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Dear praying friends,

We’ve been getting some of the snow that’s hit the rest of the country. As snow is one of Ruth’s favorite things (she says some of her best friends are flakes) she is excited. She is busy getting ready for Kid’s Christmas on Dec 20th, where we give all 80 students a bag of nice gifts. Our house is all decorated for winter – Ruth doesn’t necessarily decorate for Christmas – as winter is her favorite season. Lots of snowmen and snowflakes.

As we still have no maintenance man we have been relying on visiting handymen for help. God sent many talented ones our way this fall. We had visitors from Colorado, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona, Kansas and Michigan. We also enjoyed a short visit from the Montgomery clan. Howard, Jeannie and Ruth grew up here and it was good to see them again. I went to high school with Howard in Kansas many years ago. They loved seeing all the changes even in the last few years. While the project list is much shorter there are still many things to do if you have a mind to visit. Keep praying that in His time God will provide a maintenance man.

One of the visitors was Charles Roughton who is praying about coming to be the maintenance man. He and his wife Kathy live in North Carolina. He certainly has the skills we need. Pray that God would lead him and his church fellowship in discerning God’s perfect plan.

We are excited to welcome a new Navajo staff member. A former student, Running Feather Hosteen has come on staff as bus mechanics helper. Running has been trained in auto mechanics and wants to use his talents for the Lord. He has come on faith, trusting the Lord to meet his needs. Pray that support will come in for him and that he will be the help that Ranson needs. Ranson is still in much pain from his back and may need to go for surgery. Lula’s brother died suddenly recently. They remain faithful servants in spite of many trials. Pray for them.

We had our annual Community Christmas program last Sat. About 175 came to see the Nativity acted out, sing carols and listen to a great message. We served a good meal for everyone. We praise God for yet another opportunity to share the good news with our community. Dec 19th we are having a school Christmas program. Anne Denny has worked hard to put together a great musical program involving most of the students.

We will visit family and friends over Christmas in Kansas and Missouri. Please pray for God’s grace in many miles of travel.

John & Ruth Bloom

Merry Christmas to you! I have been in the Christmas mood soooo much this month. I am ready to go home and see my dad and my family. I hope that you have a great Christmas with family and friends as you remember Christ’s birth and sacrifice for us!

I had the joy of being in the wedding of my former roommate (Elaine Walter to Eric Evers) at the beginning of this month. It was neat to see the way that the Lord helped with the arranging of my transportation to get to the wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and yes, I did cry. But I know that Elaine and Eric will have a great marriage as they continue to focus on the Lord!

Thanksgiving for me was a restful time. A group of about 20 or so people were visiting Anne Denny for the holiday. Also, everybody from the mission stayed here for the holiday. We started the day with a pie breakfast at Dorothy Harvey’s house. The idea is that since everybody is always too full for pie after the big meal, let’s just eat it for breakfast first that morning. I loved the idea!!! Then for lunch we all ate a big meal down in the school cafeteria. We each brought a dish or two and had a great time. It was a fun day and then I had the rest of the weekend to get caught up on some much needed sleep.

I have had a couple bouts with a cold this month. I even sick on my own birthday—how lame is that. But the Lord worked it out that since I was home sick, I was also home when my grandma called to wish me a happy birthday—it was so nice to be able to talk to her when I was sick. One of my students also had a birthday this month. She shared her birthday with a kindergarten student—so we all got together and watched a movie and ate purple cupcakes!

I do believe that we all teacher’s and students alike are looking forward to Christmas break. I always anticipated it as a child—but I never knew that I would anticipate it even more as a teacher!!! I find myself saying, “Let’s just go read a book instead of…” We have the countdown going—only 13 days til Christmas!!! Have a Merry Christmas!

In Him,
Kelli Wilson

BAM! BAM! THUMP! BAM! Strum, strum, strum, plink, plink, strum, BAM!  These are typical noises you hear each day in my new music room.  I wish there was audio in our newsletters but you would probably hit the mute button as fast as you could find it so it’s just as well.  I am having a great time teaching music again this year and especially love having my own room with a door that locks.  The elementary grades get to come once a week to sing, play the bells, keep rhythm with sticks and look longingly at the pianos, guitars and trap set that I reserve for the upper grades.  Then I get the older girls and boys for an hour each day while their counterparts are in PE.  We can already accompany many praise songs on both the guitar and piano but our solos leave something to be desired.  My goal for the students is that some day they will be able to use these skills to build up the local church in worship and enhance their own personal worship to the Lord.  I’m thankful that the Lord appreciates a joyful noise but I don’t think we need to remain at the noisy gong, clanging cymbal stage in our musical development.

Anne Denny

Dear praying friends,
 
Here it is already late August and we have started another school year. We have 80 students enrolled for the new year. We have two new teachers (Kelli Wilson in 1st grade and Solomon Sun in 4th grade). Please pray that they will get off to a good start and impact their students for Christ. So far they are doing well. Our bus driving situation has improved as we have four certified drivers this year. We run two routes morning and evening so we each just have to drive once a day. Pray for safety on the bus routes. We are thankful for Ranson Tom who keeps the busses running smoothly. Pray we will have a good year and that students will come to Christ through the hearing of the Word each day.

We had a great summer here at the mission with 7 work groups coming. Our major focus was to get our new shop building up which was accomplished. See picture.

There is still much work to be done but at least the frame, sides and roof are done. This will house our auto shop program slated to start fall 2008. We still need a teacher for that program.  The youth groups also painted several houses in the community and did many other fix up projects. They ministered to about 25 families in the community with Bible clubs for the kids –  the adults always listen in. Several adults expressed interest in the gospel – we plan follow-up contact with them.

We still do not have a maintenance man and that is such a big need. Would you pray that God would supply that need soon. It’s been over two years now and things do deteriorate. The youth groups really help but it seems to us that we need someone full time. Do you know someone who could serve the Lord in that way? We also could use another high school teacher – especially someone who could coach BB.

On a personal note – we now have two new grandchildren. Rex and Shawna had a boy on July 4th – Miles Alexander. James and Eryn had a girl on Aug 13 – Autumn Sophia. We are excited to see them in the coming months. We travel to Kansas over Labor Day and to Seattle WA area Sept 13-15. I enjoyed sharing the work of Immanuel Mission in Asheville NC this summer. I had to attend a conference in Columbia SC for ACSI certification, so took the opportunity to visit friends and the assembly in Asheville.  Johnny is back at Emmaus Bible College for a second year. He worked at Kansas Bible Camp most of the summer.

We appreciate your partnership in the work of the gospel among the Navajo people. We are very much in need of your prayer support. Thanks also to those who support us financially. We praise God for His faithful provision. We are starting our 20th year here at Immanuel Mission and are encouraged that God is working both in us and through us.

   

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!  It has been so exciting to see God provide for all my needs this summer and I have every confidence in His continued provision.

I got to work at Kansas Bible Camp again this summer for six weeks; jr. high, high school and girls jr. high and high school.  It was encouraging to be working with young people who love the Lord and are using their gifts to serve Him.  I’m referring to the counselors and staff in particular but many campers were an encouragement as well.  Probably the greatest excitement was girls’ high school camp.  The Lord wanted to do a different thing and worked all kinds of hindrances to get His will done.  When my co-director and morning speaker had to cancel two days before, my sister, Alice Page stepped up and we got to see God direct the camp instead of us.  There was such a confidence in Him that week as I was forced to trust Him fully and yet found Him fully trustworthy.  I really need to do that more often, but it is pretty scary to only be able to see one step ahead instead of the path down the road.

Now I am back at Immanuel Mission and am enjoying teaching music and math once again.  I drive the bus only once each day but we’ve managed to have an adventure a week so far.  The first day of school we broke down and waited about 40 minutes for help but we were right next to a wind mill so had fun playing in the water while we waited.  Then the next week we had heavy rains and couldn’t get through the wash as it was flowing with waves.  The ten kids who live on the other side of the wash went back with Lorena Herbert and me in her 4-wheel drive truck at 6:00 but it was still rushing.  We waited around for about an hour.  The two oldest kids waded across when none of us adults was watching (their grandma was on the other side waiting with us).  Then another high school boy came by with his Artic Cat 4-wheeler.  He went across easily but water was up to the top of the tires.  Grandma ok’d it so we sent the remaining kids across with him 3 at a time starting with the oldest.  There were no mishaps but as he was coming back after the final two, his mom drove up in the truck and was a little upset that he was driving across.  I assured her what a hero he was, then skedaddled with Lorena.

Oh, one other thing.  The Wednesday night before school started, I drove into a ditch where the road had washed away in front of me.  I didn’t see it as it was 11:00 at night.  Almost immediately a truck came along and gave me a ride to the Mission, then John Bloom took me back and we worked for three hours getting my car out.  It is still at the shop but even before the deductible is due, the Lord sent me a check for double that amount.  I’m reminded again how nice it is here.  I walk to work, to church, to friends’ homes, etc.  I went to town with Becky Knopf this weekend in her car and we both enjoyed the company.  The only real negative is that I haven’t been able to say, “Take my car!” to neighbors who’ve also been having car difficulties.

You’ve probably heard from others that Kelli Wilson is here teaching first grade and Solomon Sun is teaching fourth grade.  Solomon has a wife Sarah, who loves to sing and has been a great addition to our Sunday morning worship team.  They have an almost three year old daughter, Eden, who is a delight for all of us aunties and grandmas who are missing our own desperately.  Keep praying for a maintenance man and consider if you might want to come for a week or a month to help out in that capacity.

I need to write more often so I can give you more instances of God’s faithfulness.  I would love to hear from any of you.  I know we all have great testimonies of God’s goodness in our lives.  I’ve been so appreciating how God has a plan for each of us and nothing happens by chance.  Disappointments are just as much a part of His will as successes.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him”

Anne Denny
Immanuel Mission

Dear praying friends,

I see that I haven’t written a newsletter since late January. We have been very busy but also I’ve been just a bit lazy in not communicating with you. Please forgive me. We so appreciate those who pray and support the work here. We are near the end of another school year (three weeks left) and have been sustained by your prayers and concern for us.

I have traveled more than usual this spring: Dubuque, IA for Christian Ministries Seminar (where good contacts were made for next year), Sante Fe for administrators conference, Kansas and MO for spring break, Phoenix for 7/8 trip, and Rehoboth for Native American Schools Conference. Next week Ruth and I take the 11/12 grade to Washington, D.C. and NYC for their end of year trip. This all takes lots of planning and usually involves a lot of driving. We did break down in Phoenix but God worked amazingly to keep us safe and we were able to get the bus fixed without major inconvenience.

We have done well in the sports area. Our girls BB team won its fourth league championship. The boys took fourth place. Our girls and guys teamed up with some other schools to win the all star VB and BB games this past weekend. We are now playing co-ed softball in PE and having an in house tournament with good competition.

We have had a wet winter and spring so the desert is as green as I’ve ever seen it. We are expecting more rain this week.

One of our former students who has been coming to Ruth’s craft class trusted the Lord this spring which is very exciting. Pray for Bernelda Begay that she would stay true to the Lord and that her mother Francis will trust the Lord soon. We will have a youth group minister in their home this summer.

We have had three youth groups and several couples here this spring helping us out. They have been a great help and encouragement. We have eight youth groups scheduled for the summer. The main project this summer will be to erect a 40×80 metal building which will house our vo-tech program. The building has been ordered and paid for. We still need several thousand dollars for the cement.

We have 7 seniors and 9 eighth graders graduating on May 12. Pray for all the preparations and that the program will speak to the parents and community about the Lord. Four of the seniors are professing believers.

We have two teachers planning to come next year. Solomon Sun and his wife Sarah will come to teach 4th grade. Kelli Wilson is coming to teach 1st grade. Solomon and Kelli are both graduates of Emmaus. Darrel Valdois finally got his bus drivers certification so we are looking pretty good for next year. We still are in desperate need of a maintenance man

Ruth has grown to enjoy her job as bookkeeper which is a major answer to prayer.

Again, thank you for praying for the work here. What a joy to have 89 children (and by extension about 45 homes) under the sound of the gospel each day.

John & Ruth Bloom

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