Category: Newsletters

What a Year

Immanuel Mission is feeling the joys of making it through another spring and the completion of another school year. The prayer support and gifts believers send shows the resources of God in action and how faith in the truth equals much success. Thank you for all that you provide through your generosity and hearts for others. Christ and His kingdom rejoice to see the changed hearts of Immanuel Mission kids as they come to know Him more fully. Your involvement is all part of God’s plan.

Students have completed all their final tests and graduation was held for 3 seniors leaving Immanuel. We all pray for the best of blessings to them in their future endeavors.

It was very special to give out awards to my class on the last day of school. The thirteen students in my class all were given an award that best represented them and their hard work. I look forward to the new third graders, welcome the fourth grade class, and say “see ya” to the new fifth graders. I care about them all and love the time spent together. As for the basketball team, I plan to see most of the boy’s back again this coming season. Our March tournament was hard fought. The team took 4^th place this tournament and the winners of the Christian Character Award. Although no matter what a first place finish is what we want to end the season with. So we look forward to going for 1^st next season. Our boys are incredibly capable and disciplined to play hard and are ready to start again in the fall. There are no graduating seniors to leave the team and we all have next year’s tournament in the back of our minds. Both groups of kids, my classroom and basketball team have me very busy and blessed. I am thankful for having competitive kids in both the classroom and court. I enjoy seeing the Navajo families getting involved in their kid’s school work and basketball. Academics and sports have always been a great way to reach out and bring Navajo families together.

God’s strength is immeasurable and is part of our lives every second. Please continue to pray for the success of my students in the classroom and basketball players on and off the court. Pray for what they are learning. Help them to find true love in all the right things. Help us to show the truth of spiritual things to them in the way Jesus would.

Thank you for providing for the work. The harvest is plentiful. There are many examples of God’s answer to prayer and need. When people come from all over the country to visit and teach that is amazing. Thank you for giving and demonstrating Christ’s love for all His children.

Solomon Sun
3rd/4th teacher and Basketball Coach

Immanuel Mission Jr/Sr Trip Update

Kia Ora!

Praise the Lord for all of you who prayed for us and helped pay for our trip to New Zealand.  Like the Israelites who were led through the wilderness by a cloud, we felt the Lord’s sunshine on our whole trip.

John and Ruth Bloom, two boys, six girls, and I were hosted in California and then in Rotorua, New Zealand by kind Christians who opened their homes and welcomed us like family.  They had many meals for us inviting all our host families to attend as well.  When we first arrived in New Zealand we were greeted  with  a  traditional  welcome by about 30 Maoris that was solemn and honoring to us.  There was an affinity between the Navajo and the Maori people that was so special and familiar.  This ceremony then happened again when we visited a college (elementary school) and at a tourist evening where some of our host families worked.

Other highlights were the raft trip that included going over a 20 foot waterfall and swimming in the South Pacific Ocean.

Although they spoke English,  we  almost  needed  a  thesaurus  to     understand them.  Rubbish, boot sale, toilet, togs, are just a few examples of words we don’t regularly use here in America.  When we first arrived, I kept getting nervous that John wasn’t paying attention when he was driving but he was just the passenger on the left side.  Brandale and Terence and I risked our lives jaywalking when we all looked the wrong way to cross a street.  Shania sent a graduation announcement to her fake mom (hostess)  there.  The 12 hour plane ride wasn’t nearly as scary as our students thought and not as long as I thought it would be.  Parents here were so thankful when we brought their children home safely and had a nice dinner to thank us.  So again, I pass that thankfulness to all of you who helped make it possible.  God is good all the time.

Anne Denny

PS…You can still purchase a dirt shirt made by our students.  They use local dirt to dye them.  They are for sale for $15 plus postage.  If you prefer we could send a pristine white one.  They all have Immanuel Mission and the mountain east of the Mission embroidered on the left.

Mission neighbor’s trailer burns to the ground!!

In mid April Lorraine Yazzie’s small trailer caught on fire. Probably an electrical short caused the fire. By the time we at the mission found out about it, it was too far gone to be saved even though she lives only ¼ mile from the mission. Lorraine was saved as a child through the ministry of Immanuel Mission and has been coming to the mission chapel for the last six years. In the last few years three of her grandchildren have come to Christ through the school ministry. Last year her daughter also trusted Christ (Tonya’s testimony was in last fall’s newsletter.)

Lorraine had been praying for a bigger place and that God would help her be able to put her past behind her. Little did she know that God would answer both of those prayers by allowing her trailer to burn. She was able to save only a few things from the trailer. The mission and church were immediately able to help with money, clothes and a used trailer that is twice as big as the one that burned down. Despite her loss, she has been able to see God’s hand in this and is so thankful for the help of her Christian family.

This is just one example of how God uses the school and Mission church to minister to our community. Thank you for partnering with us in reaching Navajo people for Christ.

John Bloom

Buzz into the Library for a Good Book!

This summer I am running a Summer Reading Program to encourage Immanuel Mission’s students and neighbors to read.  I am opening the school library two days a week.  So far 16 people have turned in reading logs (some have turned in two, five hour logs!).  Please pray that this program would be an encouragement to our students and neighbors, and that I would be able to develop more relationships within the community  throughout  the  summer!      The possibilities are limitless!

Michele Lawman

Here is a wish list of staff for the 2014/2015 school year

*Computer specialist/ IT person

*High School science teacher

*Auto shop teacher

You do not have to have a teaching license to teach at  Immanuel Mission. However, a bachelors degree is preferred.

If you know of anyone with these interests and skills please have them contact John Bloom at bloomjr@gmail.com or call 917-254-4023 ex 14

You can find a neat article about Sweetwater Chapter and IM at www.navajotimes.com.

The lady spent most of a day here and was quite impressed with the mission. She is not a believer but by the end of the day she was asking for prayer for her migraines. The youth group witnessed to her.

The Jr./Sr. class is selling original “Dirt Shirts” as a fund raiser for their class trip to New Zealand. Check out their website at the link below!!!!!

 

https://sites.google.com/site/missiondirt/home

Dear Friends,

It’s Spring Break and a lovely day, so I decided to send you all an update letter.  My biggest news, which most of you have already heard, is that I moved into the new duplex that was built this summer!!!!!!  I’ve been living here for approximately 6 months.  Thanks to everyone that made it possible!  It is such a blessing to live in a new, warm, well-built (with love) home.  I’m still rearranging furniture and organizing closets, but it definitely feels like ‘home’.

There are approximately 6 weeks of school left and I’m hoping we all make it.  The Friday that Spring Break began, I had a couple boys that wanted to stay after school and get caught up on all their work.  It took every teacher instinct in me to be able to say ‘yes’.  All I know is that this teacher was ready for Spring Break.  I think God has been extra gracious to me this year; sending me breaks at just the right time, giving me the grace to hold on until then, and letting the breaks completely refresh and rejuvenate me.

Many of you have been praying for a student of mine, Raven, and her family.  I wanted to thank you so much for your prayers and give you an update.  Raven and her brother and sisters have only been attending our school for a few years, but there the Lord has already made a huge difference in their lives.  Raven’s mother told Raven she would do anything for her and Raven asked her mother to pray with her.  And now they often pray together as a family.  I tear up every time I think about this 12 year old girl pointing her mother to the Lord.  Please continue to pray for Raven’s family.  Pray that the Lord will continue the work He began.  Pray that Raven’s mother will continue to trust the Lord in hard times and will grow in her trust and faith in Him.  Pray for Raven’s father to trust in the Lord as well.

While you’re praying, would you also pray for…

• My students to survive Jr. High and to make decisions that would honor the Lord.  Pray that we’ll catch them and help them not to do wrong.
• Staff needs at Immanuel Mission for next year.  As far as I’m aware we have some people interested in teaching Kindergarten but no commitments yet.  We also still need someone to help out in maintenance, a new school cook, and someone to help with computers and technology.  We are excited for a new art teacher and a new HS history teacher.  Pray that they’ll adjust well to life on the Rez and as missionaries.

Thank you for all your prayers!  It means so much to me to know that there are many members of Christ’s body working together to see His mission accomplished in me and here at Immanuel Mission.  I look forward to seeing many of you this summer, or in His perfect time, in Heaven.

 

Your Sister-In-Christ,

Kelli Wilson

Immanuel Mission                                                                                        March 15, 2013

We have a brand new addition to our playground – a speed boat, stripped down to nothing dangerous.  It looks funny, sitting out there in the desert, amongst ‘normal’ playground equipment, but it is a real ‘hit’ with everybody.  No one can resist sitting in it.  What a hoot!  [It didn’t run and no one would give any money for it, so this is the obvious solution]  🙂 🙂 🙂

Brad Keating and his daughter are here for a couple of days (again) and this time he brought a “Birdie Ball” golf set up.  My students will get to golf with it during P.E.  It amazes me that although we are a tiny place, way out here, at the edge of nowhere, we still have a “rock climbing wall”, 2 sets of pickle ball equipment, a playground boat, and today, we were given  “Birdie Ball” golf equipment – AND golf lessons from a real golfer! [Just last week, a hand bell choir and a choir (all the kids dressed in formal wear) played for us – from Salt Lake City!]

We’ve got black hooded sweatshirts on sale for $20 each that say Immanuel Mission (white) Falcons (turquoise).  If you are interested in getting one, move fast.  A church (or maybe a family) in Pennsylvania donated them to us to raise money for the athletic fund, and they look real nice.  Everyone on staff was given one this past CHRISTmas, along with every student from 7^th grade to 12^th grade!  SWEEEEEEEEEEEET.

My class is too small to run a restaurant this year, much to the community’s disappoint-ment, so we are having an Ice Cream Social instead.  We’ll be selling every ice cream item we can think of, from floats and milkshakes to Sundaes and Banana Splits.  It is scheduled for Friday, April 5^th, 6pm – 8pm, if you want to come.  Whether you come, or not, please pray for us.

We are in the final quarter of the school year.  Thank you for praying for my 7 students and me.  Sometimes they seem VERY intent on following the Lord Jesus, and other times, they look bored stiff during Bible class and chapels.  No one can ‘walk in another’s shoes’ and doubtless they are going through things I never faced as a child.  Life is tough, but God is faithful, wise, and good.  Our memory verse this week is I Corinthians 15:58   Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  This is my prayer for you.

I do praise the Lord, and thank you for your prayers, support, and interest in the work out here.  Thank you for each Box Top for Education. I miss you.

God bless you, Becky Knopf

P.S.  If you are curious, we always need wide-ruled paper, black dry erase markers, and masking tape.

We currently have 86 students enrolled for the 2012/2013 school year. We have only one senior but currently have 9 Kindergarteners. We have many new students that have transferred in from the local public school. Their parents have heard of the quality education offered at Immanuel Mission School. Some are driving 10 – 15 miles to get their kids here. We rejoice that more kids and their families are hearing the gospel. Some of these are contacts made through our summer outreach programs into the community. We have three new staff members.  See their introductory  articles  elsewhere  in  this  newsletter. God has graciously  provided  what  we  need  to   give the students a quality Christ centered education.

John Bloom

We had a great summer with the various youth groups. Our main project was to build a duplex on the Mission campus. It consists of two one bedroom apartments. It has gone up so fast that one side is 100% done and occupied and the other side about 90% done. We are waiting on electricity to be turned on and gas hooked up in the second apartment.
Pray for needed funds to complete this project. We are about $1,000 short of what is needed to finish. God has provided much of the materials through donations and some through timely auctions. This  housing is for some of our single staff who are crowded into various apartments. You can see pictures of the duplex on our Facebook
page.

We  baptized six Navajo believers this summer. This is a huge step for us and for them. It was prompted by a young man named Lenny who had professed Christ last summer. When I asked him if he was still following the Lord he responded by saying “yes, and I want to get baptized this year”. Well, it kind of snowballed from there and five others also asked for baptism. So we filled up one of our trash dumpsters with water (cleaned it first) and immersed them in front of many family and friends. Some Navajo Christian leaders are reluctant to baptize believers right away after salvation as they have seen so many profess, then fall away. Pray for wisdom as we need to see more take this important step.

John Bloom

The buzz in 3rd and 4th grade is the continued addition of more students to our classroom. God has blessed our school with amazing news kids this year. Since the beginning of the year, I have received three more returning students to go with three completely new students. My roster is up to seventeen students now! This is the class size that I have dreamed about for Immanuel School. I like using the word roster like a team roster. Even though we are one of the larger classes, we are still a very tight knit team. We work very hard at believing in each other and relying on each other’s roles to accomplish tasks. God is our captain and He knows how to manage all of our different personalities. It is wonderful to see how God works in His way, which makes our teambuilding fun to be a part of. Each of my seventeen students is special to have. I am especially grateful for the return of 4th grade sisters that I have asked my supporters to pray for in the past. These girls are a very sweet, brave duo to have as students. They have experienced real hurt in their family lives. They have come back to us safe, yet continue to go through turmoil at home. Their return to our school was delayed due to being released from a children’s home that they were placed in over the summer, as well as other decisions needing to be made regarding custody. I prayed to see them when I returned in the fall and having to wait for them the first three weeks was difficult. God answers prayer, He protects, and He has a plan for their lives. I definitely believe in their self-worth. God cherishes these little girls. Obviously, I had concerns as their teacher to what affects the most recent trauma at home and being in child-protective services may have had. What I see to this point is the Holy Spirit filling these girls with the strength and resiliency that only God can give. They returned to my class with such open hearts, smiles, to learn more and seemed almost better equipped to handle my teaching. They have come to school everyday so far, as believers, more appreciative, more eager and confidant, happier. This is a happiness from Jesus in the face of evil. These girls are teaching me more than they know. God is in control, which means that He knows what and who is to best carry out the plans for all of us. For these girls, I just know that the intervention and efforts of those who took care of them in the past and during the summer were directed by God, whether they knew it or not. Thank God for the work of many others, who I don’t know, but who certainly took an interest in these girls and helped to protect them. Please continue to say a prayer for all the children of this school. Help to build a prayer barrier around their homes so that the evil one can’t get through. Please pray for our homes and pressures of the devil all around us. Nothing is more powerful than your prayer. Thank you.

Solomon Sun