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September 28th, 2009

September Newsletter

From: Kelli Wilson - Junior High Teacher
Eccl 3:12-13 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
I found these verses a while back and they were such a reflection of my heart at the time. As you know a new school year has begun. I am still living and working at Immanuel Mission teaching Jr. High.
I spent my summer visiting family, resting, and spending several weeks at Kansas Bible Camp. It was a great summer. I enjoyed working as a counselor and even speaking at a couple girls’ camps. We had a family reunion which always equals tons of laughs. Overall, it was a great summer.
However by the end, I was tired of living out of a suitcase and was very eager to get back to my own bed. When getting back to the Mission, there was no time for rest. I immediately had to begin preparing for the new school year. This is my first year to repeat what I had taught the year before so I expected to find it a bit easier to prepare. And in a way it was. But I am also teaching new Bible lessons, American History instead of Geography, and I have created a reading class for 7-12 grades for the last 4 half hours of the school day. So, not quite as easy as I was hoping. But I found that as I worked, I was totally enjoying it. I had to make myself quit to eat and go home to sleep. I would work several hours straight and not even notice the time passing by. It was as I was preparing Bible lessons that I found the verses above. I truly believe that living here at the Mission and teaching Jr. High are gifts from God. I enjoy every bit of it and I owe all my thanks to Him.
I want to take a minute to thank all of you for your prayers and to give you some specifics on what to pray about.
  • I have a huge (comparatively) class with a couple of students that are new to our school. As we go through the Old Testament in Bible class, pray that the gospel will be presented loud and clear. Pray especially for MH, RH, (boys) and VT, SD, and GD (girls).
  • Pray for our staff. Pray that we would be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Pray that we would not grow weary or lose heart.
  • Pray for students who are struggling and/or eagerly participating in addictions.
  • Pray for the families of staff. For many of us it is hard to be so far from home where difficulties are going on and we are unable to help.
  • Pray for the finances of the mission. God has always been so faithful to provide what we need, when we need. He often tends to give us an opportunity to stretch our faith right before He provides. Will you pray with us and see Him provide in ways beyond imagination?
Thank you again for all your prayers and support.
In His Care,
Kelli
Kelli has been on staff since August 2007. She taught 1st Grade during her first year and now teaches Junior High.

September 27th, 2009

Staley Times

From: Kathy Staley - School Counselor

Dear Friends and Relatives,

It is nearing the end of September, and the first month of the school year.  We are also feeling a definite change in the weather which tells us summer is really over.  My morning glories in the front yard aren’t near as glorious.  Actually, they are mostly dead with only a few brave souls blooming on yellowed vines.  The air is cool and our electric blanket is looking quite inviting.
There are 80 school children this year.  Greg has six 11th and 12th graders in his shop class.  They’ve worked on small engines, done some welding and body work.  That seems to be going well and the guys kept interested.  None of these young men have strong Christian father *role-models, and our prayer is that as Greg represents a man who loves God and is devoted to Him, a lasting impression will be made in these lives.
Kathy continues to talk with kids in a counseling setting.  It didn’t take long to once again encounter the very real temptations kids face today.  There is such a deep need to know someone cares for them.  When they don’t feel that, they often turn to alcohol abuse and other destructive behavior.  We staff here tell…and tell…..and tell of God’s love for them, but only He can make it real.  I’m so glad He wants to and will.  I just pray they will be spared painful consequences from poor choices as they try to find their way.  The Bible usually speaks of yeast in a negative way, as in a little sin affecting everything it touches, but I like thinking of our influence here with the Navajos as spreading yeast in a positive way.  Yeast makes wonderful breads.  What would in its absence be flat and heavy, with the yeast becomes full and rich and delicious.  There is encouragement in knowing that today we sprinkled a little yeast into lives and that yeast will do what it is intended to do.  God’s got His hands on some lumps of dough and plump loaves are coming.
*[I just reread this letter and had to change my spelling of role-model.  I had it as "roll" model.  Maybe that fits better with this yeasty theme though]
Greg has been training HARD in order to run the Grand Canyon with our son Matthew.  The run is Oct 10, so there aren’t many more days to get in shape.  While miles and endurance and keeping himself from injury fills his head, Kathy’s (my) head is filled with gathering the proper clothing, deciding what to take and what to leave, and reading everything I can get my hands on that relates to the places we will be going in Israel and Jordan.  Oh, and did I mention, slimming down so I don’t look like a dead whale floating on the Dead Sea?  The trip is Oct 16.
The next time I write I hope to get help in inserting pictures (of Israel) so the letter is more attractive.  Thanks for bearing with me on this one.
It’s all about God,
Greg and Kathy
Kathy has been on staff with her husband Greg since 1972 when they came to Immanuel Mission, Greg returning to his childhood home and Kathy joining him. They have done various jobs over the years–dorm parents, bookkeeper, school cook, Bible teaching, maintenance. Fourteen years ago, they moved off the Mission compound and out to a Navajo home. Their current ministries are co-pastoring the local fellowship and serving the community, which includes home-building, auto repairs, home repairs of every variety (that would be Greg). Kathy spends her time with School Counseling, one-on-one Bible Studies, and ministering to an elderly neighbor.