Chime Choir to Kansas NMI Convention

GOD BLESS AMERICA, a song we all love -- but, when Native American 7th and 8th graders interpret it with sticks as seen in this picture, your heart swells with gratitude and praise to a God who heals and restores. These students and their aunts and uncles, grandparents, parents, siblings, all love America -- and it comes through loud and strong as they portray "God bless America, land that I love."

What a blessing the people of the Kansas District of the Church of the Nazarene received this week as the SVIS Chime Choir performed several numbers with sticks and others with sign language.

I had the privilege of traveling with these eight students across several states, from Sun Valley Arizona to Wichita Kansas -- two hard days of travel -- and what a joy it was to be with them. You want to take a teen group on a long trip? Take eight beautiful, fun, patient Navajo students! They know how to travel! Maybe it's because, living on the 25,000 square mile Navajo reservation, they learn very young that it takes a long time to go ANYWHERE!!

Thank you for your prayers and support. Again, keep praying for staff for next school term which begins August 6 -- and for those children God wants to bring to the school.

God bless you.

2006-2007 School Promotion

This year at SVIS ended very well. All the students showed improvement -- all tested at grade level. Many of the students had accepted Jesus as their Savior -- and were showing tremendous growth and transformation!

We are now looking to the new school year which begins August 6. Pray with us that God will send just the right staff and those Navajo children who can benefit from this ministry. Also pray for finances -- we know you have many opportunities to give to other ministries-- however, if God prompts you to give to Sun Valley, please listen to His call and respond. We depend for support on the obedience to God's call of our many friends accross this nation. More than anything else, we need your prayers!! God bless you real good!

Students Minister at homeless shelter

How do you keep a bus load of middle school students occupied on a nine-hour trip from Sun Valley Arizona to Bishop, California? You teach them how to do chicken scratch!! Ever hear of that? I wish you could have seen the beautiful squares the students made as they traveled. (The pictures display examples of their work.)

Last night the students had an opportunity to minister to the local homeless shelter. In that meeting, they shared their chicken scratch blanket (assembled from the squares they made on the trip) and a pillow with a family who had been living at the shelter until just recently. Mom, Kaitlynn, was given the lovely blanket for her brand new baby, Hazel -- and Joshua, a 7th grader, presented her little boy, Kevin, with a pillow he had made especially for him. You can see the great big smile on Kevin's face. He was so pleased and excited with his gift -- and just look at Joshua's smile. Giving is so much fun!!

What an awesome opportunity for the students to share in ministry. And what a creative way to entertain squirmy 7th and 8th graders on a long journey through the desert.

Opportunities for Ministry at SVIS

We have opportunities for ministry in the following areas:

Teacher
English
Math
Upper elementary
Bookkeeper
Maintenance Person (2)
Director of Food Service
Kitchen Utility Person (2)
Media Specialist/Library
Dorm Parent
Director of Student Life and Facilities
School Office Secretary
Sponsorship Secretary
Nurse - Health

It may be that God has called YOU to minister at Sun Valley Indian School. The need is great for enthusiastic workers that love to work in a team setting and to share the joy of seeing changed lives.

Please visit www.indianschool.org to download a job application -- or email Mardell Shumate (mshumate@indianschool.org) for more specific information.

Four Students Baptized

Recently staff, parents and friends rejoiced as four students testified to accepting Jesus as their personal Savior -- and were baptized. Renee Tsosie, 8th grade student, read each candidate's favorite Bible verse, and then everyone sang the student's favorite praise song. Campus pastor, Diana Elliott, then baptized Kaitlynn Nez, Ariana Nez, Philamena Lewis, and Joshua Reyes -- in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (We also rejoiced as Tammi from the Sun Valley Church of the Nazarene was baptized.)

Pray for these students as they are learning to walk in the ways of the Lord.

Basketball Tournaments -- a first for SVIS

"We have never had anything like this before on this campus since I have been a part of this school." This was stated by Rosie McRoy, a former student and present receptionist of the school.

Kris Miller, Athletic Director, organized the first round robin tournament and invitational -- and last week both events brought elementary and junior high school students and their parents and friends to our campus. One visiting coach said, "I've lived right down the road from this school all my life -- and I never dreamed you had such a beautiful campus!"

The roar was deafening as the various teams played -- at one point the referee said he couldn't hear the whistle blow when a foul occurred -- due to the excitement of the crowd.

The student store was bombarded with orders for Navajo tacos -- which were being made throughout the evening by a couple of SVIS Navajo staff -- and of course, drinks and popcorn.

"God blessed both these occasions," Kris said.

A cup of water in Jesus' Name

You may have heard of the tie-up on Interstate 40 in Northern Arizona Sunday morning. A fatality accident occurred at 5:30 a.m. just a few miles east of our campus, tying up traffic for miles -- and for many hours. Looking from the campus across to the interstate, one could see a solid line of "parked" trucks -- from horizon to horizon.

Never ones to miss an opportunity to reach out to those in need, our campus pastor and two of our dorm parents, along with the junior high students, distributed water and snacks "in Jesus' Name" to many of the stranded motorists -- some had been sitting there for hours with nothing to eat or drink! As Jesus said in Matthew 10:42, "If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones . . . he will certainly not lose his reward."

I have a feeling many of those stranded travelers will always remember the Navajo "angels" who came to their rescue along Interstate 40 in Northern Arizona. It was wonderful the way God used this situation to show our "angels" how to put their faith into action.

Lalonzo -- 7 years old on 23rd!

Tomorrow (Friday, March 23) is Lalonzo Chee-Simmons’ birthday. “Lonzo” as we call him will be seven years old. He is in the first grade.

Recently, Lonzo made a huge breakthrough in reading. He had been struggling all year. His teacher, Mrs. Flye, said she had decided she just wasn’t going to be able to teach him to read – so she prayed that GOD would teach him. Suddenly the words made sense -- and he could read!! A whole new world has opened up to Lonzo. In fact, he reads everything in sight!!

Our awesome food service staff honors each student and staff member on his or her birthday by letting that person select the menu for either lunch or supper. So -- tomorrow, we'll all be enjoying Lonzo's special menu, which is: macaroni and cheese, ham, broccoli with cheese sauce, and for dessert -- vanilla ice cream cones!

Please remember all the children in prayer -- and especially pray for Lonzo. He's a very special little boy.

Chapel Service at SVIS

Welcome to our BLOG – our latest method of letting you know about happenings at Sun Valley Indian School. Students and staff have all returned from a much anticipated and enjoyable spring break.

I understand today is the first day of spring?? Our temperatures in Sun Valley have fallen and the wind is blowing a gale – actually it’s blowing a storm of sand – into our eyes, our mouths, our offices, classrooms, houses!! But – the sun is shining – AND the SON is shining in our hearts!!

I wish you could have joined us for chapel today. Our campus pastor, Diana Elliott, demonstrated through an awesome dramatization the sacrifice Jesus made to save us all from sin. We were held spellbound as she and two of our staff dialogued about the judgment day, The “judge” asked Kris why he thought he should be allowed into heaven, and his response was, “Because I’ve been good.” Of course, we know that isn’t good enough – that we all must have our sins forgiven. Just as the “judge” began to proclaim Kris condemned to die for his sins, “Jesus” rushed in shouting “NO, NO!” “Who are you?” asked the judge. “I’m Jesus,” he responded “and I will take his punishment upon myself.” Of course, Kris was astounded – that anyone would take his sins upon himself.

As I said, I wish you had been there. There was more to it – but you get the picture. Students and staff alike were brushing away tears as we realized just how much Jesus loves us.

We were reminded that it’s okay to eat those chocolate bunnies and colored eggs – but don’t let that keep you from remembering the real reason for Easter – the most important day in the year – the day Jesus arose from the dead.

May God be with you today as you also remember what Jesus did for you.

Welcome to Our New Blog

In order to give you glimpses into our lives, we have created a blog. We hope you will enjoy hearing about the children and what is happening at the school.