Author: immanuelmission

Dear Friends,

I thank the Lord that you are joining us in the work He is doing here at Immanuel Mission. I shared recently at a Ladies Missionary Conference in Fullerton, California. The Lord gave me the story about the demon-possessed boy that the disciples weren’t able to help. In Mark 9:29 Jesus says, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” It feels like much of the work we are involved in here at Immanuel Mission is like that demon possessed boy. There is so much we cannot do without the help of your prayers. I’m so encouraged that we are not alone in this work.

We saw one of our women who comes regularly to our craft class trust the Lord this winter and then within a few weeks her faith was shaken and we despaired of her continuing in her new walk with the Lord. But He is faithful and she is coming again and slowly trusting us and, I hope, the Lord more and more. Another woman has begun coming to church with her mother and we see her also drawing closer to saving faith in the Lord Jesus. Since Valentine’s Day, a whole new group has started coming each week to our craft class. These are Lorena Herbert’s sisters and nieces. We’ve been praying for Lorena’s family for years and her nieces attended or attend our school. We would be thrilled if the Lord chooses this year to be the time He saves Lorena’s family. Keep praying.

The rest of the year will go by in a blur I am sure. We are a month away from the Academic Meet that we participate in with three other mission schools. I am in charge of the event and don’t have Debbie Nininger to help me this year so pray that I’ll find someone else or that God will provide time and energy to do it myself. That seems to be how He has provided for us this year—not with permanent staff but with extra energy and short term helpers that have been a great encouragement. The day after the Meet is over, I go with the Blooms and the 11 th and 12th graders on a week long trip to NYC and DC. I am excited to go with them but will need to prepare for a substitute for my 4th graders while I am gone. I have some who are praying about subbing for me, but don’t have it locked in yet. Darrel Valdois is now driving the bus so we are thanking the Lord for that. It is kind of fun to look back over the year and see how God has provided for us just at the right time and just the right amount. We’ve seen him fill jar after jar of oil and make the flour last until the next rain time and time again.

I am thankful that the Lord has let us be hungry this year so that He could fill us and we would more clearly know it was from Him. Continue to pray about staff for next year. There are several that are praying and planning to come. John Bloom knows more than I about the specifics in that area. It is looking like I will get to go back to upper grades music and math. I took a week off of consumer math with my 11th and 12 th graders and did Driver’s Ed. for a week. That was fun. Two have gotten their driver’s licenses and two plan to soon. Three aren’t 18 so will need to finish the process with a parent. Ok, now I’m just rambling.

Talk to you later,

Anne Denny

Dear praying friends,

We sure enjoyed all the Christmas cards and letters again this year. We do not do a Christmas picture anymore now that there are no children at home – maybe we should start sending pictures of our adorable grandchildren. Speaking of which, we are happy to report that there are two more on the way. Rex and Shawna and James and Eryn are both expecting late summer. We had a wonderful time together over Christmas – we all met at Davey’s in Des Moines, Iowa. We got stranded on the way home in Tucumcari NM for nearly two days but made it home safely.

We are still short of staff but God gives grace to carry on. A young lady from California is coming in a couple of weeks so that will help and Doug and Jeanne Crabb are planning to come for the month of March. We still could use more short term help – even for a week or two – especially in the area of maintenance or in the bus barn. Keep praying that we won’t get sick – especially the three bus drivers. Also pray for Ranson Tom’s back, that he won’t experience too much pain. He is to have surgery at some point.

We had a nice group of students from Cedarville University here Jan 1 – 6. They did some really special chapel times for our students. Then on Jan 12 a kids choir from Korea came by and did a wonderful program for us. We expect several more groups throughout the spring. These are always an encouragement and blessing to us and the students. Pray that students will respond to the gospel message presented.

We are progressing nicely with the career development center plans. We are researching buildings and getting quotes at present. A group from Littleton, Co. is planning to come in early June to erect it. We will probably offer classes in the fall of 2008. We still need teachers for this program. Auto shop and wood shop.

Ruth and the ladies are ministering to about 20 Navajo ladies through the weekly craft class. Pray for solid relationships to be built and that many will then come to the ladies conference scheduled for Jan 26 and 27. Ruth is also getting the hang of her new job as bookkeeper and actually enjoying it most of the time. Thanks for praying for her in this.

Our new computer lab is finished and a great learning center for our students. We have 15 pretty good computers but need about 10 more to be fully equipped. Thanks to all the youth groups and others that worked and gave to see this project accomplished. You can see pictures of it and many other mission happenings at http://www.drewnels.net.

Thank you for your prayers and faithful support of the mission work. It seems several adult Navajos are close to salvation so we are encouraged.

John & Ruth Bloom

We have an idea that we hope will help them and us too.  We plan to call it Community Financial Assistance Program. This program will be open to those who are in need of money.  They can weave Navajo rugs to receive the money they need instead of getting money from one of us without earning it.  They usually say they want to borrow money but mostly they don’t pay it back.

This program can work with your support.  I would like to ask if you would like to buy a Navajo rug.  You can order it from our program.  I would oversee the weaving of the rugs.  Each person would be paid for the work they complete.  I would keep in touch with you and mail it to you when it is finished.  We want to teach our community that they also can give to others as we give to them.

Here are a couple of things I’d like to share with you.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  I say, time to give and a time to get.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:1 – NIV)

“Solomon had conducted an exhaustive survey of all the activities, employments, and pursuits that God has given to man to occupy his time.”  (Believers Bible Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:10)

Lorena Herbert

We want to give you who donated school supplies a big THANKS for the wonderful things you sent. We especially liked the atomic classroom clocks that have their time automatically set to the second.. A signal from somewhere in Colorado resets them each night. We got all the supplies we needed. Things that weren’t sent in boxes were purchased with money that some folks sent to fill in the gaps. We are very grateful for your support. We don’t want for anything at this time and have what we will need for the rest of the year. We are praising the Lord and thanking you, His servants.

Ruth Bloom

• 90 students
• 7 seniors
• 3 new teachers
• New computer lab nearing completion
• Vo-tech program in the works  (fund started for new building)

• Still need elementary teachers
• Need bus drivers
• Need maintenance man
• Salvation of students

Dear praying friends,
 
I apologize for not communicating well this summer. There were not many staff at the mission this summer but we still hosted 6 youth groups. Our son Johnny spent five weeks here helping. Much work was accomplished and the Word was given out in over 30 homes. We remodeled one of the staff homes and nearly finished the new house. Some more work teams are scheduled for the fall to help us as we still do not have a maintenance man. We are looking for retired couples that could come for a month at a time to help out. Would you spread the word of the need and this possible solution.
 
We have started school with enough staff. It was exciting to see God provide when it seemed impossible. Ruth’s niece Melissa Meinzinger has come to teach kindergarten – she has 10 wiggly little learners. Darrell and Barbara Valdois, a retired couple from Hutchinson, Ks., have come as well. Barbara is teaching English and Geography and art and is the librarian. Darrell is teaching the science classes and hopefully will get certified to drive bus. Two other couples are praying about coming but so far God has not opened the door. Ruth has taken on the work of mission treasurer which is a huge job. She is doing a great job but would be very relieved if God sent someone else to take over.
 
Several of the teachers are carrying heavy loads. Anne Denny is teaching 4th grade, high school math and driving a bus route. Megan is teaching 6 hours a day and driving a bus route. Please pray for them as well as all the staff. God is providing Navajo staff to do mechanic work and janitorial. Maybe bus drivers as well.  I am teaching several classes as well as driving the bus twice a day and doing all the coaching. (one benefit of that is that I am getting badly needed exercise almost daily). God is giving extra strength and several have written and called that they have been burdened to pray for us. For this we are especially grateful.
 
Johnny is off to Emmaus Bible College this week. He completed two years at Hutchinson Community College and will finish his BA at EBC. God wonderfully provided several large scholarships to enable him to attend without borrowing any money. I think God blessed him for giving his summer to the Lord’s work instead of secular employment. Isn’t that just like God?
 
Ruth and I were able to attend a family reunion in Maine in July on my mother’s side. Mom was also able to attend albeit with a walker. There were over 60 in attendance. One special treat was to spend time with my brother Stan whom we have not seen very often as he lived in Alaska for 30 years. We also visited other family and friends in the area.
 
We are very encouraged and thank you for your faithful prayers for us.
 
John & Ruth Bloom

Dear praying friends       

We are fast approaching the end of another school year. We will have three seniors graduating on May 13th. We have had a great year but face major changes with a number of staff leaving. Douglas’, Niningers, Ribbeys and Michelle are all leaving at the end of school. As of now we have no firm replacements for them. We need a kindergarten teacher, HS teacher (either science or math or English), 2nd grade teacher, maintenance man and bookkeeper. Also, a bus driver but we are going to try to get a local Navajo to do that. Please pray for God to supply those needed.

We enjoyed the fellowship of a youth group from Kenosha, Wisconsin last week. We made good progress on the new house as well as the new computer lab. The youth did special chapels and crafts with our students.

We have been excited about new outreach into the community. The mission ladies are reaching out to unchurched neighbors with a Wed night craft class. About 7 or so ladies have been coming on a regular basis. These are people who have never come to church or a Bible study. However, most of them came to our Easter sunrise service because of relationships built on Wednesdays. There is a prayer and share time at the end of the craft class. Pray for salvation for these ladies.

We have a number of youth groups lined up for the summer. We anticipate getting a lot of work done and ministry in the community. However, with so many leaving it will be more intense for those left. Pray for endurance.

We praise the Lord that Ranson has gotten some relief from his back pain and is now working in the bus barn again. He anticipates being full time there in the fall. Please pray for him and Lula and support them if you can.

We have approved the construction of a shop building which will house our auto mechanics and wood shops. We have started a fund for financing the construction – probably next year. Contributions to the fund should be marked “shop fund”. We have already had some interest in teachers for these programs so we are quite excited that this is God’s time. We are still waiting for ACSI approval for using this for reaccreditation. It should be approved any time now.

Even though we are facing significant staff turnover, there is no sense that God is indicating any major change in ministry or programs. We are instead excited to see how God is going to supply and what great things He has in store for IM. Thank you, though, for praying for us and please spread the word about the positions that need filling.

John & Ruth Bloom