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November 27th, 2009 From: Michele Lawman - 1st Grade Teacher 
I said I wanted to come back! Three and a half years ago I left the Mission with mixed emotions. I was happy because I was heading back to school to earn my degree in Elementary Education, but sad because it meant leaving people I had grown to love. When I left the Mission it was my hope to return after earning my degree. For the three years that I was in school I focused on doing my best in my classes and prayed that I would be able to return to the Mission. In January I began student teaching and continued to pray about Immanuel Mission.  As my weeks of student teaching ticked by, my hope of returning to the Mission began to look like a distant dream. Although I still wished to return to the Mission, the reality of repaying student loans and other issue began to discourage me. In April, on my birthday no less, I received an e-mail from John Bloom asking me if I would return to the Mission and teach first grade. I spent the next two weeks praying and finally concluded that my God is a great God and He wants to give me the desires of my heart. All I have to do is let Him worry about the small stuff. I am now back at the Mission teaching first grade and am so grateful that the Lord is faithful. I cannot even begin to imagine what He has in store for me!
November 24th, 2009 From: Elizabeth McNeal - emcneal 
I would like to introduce myself; my name is Elizabeth McNeal I am from a small town of Washington, Missouri. I am 19 years old and the daughter of Tim and Liz McNeal who have also been involved in the Impact the World Ministries for many years now. This is my first time at Immanuel Mission and I am very encouraged to see the Lord working here at the school and also in the community. As of August 2nd when John and Ruth Bloom came to visit our Church I was still praying about where the Lord wanted me to be serving Him this year. On that day John had been speaking of the needs the school had for this coming year and I knew the Lord was showing me the way and that I was to follow His path. Two weeks later I was on a plane heading out to the Mission. I have no doubt now that this is where the Lord has me serving Him. I am the 7th and 8th grade Science teacher, girls volleyball coach, teachers aid and I also help in many other ways. The Lord has shown me His faithfulness and provision in making the decision to come to the Mission. He is an awesome God and Savior and there is nothing else I would rather be doing than serving Him! Thank you all for your prayers and support for me here at Immanuel Mission this year!
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
(Psalm 119:105)
July 13th, 2009 From: Cindy Lauersdorf - 1st Grade Teacher Dear Friends in Christ,
Let me testify of Jesus – His mercy over me and provision for me this last year. He kept me, walked with me, encouraged me, gave me joy, supplied me, befriended me through the other brothers and sisters at Immanuel, forgave me, blessed me, stretched me, counseled me, held and kept me, perplexed me at times, provided for me in many creative ways through the Body of Christ, filled my mouth with praise and my heart with hope, His grace was abundant toward me, He healed me and strengthened me, He interceded for me and taught me some really cool songs.
He allowed me the privilege of experiencing community life with the precious saints at Immanuel and to share His Truth with the 5 little first graders entrusted to me. What a joy to be partnered to Him, to see Him operating in the lives of the kids. For those of you who have children in your life either your own or others – you know how much fun it is to watch them grow academically and spiritually and develop physically.
He also provided a man for me to marry. Moving to the four corners area is not typically the place you would expect to find your husband and I knew full well that it would take a mighty move of God if I were to ever find “Mr. Right”. Well, God moved mightily, and put it on the heart of my betrothed to seek me out even though he lived in the valley 6 hours away. Although I will miss Immanuel very, very much, I am excited to see how Christ will prove Himself faithful in this next season of my life. Bob and I will be getting married on the fourth of July!
My immediate concern was that God would provide a first grade teacher to take my place. What a confirmation when the Lord graciously provided for that need. Shortly after my engagement, we heard from Michele who had taught at Immanuel a few years back, had left to complete her teaching certificate and is now ready to return and to take my place! Thank you Jesus!
How thankful I am to have had the privilege of being a part of what God is doing through the lives at Immanuel. I know Immanuel has a special place in His heart. My eyes were opened this last year to see the Body of Christ operating in all its’ beauty and diversity through those who gave so generously and faithfully back home from various meeting places to those who live up there at the Mission full time. May the Lord continue to bless the work of the hands of His children and may the Name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified.
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.
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 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 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.
March 31st, 2006 From: John Bloom - School Principal We are anticipating needing a significant number of new staff for the next school year beginning in August. Please pray that God will supply the workers for this important ministry among the Navajo people of Sweetwater Community.
Anticipated needs include:
- Kindergarten teacher (degree not required)
- Middle School and High School Science teacher (degree preferred)
- Bus mechanic or mechanics helper
- Maintenance man
- Bookkeeper – knowledge of bookkeeping procedures and programs
- Bus drivers – must get AZ CDL and school bus endorsement.
Contact John Bloom for more information.
March 29th, 2006 From: Leona Douglas - Bookkeeper & Adult Ministry The passing of years can seem to be a long time or only a few days — it’s all in perspective. Looking at the rocks and mesas surrounding Immanuel Mission evidence of many years of God’s use of His creation is seen in the scouring and shifting sands. Yet -
It seems only a few days ago that there were worry lines on the face of a wife who never knew the delight of being submissive to her husband. She has been brought up in the tradition of the matriarch — the woman makes the decisions and leads. God is doing His work and is using the truth of His Word to scour away the worry lines and replace them with wrinkles of joy as she looks with respect to her husband and he returns to her his look of love. Thank you God for the sands of time that you allow to trickle through Your fingers for the benefit of Your chosen ones.
And then there was the shy and quiet Navajo man whose eyes reflected the gleam of fear each time he was to speak aloud. Just as we experience new vision after the cloud of dirt, debris, and sand of this earth settle following a violent storm, now he too has the new vision of the Lord. With the confidence of Christ as his Savior, his eyes not on his shyness, but instead on the glory of the risen Savior, he can speak openly and without hesitation of what God is doing in His life. Thank you God that Your sand of time is doing it’s work.
These are some of the changes that we, Dave and Leona Douglas, have been privileged to witness in 16 years as staff at Immanuel Mission. And now the sands of time are causing changes for us personally. God has shown us that it is time to leave Immanuel Mission and He desires to shift us to a new area and move us on to the next thing He has for us. At the end of this school term we will be going from full time support work — bus mechanic/maintenance worker and bookkeeper — to full time retirement work. — discipleship and nurturing of those He puts in our lives and our grandchildren as well. As our grandchildren are located in the Pacific Northwest that is where we will be heading.
Verses He has given us come from Deuteronomy 33:18-19 NASV — “…Rejoice, Zebulun, (Dave) in your going forth, (from Immanuel Mission into the unknown of My choosing) and, Issachar, (Leona) in your tents, (our 12′ slide-in camper parked just wherever He leads). They shall call peoples to the mountain; (to Christ as their personal Savior) there they shall offer righteous sacrifices ; (worship of God and God alone) for they shall draw out the abundance of the seas, (those we encounter in the seas of the Pacific NW) and the hidden treasures of the sand.” (as already shared above).
It is with trust and trepidation that we embark upon this new “Sierra” in our lives. We are trusting God for His leading, yet somewhat like Moses — “What if they will not believe me, or listen to what I say…” and His answer is still the same — “I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” Thank You, God, that even though we see the shifting of the sands of earth and the resulting changes, You are changeless. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
March 18th, 2006 From: Nathan Ribbey - 2nd Grade Teacher After initially receiving counsel from the leading men in our commending assembly, that we should prayerfully consider other options for next year, I found myself wrestling with the question, “What was the point of the time we’ve spent here at Immanuel Mission?” Why would God bring us out here for four years, and then have us leave?
I have had a month or two to ponder the question, and the only response I can firmly come up with is, “Sanctification.” Through the working of the Spirit, and by God’s grace we have grown. Perhaps this growth has been quite obvious to onlookers in some areas, and perhaps not so obvious in others. In some small measure though, I feel that our loving Heavenly Father brought us here to further transform us into the image of his Son.
He knew it would take a remote place like Immanuel Mission to take us out of our comfort zones, to begin to teach us dependence on Him alone. It took stripping us of a regular salary, insurance, etc., to begin to teach us to seek first His Kingdom, resting on Him to add all other things to us. It took the removing of the illusion that we have control over our lives, to begin to teach us that obedience to, and an active seeking of His will, resting in His goodness and sovereignty, are where true security, joy, and blessing are found. Can I say that our tenure in Sweetwater, Arizona, has been a smashing missionary success, with scores being won to the Lord through our service here? No, I cannot. I can however attest, that God has given us the opportunity to sow and water, especially amongst the young people in the community, and that fruitfulness lies with him. We felt the Lord’s hand leading us here, and likewise we feel Him leading us away. We trust that He does not, and will not lead us into pointless ventures.
All that being said, my family and I would like to thank all of you for your prayer and support over the last four years. We have prayed much about it, and are taking the counsel we have received as from the Lord. The future is a bit murky at present, but we trust the Lord will bring His desire for us into further clarity as the school year begins to draw to a close.
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As my weeks of student teaching ticked by, my hope of returning to the Mission began to look like a distant dream. Although I still wished to return to the Mission, the reality of repaying student loans and other issue began to discourage me. In April, on my birthday no less, I received an e-mail from John Bloom asking me if I would return to the Mission and teach first grade. I spent the next two weeks praying and finally concluded that my God is a great God and He wants to give me the desires of my heart. All I have to do is let Him worry about the small stuff. I am now back at the Mission teaching first grade and am so grateful that the Lord is faithful. I cannot even begin to imagine what He has in store for me!