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December 10th, 2008 From: Kelli Wilson - Junior High Teacher “Miss Kelli, I thought you were going to be my teacher!” This is a statement that I hear the first graders make to me several times a week.
At the end of last school year we knew that we were going to need a Jr. High teacher with Megan going back to Washington. Over the summer it was decided that I would jump up a few grades and teach seventh and eighth grade. Cindy Lauersdorf from Phoenix came to the mission with several years of teaching experience in first grade. So I volunteered to teach Jr. High; quite a change from first grade to say the least. However, I really do enjoy Jr. High.
These first few weeks have been a time of figuring things out–the students figuring me out and me trying to figure them out. The first week or so was a bit rough. One day I started geography class with the question, “So, who thinks yesterday’s lesson was insanely hard?” Jumping from 1st to 7th grade, it feels like my kids know soooo much more than my first graders. And it is true–they do know so much more; but I’m finding out that there are still a few things left for me to teach them.
I have 8 students in my Jr. High class. Four seventh graders and four eighth graders. I teach them in the mornings for the first four hours. We start out the day with Bible. This year we are going thorough Acts to Revelation with the main focus for the first semester on the book of Acts. Second hour is math. With such a small class I am able to do individualized math with each student working at his or her own pace. Third hour is World Geography and fourth hour is English. In the afternoons I manage the library for the younger grades. Each class K-6 gets half an hour a week in the library. I get to read stories to them and help them check out books. It is fun for me and it keeps me in the elementary scene too–which I also enjoy.
This year is full of changes–but they are all from the Lord. I really enjoy teaching Jr. High. I will greatly appreciate your prayers as I get to know my students. Pray that the Lord will give me an unselfish love for each individual in my class. Also pray for the salvation of several of my students and growth in the Lord for others. Thank you so much for you diligence in prayer–it means so much.
December 3rd, 2008 From: Melissa Meinzinger - Kindergarten Teacher Hello everyone. Thanks for all of your efforts, collecting and sending in Campbell’s Labels. I have taken over as the Campbell’s Coordinator here at the Mission, and I am amazed at how many come in! We banked thousands of points last year! Here are a few updates on things we are doing with the Campbell’s program: We are no longer sending in any lids. It actually costs you, and then us, more money to send them in then we get towards supplies, so they are just not worth it. We are not allowed to submit any labels from Canada. Those labels can only go to schools in Canada. You can see a new list of what labels are eligible and what they are worth online at www.labelsforeducation.com Thanks again for helping us out!!
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 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.
October 30th, 2008 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”.
October 7th, 2008 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
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