October 27

October 27, 2013

Dear Prayer Friends,

Well, we had parent conferences this week, and in some ways it was like conferences we had with parents three decades ago and in other ways, far, far different. We were given a schedule, but we had no idea who would show up: a grandparent, a step-parent, an adoptive parent, or a whole blended family. On the whole, the teachers’ opinions were honored, and we were treated respectfully.

Look! We made a chicken coop.

And we came away with a wealth of information that should help us to understand our students better and encourage us. 

 As we knew, these children come from unfathomable circumstances. Moms admitted that they have their youngest children here because they don’t want to make the same “mistakes” they made with the older ones.

    In one class, only one of the girls has a mom.

    Our youngest student just turned six this week.

    Students can’t concentrate because they are allowed to watch all the TV they want or play video games all day when they are at home.

    Children have been allowed to raise themselves: (so they rebel at our authority).

    Children are bounced around to live with different people or are stressed because others have been removed from their families.

    Several children have serious language deficits probably due to understanding neither Navajo nor English spoken in the home during language formation time.

    One boy saw his mother being stabbed by one boyfriend and dumped out of the car by another. Most of the children have witnessed domestic violence.

    A short boy who has serious anger issues had health problems as a youngster, which explains his stature and gaps in his education.

    Moms admitted to going to Christian church and traditional Navajo ceremonies.

Yet, parents told us how their children have shown better attitudes at home.

    One boy insists that his adoptive parents pray before meals. (They are not Christians.) He also makes his sister write Bible verses when she acts up at home, which is a consequence he is quite familiar with.

    One girl has totally turned around her behavior and study habits, to the parents’ deep pleasure.

    One parent assured us that their children would be here for the duration because of the love and attention we lavish on her children.

    One parent cried when I prayed for her. I’m not sure anyone has prayed aloud for her and her child before.

    Parents are concerned about their child’s academic progress and are grateful that they are in a safe and loving environment.

Thank you for your prayers for our conferences. The Lord answered in wonderful ways.

The Everetts

Standin' on the corner of Winslow, Arizona...

October 20, 2013

October 20, 2013

Apparently my weekly ramblings haven’t put you all to sleep yet, according to some feedback we received last week. Thank you all.

Last week was so strange; with the fall break and the Convention with one day of school in the middle, it felt like we had four Saturdays followed by a Friday.  Peter Vasquez (www.2ndchancegrace.org) lodged here on campus and shared with the students from Tuesday through Friday. Friday night was his last message, and being weary from the “convention,” I didn’t want to go, but I’m glad I did.

He started a short message, but as he was led by the Spirit, he turned over the microphone to audience members who wanted to testify about answered prayers or tell how they had come to Christ or share their burdens. The first boy to the microphone was one of Roger’s students who said that God had answered their prayers for a safe trip for the teachers. My newest student, who I wasn’t even sure had a voice because he didn’t speak up in class, told how he had become a Christian. With radiance on her face, a girl shared how she was changed by Christ from being a bully and a failing student to being a friend making good grades. (This one had earlier indicated to me that she was unsure of her salvation, but she is now secure in Jesus’ love.) One of my other girls opened up and told about her nephew’s death and how she thinks God hates her. Pray hard for this one. She knows she is loved here, but she hasn’t grasped the hand of the One who loves her the most. The children’s testimonies were mixed in with those of other adults from the campus and the town. It was an amazing meeting!

We enjoyed the ACSI Nexus Live meetings in Flagstaff, and are still collecting our notes and thoughts from the various speakers. I took a photo of our staff by the pond at Flagstaff Christian School. But another story comes out of that: A woman approached our principal, who was wearing his Sun Valley Indian School shirt, and told him this story: There was a young man who attended our school for one year and through the school became a follower of Jesus and was given a Bible. A few years later, this teen was tragically killed in a car accident. His father, seeking solace, found the boy’s school Bible and began reading it with all its notes and underlinings, and he also put his trust in Christ.  

We just don’t know how much time we will have to influence these children, so pray that our efforts here will have an eternal effect.

Parent conferences are coming up on Friday. We don’t know these parents at all, and this could make for some awkward conferences. We pray for the truth spoken in love and sensitivity to the parents’ needs as well as the children’s.

As always, we appreciate you and your prayers.

The Everetts

Navajo Nuggets October 13

October 13, 2013

Greetings from Sun Valley,

As our teaching staff was meandering out of our SMART BOARD training class in a Holbrook public school, a 3^rd grade girl on her way to lunch abruptly stopped; her eyes and smile widened as she ran into the arms of her former dorm mom and her last year’s teacher. She went from one to the other and back again, just hugging them and soaking up the love. That’s what we do here.  Love them to Jesus.  Some of the children are like frightened puppies that need to be rescued. They growl and bite, and are afraid to be touched, but what they really want and need is love (sometimes tough love).

One of our troubled students has left and gone back to live with his family. Please pray that Roger’s talks with him about Jesus will find a foothold in his heart.

Sickness has swept through the campus. Many adults and children suffered with bad colds. It is a good thing that this is Fall Break, so they have a chance to recover.

This will be a busy week.  We have some in-service meetings for two days and then the ACSI Conference in Flagstaff on Thursday and Friday.  There just seems to be so much to do!  At least one thing we don’t have to do is move. We have decided to stay in the dorm apartment. If we get any more girls, I’ll become a co-dorm parent as well as being a teacher.

I really enjoyed chatting with some of the Work and Witness team from Russell Springs, Kentucky, this week. It turns out that one of them knew the dad of a neighbor we had in Waldorf. Small world.

Roger thinks that I’m probably drowning you in “Nuggets,” so I might be writing them less frequently.  That is some kind of weird mixed metaphor. Can you drown in nuggets?

Love,

The Everetts

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

October 6

October 6, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

God is mighty and powerful and able to accomplish way above that which we can ask or think.  I thought I’d share a few recent praises we have here at SVIS.

God is Present everywhere: And He sends us Work and Witness teams from all over the country. These teams have been such a blessing in helping with building projects on the grounds and the kitchen and in being just the right team with the gifts to help in our classrooms or library or nurse’s office.

God is Independent: Last week we received a donation of $10,000 from a person who had no previous connection with the school. How did God lead him to donate to us? We still don’t know, but we are grateful.

God in Infinite: And His resources are inexhaustible: Someone just donated a truck, which is very useful for hauling here on the grounds.

God is Good: We have received hundreds of beautiful books for our library and classrooms.

New Books!

God is the Provider: A retired teacher donated thousands of dollars worth of teaching materials, which we eagerly peruse for enriching our teaching.

God is Love: The best part of last week was when the girls came off the playground, and as they passed by, they each hugged me.  J

God is All-Knowing: Our principal, Kris, talked about Stephen in chapel. His point was about holding on to love and not to hate. But the very next day, my Bible lesson was also on Stephen. It made such a seamless connection for these children who had never heard this story.

Baby bunnies on the playground

God is Merciful: Helen, our librarian, was in the hospital. Sharon and I left to visit her after school (45 min. drive), and she called Sharon. Sharon said we were on our way to visit her, and Helen responded that she was being released, and would be ready to leave when we arrived! It was so beautiful that we were on our way, answering her need before she even asked. This same friend lost her purse, and it was returned to Albuquerque (her hometown) with nothing missing.

God is Wise: We have a decision to make this week about becoming dorm parents as well as teachers. If we don’t, we’ll have to move to different housing. None of the options seem good, but please help us pray as we make the choice.

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

love,

Roger and Sara