Hello from Immanuel Mission! The weather this spring in northern Arizona has been delightful. I wish I could share the smell from my lilac bush over the internet, but probably it is just as well that we can’t share smells long distance. Ha ha
We are down to almost our last month of school, there have been all the typical trials—sickness, some naughtiness, and times of apathy but there have also been joys, obedience and times of almost being overwhelmed with the goodness of God.
After beginning this year with all the same staff as last year, we are sad to say the Lord is leading two families to go somewhere else at the end of this school year. We have so appreciated the ministry of John and Brynne Springs and Ryan and Liz Skillen and are confident that God will continue to use them in the future.
Please pray with us for how the Lord will provide for the holes they are leaving behind. We are losing a science teacher, a first grade teacher, a special ed teacher, and a PE teacher at the school and the Mission is losing a bookkeeper and an elder in our local church. They also have been used by the Lord in our community as spiritual encouragers and servants to many in practical ways.
I pray that all of us are making a mark that will leave a big hole when we are moved by the Lord somewhere else. I am trusting Him to provide for the future in the same way He has the past. Maybe the Lord is prompting one of you reading this to be the one He uses to meet some of the need here at Immanuel Mission. Please freely share this with anyone that you sense the Lord may be leading to work with us here. Although there is no promise of financial pay, furnished housing is provided within walking distance of work, eight weekly school meals are prepared by excellent cooks, gently used clothing has been sent for our use and a local gym is available whenever there isn’t a PE class in session.
On another note, our phones and internet are working worse and worse. We will probably have to switch to Starlink in the near future. But please forgive us if you have tried to call in the last six months and been unable to reach someone. We are not ignoring you intentionally. Please keep trying and maybe get creative with email or Facebook messenger or even snail mail.
On a personal note, I will be back in Kansas for a few weeks May/June. Then return to the Mission for the middle of the summer and go back to KBC (Kansas Bible Camp) for two more girls camps at the end of July. Hoping to see some of you when I am in Kansas or if you come visit here late June, or early July.
I look back at this letter and think it doesn’t really convey the sorrow or the anxiety that loved ones moving on from us brings. And the ones leaving have similar sorrow and anxiety. Please pray for all who are in a period of impending loss and the unknown. We KNOW God is faithful and we want what He has for us in this time of waiting and wondering; but it is hard.
Anne Denny
Below is a reprint from our fall newsletter that Brynne Springs wrote. It is a nice testimonial about working here that might be helpful for someone considering joining us.
Immanuel Mission School is a very special environment to teach in! It’s a small school with supportive staff, little class sizes, flexibility, and an overall emphasis on relationship building. I believe this creates many opportunities for good conversations to be had and fun memories to be made. The highlight of my time teaching here was last school year when I led a week of specials every quarter with the 6th-8th grade girls. Being the first grade teacher I really didn’t have much to teach Jr. Highers. So it was a very easy-going and simple time of doing little crafts, baking treats, getting to know each other, and joking around together. But I had a great time and, as far as I know, the students had a great time as well. I think there are few places where others would be willing to fill in and do my job for me so I could leave and go have fun with another class.
Immanuel Mission 