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 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

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Greetings to my praying friends!

Before we have our school Christmas there are a lot of gifts that need to be sorted through and chosen for the students. Many people from across the nation send gifts throughout the year to be given to each of the students. Though I have not yet helped in organizing all this I know it takes a lot of work. This year it was mostly Ruth and Kathy that sorted and prepared them.

We were blessed by a white blanket of snow on the day of school Christmas. It even lasted longer than one day. Usually it is melted by noon time. The gifts are a blessing and especially nice for a few of the students who wouldn't get Christmas at home. There are some of course that get what any typical American kid would get: video games and remote control cars. Many here are not poor as some might think. But they are still very poor spiritually and that is what we are here for.

Community Christmas was held on a Saturday. We had a little over 200 show up. The program included a Nativity play, singing, a message, short video, and lunch. It is a really neat time to visit with members of the community that one normally doesn't see around. Pray that the clear gospel message would continue to be shared. Every home and every life needs to be changed.

Over the last week of the semester we had a man here filming all of the typical activities of Immanuel Mission. He will be editing and compiling a 10-15 minute video about the mission to give those interested in this ministry a window into what goes on here.

I stay here again this year over the break. I did a lot of work setting up more computers for the new computer lab. We are now up to 15 decent working computers. The "new" ones that I am setting up now are actually older but do help us accommodate the classes better. As time allows and I can scrounge up enough parts I will eventually get the last 10 computers online.

For Christmas I went to Greg & Kathy's neighbors for plenty of food and a good time. After the meal Greg and I went with the younger ones to the backside of a hill that still had snow on it. Justin had just got a new sled and we were able to test run it down that hill.

After Christmas I went with Eddie, Betty, Angel, Shantelle, and Lorena down to Southwest Bible Camp to visit the Niningers for a couple of days. It was good to see them and I had a fun time with Eddie & Betty's grandchildren on the going and coming.

Thanks to everyone who thinks about, prays, supports, and encourages everyone here at Immanuel Mission. We are still somewhat short on help and specifically need another bus driver. Pray for the Lord's provision in that area.

In Christ alone we stand,

Andrew Nelson


Here is a preview of a few of the photos I have posted. You can view all 132 of them on my website including Community Christmas, School Christmas, and other December Snapshots. Visit my website for more frequent news and photos. www.drewnels.net

New Year's Day 2007

It seems like our lives are just a series of adventures. I don't know if it is because just getting up and facing the day is an adventure, or because the Lord wants us to keep trusting Him every day.

We managed to finish our first semester at Emmanuel Mission only panting a little from tests, papers, programs, report cards and present wrapping. We were keeping a keen eye on the weather preparing our much anticipated journey back to Kansas to visit children, grandchildren and friends. However,keen eyes are not always enough. We ran into blizzard conditions coming off from La Veta pass and took shelter with some long time friends that we hadn't seen for over 20 years. What the Lord will do to get the Lord's people together to encourage one another!
We finally did reach home and had a delightful Christmas with our family. But now getting back seems to be the problem. We are still in Garden City troubleshooting bad weather and car trouble. Just now Darrel came in and said, "Let's go." So I will update you later. If you read this on the first or second, be praying for us!

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

I believe that this verse will be my prayer for this year. It was pointed out to me by God. [Between my heart and my tongue, I have some real struggles. Yet, I am God's child, secure in His love, and He has given me Himself, so . . . do not despair - final victory IS certain!] How may I remember you in prayer?

It was good to see family and friends in MI, and good to get home before the airport and highways were closed because of record-breaking snowstorms in NM! There isn't a single flake of snow here so it's hard to imagine the mess that "nearby" cities are facing.

My Aunt Faith is having a difficult time health wise; please pray for her as you remember me in your prayers. Thank you.

I am eager to see my students tomorrow A.M. The Cedarville Youth Group was stranded somewhere, but has arrived, I think. The Blooms were stranded in Tucumcari, NM for quite a while but are home now.

I yearn to see my students following Jesus, choosing Jesus, recognizing the Truth of the Scriptures and saying "Yes" to Christ. Pray with me still for Irah, Thomuel, Nicole, Yunna, Janna, DeBryce, Shantelle, and Crystal. Pray still for their teacher, whose comfort lies in knowing that The Almighty God chose her for this group of kids this year.

Thank you for the prayers (they 'availeth much') and for your notes and offerings. My God meets my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. What a mighty and amazing GOD we serve! Watch for His blessings in the coming year; He is here and He is not silent!!!

Your joyous fellow servant, Becky Knopf

P.O. Box 2000, Teec Nos Pos, AZ 86514-2000