Summer 2021

The end of the school year provided a time to count God’s blessings and to look ahead, hopefully, to a more “normal” school year. Hilltop offered face-to-face instruction all year, with a packet option for students who chose to remain isolated.

 

Teachers cheered when chrome books arrived on a cart so 2^nd through 6^th graders could continue with computer class. Through a contact of Teacher Mapes, we also received several donated computers, so the old computers can be retired. The students enjoyed art class with Teacher G and delighted in the projects displayed on the hall bulletin boards. Hilltop did not let Covid interfere with our chapel program. Teacher N hosted chapel via Zoom every week and included all of the children who were doing Hilltop at Home. The children were happy to be in school, and students and teachers had a healthy year.

 

As the staff shared their year’s highlights, spiritual highlights outranked them all. We saw how God’s perfect timing enabled Fallon’s Aunt who had spiritual questions to open up to staff members. Mary, and Lia approached their teachers privately to confide that they had asked Jesus into their hearts. Older children, Rivers and Ed, shared their decisions publically in class and made progress in their personal Bible reading and devotions. For many students, choosing to follow Jesus creates tensions because parents follow their own traditions. 

 

As the children were learning their Bible lessons and verses, parents confided that they were being influenced to re-think their own obedience to God and whether they should continue Navajo Ceremonies. Because of our unshakable faith in God’s provision and sovereignty, we at Hilltop believe the children became more focused on God’s power and lovingkindness. In fact, one of their favorite songs this year was called “Jesus, Strong and Kind.”

 

Before we know it, the 2021-2022 school year will begin. We plan to return all students to face-to-face instruction. We hope that enrollment will increase and we’ll be running a robust program next year. 

 

 

 

*Students’ names are changed.