Can you teach two old dogs new tricks? Apparently. We've threatened to come here for thirty years, and we finally decided to silence the skeptics.

For those of you who don't know us, I'll give you the quick run down. Darrel and I met at the Colorado Springs Christian School in the early '70's and were married in December of '74. I had grown up in the mountains of Colorado and gone to school at Colorado State in Fort Collins. Darrel, on the other hand, was a Kansas Farm Boy who had gone to K-State, gotten an Engineering degree, worked a couple of years as an engineer, gotten involved with the Navigators, did his 2-year stint in the army, and then decided to become a teacher.  When he began teaching at the Christian school, he would take a group of kids to Immanuel Mission during spring break. Darrel was an elder at the Westside Christians Assembly.

We had five children, and eventually, we took them to live on the farm where Darrel grew up in Kansas. Darrel worked at Central Christian School in Hutchinson, and I stayed home and nurtured children.  We had many years of happy fellowship with the folks at the Hutchinson Gospel Chapel and  saw our kids grow enthusiastic about the Lord at Kansas Bible Camp.

But now our birds are all out of the nest, and we are looking for adventure. Darrel, at age 72 has been retired from teaching for about six years, but missing it. So he agreed to try his hand at the junior and senior high science classes. I, who am not quite sixty, feel I've got a few good years left. I have taught off and on at various and sundry levels and subjects over the years, and so I have been assigned (or should I say, I have volunteered) to teach high school English and geography, high school art, and take care of the library.

We are adjusting well. It is so nice to walk to school and to church; the walk for exercise is like "being in a calendar" (as Miss Becky would say), the neighbors are very friendly, and the kids are a lot of fun once you get to know them. The store, however, is a goodly piece. We thought that might help on the budget, but since we go less, we just spend more when we do go--unfortunately.

The hardest part was leaving our kids and grandkids behind. Grace, our five year old, cried herself to sleep after we left. Oh my goodness! I guess that's about the only suffering we've done as missionaries. There are many delightful people praying for us, working for us, sending us stuff. It's almost too much!  Thanks to you all.

Love Darrel and Barbara Valdois

• 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

We are encouraging retired couples with appropriate skills to come for a few weeks or a few months to help with maintenance. Contact John Bloom at 928.674.3616 (ext.18 daytime) ( ext.14 evenings)

Dear You,

The school year has begun; I do indeed have merely 7 students in my 5th/6th grade class [although nine 4 th graders join us for Spelling/Penmanship] My students are Thomuel, Nicole, Irah (6th grade), Shantelle, Crystal, Janna, and DeBryce (5th grade). One of the campers from KBC this summer gave me $10 for ministry to my students; she had Hot Cheetos in mind because I had mentioned how much the Navajo children like them. So, they eat!!

We are studying Genesis through I Samuel this year. Do you remember the WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE? [Creation, Fall, Flood, Nations, etc] We will be learning about the Old World in History/Geography, the Fertile Crescent, the Cradle of Civilization, The Middle East, etc. We've got a good start on memorizing the 53 prepositions, II Peter 1:13 and 14, the multiplication number songs for 4's, 6's, 7's, and 8's (that I came up with), and the Books of the Bible.

Please pray for my kiddos in regards to their growth as baby Christians, their school work (some of which is very hard for them), their home life (not a Christ-like place for most), and their teacher to do her very best to teach and show them Christ's love. That should keep you praying for a while!

I am still the Campbell's coordinator for the school. I hope you have heard about the change in what is being collected [suddenly]. If not, it's the UPC's, rather than the front panels. [No lids--they're too heavy to make mailing them worthwhile] We have not received even one UPC since early August. Weird.

Barbara Valdois is my new walking partner. We are enjoying many gorgeous sunsets! The colors out here are incredible. We see thousands of stars at night compared to the hundreds I see when in the Detroit or Albuquerque area. I am doing back exercises and am enjoying the 'hospitality' of Ruth's hot tub most evenings. I am happy to report that these two practices have greatly reduced my back pain.

At times, there are 22 hummingbirds at my kitchen window, fighting at the feeders.

[I'm not going to mention that I catch 9 live mice a week in this trailer, 'cause . . . YUCK!]

I've been really 'chewing' on Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest, I & II Corinthians, and Psalms [40's]. Here are some snippets that I read daily to myself: "Lord, put awareness of Yourself in me. Pursue love. I will sing with the spirit. May I delight to do Your will. In Christ, is 'YES'"

May you delight in Him as well, because of His mercy, Becky Knopf

P.S. Thank you to all of you who give money for my needs and ministry. It doesn't all go to Cheetos!!! :-)

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 and Andrew Nelson 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