters, brothers, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. in one classroom! As a class we found joy and comfort in knowing that there are kin members we learn lessons with, eat and recreate with at school.
It’s a wonderful feeling to know my class and that wherever I go I will find a relative. It’s very unique. Now I know I have lots of relatives living in the Sweetwater Community. Now I really feel like I am at home. It makes me feel great and joyous to be here at the Mission School, and I can feel the Spirit of God.
November 24th, 2008 From: Lula Tom - Bus Driver Hello. This year I am switching jobs to being a bus driver. I started the school year in the kitchen, but have now transitioned to only bus driving. It’s been fun in the kitchen and I had it down to a T. But I think driving a bus out here on these bumpy roads will be fun too. Gerald Harvey is now taking my place. He has been in there before so he will be at ease. We had a good summer and school is in full swing. Please pray for the Mission that the Lord will continue to provide for the school and staff and for His protection.
November 21st, 2008 From: Rebekah Allen - Science & Language Teacher My original plan for this school year had included a teaching position in a large, busy, urban area. Life here at Immanuel Mission is about as opposite from that plan as could be possible! I am enjoying living here in the “middle of nowhere”–I have never lived in a place where the night is so still, and the sky so clear. And yet, contrary to this appearance of peace, I am daily reminded that Satan is indeed roaming nearby and seeking souls he may devour. Pray for the protection of these students; the battle raging for their allegiance is strong.
Before moving to Immanuel Mission in August, I was amidst graduate school life in Kansas. Within this current switch from being student to being teacher, I know I am still the one doing the learning. My school day at Immanuel includes classes of Science, and high school English and Spanish. Pray that these classes will not become times of learning mere fact, but times for the students to consider cause and affect, widen their view of life, and evaluate where they are headed.
I see that my 33 students are no different than a group of urban young people–they face the same choices and struggles. These students possess a wide range of diligence, creativity, tenderness, and caution. Some appear fearless and controlling. Some are orators, others artists. They are all able to inspire me, and also drive me completely crazy! God continues to grow my love for them–another affirmative that He has directed me here to Immanuel. Pray that I will be aware of the students’ needs, and not focus solely on the visible and urgent.
Pray that God will move mightily in the hearts of the high schoolers. Pray for the leaders within these peer-groups to lead in healthy ways. Pray specifically that those students who are Believers will take initiative and leadership roles and influence their classmates for good, that God will become more real in their daily life, and that they will build on their faith and be encouraged.
During the last month and a half together, both in the classroom and outside, the students and I have shared good conversations, and many hilarious situations (usually at my expense); we have also shared many frustrating days. How good it is to remember that God is working in all events, not only the situations I can see. Pray for both my patience and theirs as we continue getting to know each other and learning to trust. Pray that more opportunities arise for us to spend time outside of class. Pray that I will be a venue for God to show Himself to these young people.
One specific part of my normal day has become lunch hour with the 5th and 6th grade girls. It is a refreshing and royal treat for me to spend time with these precious young ladies. Pray that God uses it to benefit their lives as well.
Daily, I am thankful and excited that God has brought me here, to witness what He is doing and become a part of it. Thank you so much for praying.
November 18th, 2008 From: Willard Shannon - Maintenance Man Hi I’m Willard Shannon. I first learned about Immanuel Mission in ’04. In ’07 I came down and volunteered for two weeks. In between the time I came down in ’07 until now the Lord has been working in my life urging me to come to Immanuel Mission to work as a handy man. It has been really neat to see how God has been providing and directing.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
I thank you all for your prayers.
November 15th, 2008 From: John Bloom - School Principal We currently have 86 students enrolled for the 08/09 school year. There are 6 seniors and 10 new kindergarteners. We have 54 elementary, 8 junior high, and 24 high school students. We have 17 school staff members with 3 new teachers (see their articles elsewhere in this newsletter). Gerald Harvey is the new school cook. Lula Tom has switched to full time bus driver. Our retention rate is 92% which is very high for mission schools. Students like to come to school here for a variety of reasons, but, of course, we believe that God has them here to hear about Him. Please pray for our new staff, for safety, and that souls will be saved. We see signs of good things in the upper grades with several of the seniors being bolder for Christ. We are fervently praying for revival in the school. Please pray with us.
November 12th, 2008 From: Cindy Lauersdorf - 1st Grade Teacher Hello! Many thanks to all of you who have come alongside of me and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord and all that He has put in my heart. I want to say thank you for your encouragement and your prayers. God is so good and so loving to us.
I had been praying (it seems for the longest time) about transitioning out of the post office in Scottsdale and back into teaching but wasn’t clear about which direction to go. Thank you to all of you who were praying about it right along with me! As I found out more about Immanuel and had the opportunity to visit and meet the people there, my heart was more and more drawn to this little place where they had also been praying for a first grade teacher.
Of course it was a process and an exercise of waiting on the Lord to see what He would do. There were many things that needed to fall into place before I could leave, the biggest one being a need for a good renter to take care of my home in Scottsdale. It seemed that at the last minute of having to pack up and leave, God provided the right person. However, He actually intervened the weekend before I left putting it on my heart to do a background check on a potential renter. God protected me from what could have been a rental nightmare. I thought at that point in time perhaps it was His will that I not go but he provided another (responsible) renter at the 11th hour. The Body of Christ also came and blessed me tremendously before I left, helping me prepare the house with woodwork, plumbing, painting, cleaning, packing, and loading the truck. These are the kind of brothers and sisters in Christ who even helped me clean up after I spilled a half gallon of paint all over the living room floor! My dear friends, Carl & Barb, and Neil & Teresa drove the Penske truck all the way to Immanuel Mission with me and helped me unload and unpack. We were met by a youth group from Oregon that was here helping at the Mission who also helped out with the unloading process. I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God – the Body of Christ is truly amazing!
I will truly miss the tremendous fellowship and supportive relationships at home but am excited to get to know those who are a part of the Body of Christ here at Immanuel. We are One Body in Christ.
Please pray that I would keep my eyes on Jesus. No matter what is going on in our lives, whether delivering mail or teaching first grade, or whatever it is that the Lord has given us to do it’s too easy to be so involved that we get our eyes off of Him – Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God, the One who holds all things together, our Creator and Sustainer, our Savior and Provider, our Comfort and greatest Friend, the One in Whom we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, the One who is the Author and perfects our faith, our Redeemer, our Peace, our Rock and Fortress, and Help and Healer and Shepherd and…everything we need for life and godliness. He is good! His desire is to reign in our hearts in all of our circumstances and minister His Life and Peace and Love when our eyes are fixed on Him and our ears open to His voice. Let’s keep calling on Him. Thank you for your prayers.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in Christ Jesus with lots of love.
November 10th, 2008 From: Kelli Wilson - Junior High Teacher I love the month of November for several reasons. One being that November means that December is almost here. November brings winter–I woke up this morning with snow on the ground. November also brings Christmas music. And November gives me the hope of going home for Christmas soon. Those are just a few of the numerous reasons that I love the month of November.
October proved to be a fun month as well. Around the middle of October, the first nine weeks of school ended. We rushed to get everything done and improve grades before the end. Open house was on the 21st. All in all I love open house time–it feels so festive. I met with a few of the parents of my kids and we were able to discuss grades and learning and all that teachery stuff.
After the nine weeks were over, we needed a crazy week–before we all went crazy. So last week we made Piñatas in geography in conjunction with the High School Spanish classes. We also made a movie of Peter’s escape from prison in Bible class. In English, we started Literature Circles–which is new to my kids. It was nice to do some things that were out of the ordinary. Now we are back to the same old, same old, tried and true learning, but every now and then we’ll switch it up again. This week we are writing a blog as if we are Paul at Lystra and Derbe.
In my last newsletter, I mentioned the need for prayer for a particular student. I very much appreciate your prayers. I wanted to let you know that in the last week and a half, I have seen a major difference. She is beginning to interact with her teachers, is smiling in class, and she is even trying a little in her homework. I praise the Lord entirely and am anxious to see her grow even more in the next few weeks.
Life here at the mission is going well otherwise. The weather the last couple days has been fun. The wind has been blowing the warm weather away. Last night I heard thunder and what I thought was rain, only to wake up to find snow. Of course it melted away by lunch time, but it is still quite cool. Right now I am sitting in front of the fire and am torn about the need o leave it. Tonight we have our cooking class. Gerald, our school cook, has been offering a cooking class on Wednesday nights as part of our craft class. It has been a fun change up. Tonight is freaky Wednesday where everyone brings their own recipe. Wednesdays are quite busy as we also have our Navajo class. Greg Staley, one of our seasoned missionaries is teaching a Navajo language/culture class for the newcomers. I am really enjoying it. It has only been a few weeks, but I already know more than I ever thought I could. Yet I still only know a handful of words and have troubles understanding what I am saying. But I am learning–and that is what it is all about.
November promises to be an equally fun month. The busyness of the season is about to hit full swing. I am also looking forward to Thanksgiving break even more so than the kids. I pray that all is well with you and I would love to hear from you. I do thank you so much for your prayers.
Much love, Kelli
November 9th, 2008 From: Hannah Barr - 2nd Grade Teacher Greetings from Immanuel Mission! My name is Hannah Barr and I am the new second grade teacher. I am very excited to be here and I know that this new endeavor is a part of God’s plan for my life.
I grew up in Longmont, Colorado and had just moved back after spending a year in Europe working at an international school. I had decided to live in Denver and pursue a career in social work, which is what my degree is in. After many job rejections and months of frustration, I started to wonder if this was what God really wanted me to do. In the meantime, John Bloom was visiting my grandma’s church in Phoenix. After speaking about the Mission, my grandma had a feeling that this would be something I would really enjoy. She called me in Colorado and got the answering machine. I received her message that night and ignored it. I know, I know, I am a bad granddaughter, but I was tired of hearing everyone’s ideas of what I should be doing. I chose to ignore the message and continue in my fruitless job search. A few weeks after my grandma left the message I was baptized at church, which was a big step for me in my spiritual walk with Christ. That afternoon after I was baptized, my grandma called me and told me about the Mission. I knew immediately that this was what I wanted to do. God just had to prepare my heart in order to reveal His plan! Just three weeks earlier I was not ready to listen to Him. I am thankful that He did not give up on me, and here I am as proof.
I am so excited to be here at Immanuel Mission. I had never taught before and was quite nervous about the first day of school, but God was so gracious and the first day of school couldn’t have gone any smoother. I have six beautiful children in my class and I can’t wait to get to know each one of them. It is so thrilling getting to teach God’s word every day to these young minds. Last week I was teaching them about Moses parting the Red Sea. They asked many questions and one of them asked, “Did that really happen in real life?” And I got to say, “YES, yes it did. What I am teaching you is all true!” They all looked amazed that something so incredible could happen in real life. Not only do I get to teach God’s truth to these children, but I get to see their reactions to it, the reactions of children that have not grown up in Christian homes and may be hearing many of these stories for the first time. Sometimes I forget how incredible these Bible stories really are. Then I see the face of a student after I tell him that God parted a sea and I am reminded of God’s awesome power!
God has already been providing for me in incredible ways. I pray every day that I can be an example of His love to these children and to anyone I come into contact with here at my new home. I look forward to becoming a part of this community and getting to know the people that live here. Right now I feel like I am reading a book and constantly absorbing new information about the culture and the people. I want to learn as much as I can about the people I am hoping to impact. I feel incredibly blessed to be here and it is very clear that this is where I am supposed to be.
November 3rd, 2008 From: Ruth Bloom - Office Manager There are no gas lines to the Mission (or phone lines, or mail delivery, or trash pickup). We all have tanks of propane outside our homes and huge ones for the school. I call and order a truck to come and refill them when they get low. When the prices for propane went up I was tempted to call the bills profane! Please pray with us for the Lord’s provision. We are not allowed to have a partial order without an even bigger per gallon price. So we must order the whole truck and put it in various tanks. We had to order for the school tanks in August. The bill came to over $6000. It has been exciting to watch God provide this need. Many have given more than usual to help cover this added expense. We are so thankful to God and to you.
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