November 24

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was astronomy week at Sun Valley. Last fall when we took the children to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Roger happened to run into a man who is part of a program that sends astronomers to the various school sites and shows them cool stuff on the computers (in a trailer) or teaches them some astronomy basics in the classroom. We have been preparing for their 2-day visit by studying stars in our classrooms and reading related topics with our students. Most of the teachers also showed Louie Giglio’s “How Great is Our God” video. (If you haven’t seen it, just stop right now and watch it: http://vimeo.com/44485151).

As the children watched the computer-generated phases of the moon, we taught them that the moon is a faithful witness (Psalm 89:37). Every 24 hours we see the moon as it orbits, stabilizes and protects the earth. One of our teachers asked her students to write down the name of someone they wanted to be a faithful witness to, and one student reported to her that he had written down the name of another student in the dorm (whom we have been praying for since day one). Revival can start when students care about the spiritual condition of their dorm mates.

The heavens are telling the glory of God (Psalm 19:1)!  We looked at Sirius, Antares, and Betelgeuse and other stars that are trillions of miles away and tried to count them as Abraham did. What an awesome God we worship! But that should not make us feel small; it should make us feel privileged, because we are made in His image, and He cares for us. We appreciate the way you have extended God’s care through your care for us too. Thank you for helpful gifts these past few months. We know that He can hold onto us no matter what happens. My students are troubled by many things, and I had the opportunity to share with them how Jesus can hold onto them even when they are plagued by memories of unspeakable things in their lives. The more we learn, the more our hearts break for these dear creations of God.

Our first Arizona snow! What a surprise!

The children ran Time forward and backward on the computers as they watched sunrises and sunsets over England.  Our sun, close and warm, is really a ball of raging, massive, and ferocious fire.  God laughs at the pride of men and devils that oppose him (Psalm 2:4). Though we feel satan’s attacks daily on the campus through such things as behavior issues, financial need, lifestyle decisions made by parents that affect their children, and false religion, we know He is in control; and we have a close-knit and warm community of believers here to soldier with us.

This week please pray particularly for the financial needs of Sun Valley Indian School, which operates totally on donations. We worship the unrivaled God, who showers us with wisdom, kindness and faithfulness; and we pray that we will serve Him faithfully.

Love,

The Everetts

 

Snow November 24th.

November 17, 2013

November 17, 2013

Dear Friends,

Hey, I might not know the difference between a dodger and a diamondback, but I can recognize a team. Here at Sun Valley www.indianschool.org we are a team of teams. Over all of us is the administrative and office staff. Then we have the school staff, the maintenance staff, the spiritual life team, the dorm parents, the kitchen staff, and the Work and Witness coordinators. 

Today I want to briefly introduce you to the academic team (in their own words)

Kris: (principal) I am from a military family and claim many states as my home. Hobbies include sports activities, chess, and watching my own two children. I am seeking to establish my biblical worldview more and more.

Natalie: (8^th grade) I grew up in rural West Virginia and graduated college in Virginia with degrees in chemistry and education. The Lord sent me to Sun Valley with two days’ notice, and I have been so blessed to grow as a Christian in this amazing, supportive community. Most of my time is spent preparing for my students, whom I adore, but when I am not grading assignments or planning lessons, I like to spend time marveling at nature on walks, where I occasionally seek out native plants to make my favorite drink of herbal tea.

Roger: (3^rd) I have been an elementary principal in Christian schools for the last 30 years. Before that I taught in Kijabe, Kenya, for two years, and the Lord has given me a heart for cross-cultural ministries. On a lighter side, I hope to take in a Los Angeles Dodgers spring training game in Phoenix.

Sara (6^th) I am originally from Joshua Tree, CA, and have live in Iowa and Maryland. I’ve taught in Christian schools most of my adult life.  We have two grown boys, and I like to read and scrapbook when I have time.

Aaron (7^th) I graduated from Northern Arizona University. I was a weatherman in the military. I love snowboarding, tennis, reading, and hot chocolate. I love to show the kids different types of maps.

Caitlyn(1^st-2^nd) I am from New Baltimore, NY. I enjoy running, hiking, music, and camping. I am thankful that the Lord has provided a place where I can love and serve Him as I obey His calling for my life. I am very blessed and happy to call SVIS my home.

Sharon (4^th-5^th)I was born in Ohio. I have lived in IL, MN, CA, CO, SD, and MT. This past summer I helped out at as horse barn. I play guitar, flute, some piano, and clarinet. I like to write stories and poems. I love teaching, especially teaching Bible.

One of my students, who plays JV volleyball sat next to me at a Varsity game. She said, “I get it now. It is not about winning; it’s about teamwork and growing and encouraging each other…”  Wow!

Last Friday, for the first time I had ever seen it, all of my students sat at lunch conversing in a group– not in individual conversations as they usually do. I felt it was a breakthrough moment, and I just sat back praising and watching the process of team building.

And you are our team too. We have prayer warriors in Iowa, Maryland, California, Texas, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Internationally. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.

The Everetts

November 11

This weekend was an “at home” weekend.  The school vans take students half way home so parents do not have to drive for two to two and a half hours to pick them up from school and then turn around to go home.  Last Friday evening, one student rode the van to the rendezvous spot but was not picked up.  Calls were made.  Mom could not take care of her this weekend, An Aunt said that she was too busy to pick up the child that night but could get her Saturday morning. Does this child arrive at school feeling loved and cared for by her family?

A student has an older brother who has been removed from the home by abuse allegations made by the older sister. The mom feels she can’t discipline the younger children (who attend our school) because of the allegations. Discipline balanced with love is a foreign concept. Children are abused or left to run wild. The older sister has a child who also attends our school. The older sister does not have custody of her own child because of chemical dependency. This sister comes to visit her daughter with her partner -- the young child’s “daddy mommy.”  This is how they live.  Do these children show up to school on Monday morning ready to learn?

Many of our children are already in self-preservation mode. They have been forced to think only of themselves in order to meet their own needs. When we talk of slavery to sin, we think of addiction to drugs, alcohol, immorality, gambling, etc. But, my third graders have given me a new perspective on slavery to sin.  They do none of the above, yet they are deeply enslaved to sin.  They lack discipline. They lack self-control. They lack compassion for others.  They lack the ability to practice delayed gratification. They walk in the door thinking only of their needs.  They want to be in control. They want to be the god of their life.  I understand why, but that is still the original sin, wanting to be god. I have been amazed to observe that Satan has the same power over these little children as he does over the addicts; they’re enslaved.

 

Fortunately, not all of the students are like that all of the time.  God is working.  We pray for wisdom as more and more is revealed to us.  Please pray for these students’ culture and their families.. Above all, pray that God will break through the hardness of their enslaved hearts and allow them to find the true freedom they are looking for in the One who can make them free indeed.

The Everetts

November 4

November 4, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Are we having fun yet? We certainly are. Last week was Spirit Week, so we celebrated with all the traditional craziness.

Not too many children felt comfortable wearing their clothes backwards on Backwards Day, but we ran the schedule backwards just to break the routine. Crazy Hair Day got full participation. Boys generally gelled or “dyed” hair, but the girls went into full design mode creating wild hairdos using water bottles, combs, pencils, and other accessories.

On Mismatch Day, the adults dressed weirder than the kids. But, we got a chuckle out of one student who traditionally matches flowers with stripes because she, for once, was not mismatched. It was fun to see everyone’s creativity at breakfast each morning.

Funny things happen all day long, but we can’t always remember them. We were making Christmas cards to send to the sponsors, and one little girl struggled with drawing a manger scene on the front. She finally made one that included zebras and bears. On the inside of the card, she sketched a fat turkey--just because she wanted to.

The children change into indoor shoes right at the door to keep the floors a bit cleaner. Today, a boy in a great hurry to go to recess, took off his slippers, but ran right out in his socks, leaving his shoes on the shelf.

One of the “magic” phrases around here is, “I have to do something about that.” When a child needs a warning or a delayed consequence, this phrase works wonders. It also is a great answer for a Bible test: Question: What happens if you sin after you have asked Jesus to be your Savior?  Answer: Somebody will have to do something about that.

And my favorite story this week. With the exception of two, everyone in my class was eligible to play in the volleyball game. The two that weren’t going to the game sniped at each other all day and complained that they had to be together after the team left. It was getting so bad that they were earning consequences. Anyway, after the team left, I took them to the computer lab for keyboarding class. Here they are in the lab with twenty empty chairs and where do they sit? Right next to each other!

We had a Harvest Party last weekend complete with a hayride, candied apples, and carnival–type games in the gym. Roger and I manned the bean-bag toss. The weekend before, the children went ice-skating.

So, yes, we want to teach the children about Jesus, and yes, education and manners are very important; but when you think of us this week, remember these are precious children, who love to laugh and have fun. And Jesus gives JOY here at Sun Valley every day!

The Everetts

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...