March Newsletter

posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008

[From: Megan Thruston]

Hey, everyone!

Well, it has been an exciting week so far and it is only Tuesday! The past weekend John and Ruth Bloom went to California to promote the mission at a church that has supported us by sending a huge youth group every summer for years, maybe 10 or 11 years now. Anyway, they had a busy yet good time visiting friends. On the way home from the airport, Ruth became very sick. Yesterday around 11.30 am, John had to take her to the hospital. They thought it was appendicitis; however, some tissue had wrapped around the end of her colon. The surgery fixed it and she should be home today! What a relief. Please pray for a quick recovery for her.

When someone is seriously sick here, it changes everything. When something like this happens, the rest of us need to pitch in and help pick up the slack. Ruth is our bookkeeper, so this means she'll have to play catch-up with her work. She also goes through boxes that are sent to the mission and writes thank yous to the senders; she invites singles over for meals...half of us on Monday nights, the other half on Tuesday nights. Ruth is married and takes care of her husband, their cat and dog, and herself. She has children and grandchildren. She prays with other missionaries in the morning. Ruth does a lot for all of us. Please remember, she is out here serving the LORD, not a contract. I'm not in any way trying to put down people who are not in "full time ministry". Christians serve the LORD wherever they are and with whatever they are doing; on the other hand, it is different out here. We are an isolated community, living and working together. We are about two hours from the nearest town and hospital. Being sick or hurt, affects all of us.

Enough sermonizing! This week is short because our Spring Break starts Thursday afternoon. Enough teachers had plans that included leaving on Friday, so John decided not to have school on Friday. My friend, Kelli Wilson, and I will leave here Friday morning with my dogs and be at my mom's house Saturday night, God willing! That means I'll be in my home church for Easter Sunday. I am looking forward very much to being in the northwest and at the beach.

A couple weeks ago, a young man accepted Jesus as his Savior! Uryah is in tenth grade. He talked to Kathy, our school counselor, and said he was ready right then to become a Christian! It's so exciting. Uryah hasn't had an easy life, and he has made some bad decisions. He's gone from a depressed young man to someone that looks happy. He and Kathy are doing a Bible study once a week. Please keep him in your prayers! Also last week, an old man, Ray accepted the Lord. This was three days before he died. His son, Roger, had been praying for him for years. Ray had been a crystal gazer and refused to learn about that "white man's god". Traditional ways were good enough for him. After his salvation, he urged Roger and his family to share the gospel with and pray for Ray's wife and unsaved children. Because of this, I don't think it was some fake conversion born out of fear, but a genuine acceptance of God as his creator and savior! Please pray for this family as it is hard to lose a loved one.

Well, it is time for me to go. I hope to see most of you next week.

love, megan

STALEY TIMES

posted on Monday, March 17, 2008

[From: Greg & Kathy Staley]

Eight or ten of us stand in front of our chapel singing "Victory in Jesus" followed by "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus". In front of us is a casket, covered with a bright Pendleton blanket and a spray of followers. We look beyond that to a very full room of friends and family come to pay their respects to a local neighbor and Medicine Man. Crystal-gazing was Ray's specialty and people would come to him with their problems and, for a fee, discover where their cows had wandered to, who was trying to harm them, or what was causing their physical ailments. Satan made sure he was accurate enough times to keep the people coming back for his services. But one day Ray experienced problems he had no answers for. He himself was sick and the doctors held out no hope for him. His lungs were damaged from working in the uranium mines years ago, his one remaining kidney failing, and an infection spreading through his body.

As he lay in Intensive Care his son Roger pleaded with him, as he had many times in the past. "Dad, there is no hope in your medicine-man ways. Your only hope is to surrender your life to the Lord who loves you and died for you." This 87 year old man, who all his life had rejected Jesus, asked his son to show him how to receive the Lord as his Saviour. Ray was clearly a changed man, asking Roger to pray for him in the days ahead and encouraging his wife to also give herself to the Lord. A couple of days later Jesus took this man to Paradise where perhaps he met the other one who Jesus received at the moment of death, the thief on the Cross. What a God we have who does not give up, but keeps pursuing mankind. "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the last."

(John 13:1) Ray Hosteen died in Christ with hope and courage.

It never ceases to amaze me that all the alternatives to Christ that seem to satisfy folks when life is going along alright, fail to meet the needs when death disrupts life. They have nothing to stand on. And so they up at our door asking to use the church building, for our believers to sing, and for one of the elders to preach the service and pray at the graveside. Many don't seem to get it.

Back to the funeral.......

We leave the front of the church and a granddaughter who doesn't know the Lord gives a eulogy about all the good things Chei (grandpa)Ray did in his life and the things he taught them. She told how the love of his life was his sheep and his home way up the Canyon where there was no running water or electricity.

Then Greg, the one asked to officiate, gives it to them straight, telling how nothing in the Navajo religion offers hope, and the need for Christ's sacrifice for man. All through the service many sit stony-faced and hard. They just can't see the Truth.

The family, largely unbelievers, don't want Roger to talk at the service, but Greg calls on him to tell what happened to the family's husband, dad and grandpa. He gave a powerful message about the change God brought about in his dad. Some of us, standing in the back because every chair was taken, cheer him on and pray for the Spirit to open blind eyes.

After expressing comfort and love to the grieving family the casket is carried out to a waiting vehicle and the procession begins the slow trip up the Canyon where Ray is to be buried. Forty minutes later, (remember we travel bumpy dirt roads?) we get out of our cars. The grave is not right, according to the morticians, so while some are digging and straightening the rectangular hole we have lots of time to look around. This truly is a gorgeous place that Ray once called home. The red mesas, the white-domed rocks set against a clear blue sky are spectacular and one could almost forget that we are here to leave a much-loved man in the ground to rot.

When the hole is perfect we sing again our songs of hope, Greg prays, and the casket is carefully lowered into the ground. The family throws in garbage bags filled with the clothes Ray won't be needing anymore. The Mortician scoops up dirt with a shovel and invites anyone who wants to throw a handful of dirt on top of the casket. When they are done the hole is filled in and rounded on the top to allow for settling. Then loved ones decorate the mound with flowers and we are ready to make the forty minute trip back to the mission church to eat. We will have spent seven hours in all laying Ray's body to rest.

Because of God's mercy, for those of us who know Him, the day was a wonderful celebration of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life. He is our Hope for this life and the next. Praise Him.

Our love and thanks to each of you,

Greg and Kathy

P.S. Last week was our 37th wedding anniversary. Greg's comment? "I couldn't have done it without you."

flashback - february 2008

posted on Monday, March 17, 2008

[From: Andrew Nelson]

Dear praying supporters,

This winter we have had more snow for this area than in previous 10 or so years. This makes the roads quite a mess when it melts. We have had cycles of snow then mud then snow then mud then snow then mud again. As far as I can tell the only people that have any reason to dislike it would be the bus drivers. They have been making it through though and we only had to cancel school one day because of the mud. With all the extra moisture we expect to have a very green Spring.

During February we had our annual school carnival. It is a great community event. Many of the parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other friends come for the evening. We also use the carnival as one of the fund-raisers for the bi-annual Junior/Senior trip. This means all the high schoolers help run the booths. Some of the booths include a duck pond, ring toss, dart throw, TP toss, basketball shoot, face painting, photo studio, fish pond, jail, arcade, and a few others I can't think of right now. They also have a food sale. One thing we were thankful for was that the students that helped were well behaved and helpful.

February had several exciting high school basketball games. It is always way more fun to watch a close game win or lose than one that is a blowout. Many of the games this season have been no exception. I continued to record the games and put them on DVD. It makes the games a little less fun for me, but many of the students and parents enjoy being able to watch the games again later (especially if they missed the game).

We are still praying for a maintenance man, bus drivers, bus mechanic, and some more teachers to lighten the load. If you or anyone you know might be interested in these ministries we would appreciate prayerful consideration of getting involved. Regardless we thank the Lord for how he already provides for us in numerous ways.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus,

Andrew Nelson

February Newsletter

posted on Monday, March 03, 2008

[From: Kelli Wilson]

February started off with a running start. We've had three birthdays in my class this month, not to mention a Valentine's party. The first weekend of the month we had a carnival here at the school as one of the big fund raisers for the junior/senior trip. They won't take one this year but are saving up for one next year. It was a huge success. I think one of the biggest attractions was The Jail. For one ticket you could put anyone you wanted to in jail. In order to get out they had to say a memory verse. I was put in jail twice! Good thing that I have had many people over the years encourage me to memorize verses! We had several home basketball games this month, despite the fact that one or two were canceled. Both teams did really well this season. The boys had a 7 and 6 season; the girls were 8 and 5. This weekend is the State Tournament.

For February 10th-12th I went to Emmaus Bible College in Iowa as a representative of Immanuel Mission. Every year the college has a Christian Ministry Seminar. In it several ministries send representatives to tell the students about the opportunities to serve the Lord at their particular camp or mission. I went to represent Immanuel Mission. Last year when I was still just looking at coming down here, I was able to talk to John and Ruth Bloom at CMS. It was great to go this year and talk to other people about the mission. Many of those I talked to this year were still just freshmen or weren't interested in coming to work here, but still interested in the work that goes on here. We are still looking for several people to fill in gaps in our staff. I also got to participate in a Women's Ministry panel. There were about 10-11 women on the panel. That was a new experience for me, but I enjoyed it. It was neat to be back in the halls of my old college, but not have the pressure of homework and papers and all that college stuff. I was surprised at how many people I still knew. I was able to have some great conversations with some great people. I stayed the week with my old roommate and her husband. A couple of friends even made the trip to Dubuque to see me. It was great to catch up and hang out with good friends. The travel to and from Iowa was less than ideal, but the time I had there made it more than worth it!

The last weekend this month, several of the women from the mission went on a retreat to Durango. There is a retreat center there that is just for people involved in full-time ministry—and it is free to stay there! It was a wonderful facility. There were 5-6 bedrooms and almost everyone had their own personal bathroom and shower. We had a great time that included shopping (of course!), games, sharing times, prayer, worship, and fellowship. It was a great weekend. I was challenged and encouraged in ways that only the Lord can do. I also enjoyed getting to know the ladies on a more personal level. All in all it was a huge success!

Please continue to pray for me:
Pray for my new student Kenneth as he learns how to listen and obey.
Pray for continual spiritual growth.
Pray for the business of life to not derail me from the more important things.
Pray for my students (and all ages) to be saved and to come closer to the Lord

Much Love,
Kelli