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CHALLENGER The Newsletter of Mountain Mission School
Spring 2020
REBUILDING
DREAMS
YOU’RE INVITED!
TO OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS APPRECIATION WEEKEND
RELEASING DESTINIES
OLIYAD & ROBIEL
Grundy, VA USA Serving kids in need in the name of Christ since 1921. mmsKids.org
W
e believe every child has a dream deep within them, planted by the One who spoke destiny into their hearts as they were being formed. Unfortunately, extreme hardship and loss have held those dreams hostage, preventing them from having any kind of hope for a bright future beyond what they see before them. We know from Scripture that we have an enemy with a direct assignment against our children to rob them of their joy, to kill any hope within them and to destroy any future for them. But at Mountain Mission School, we partner with Jesus, The Resurrection and The Life, to reclaim the child and rebuild those lives. With God’s, help we take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it into good by changing those setbacks into set ups and reviving the dreams that He put in their heart from the beginning. Big dreams. Dreams long forgotten. Before coming to Mountain Mission, these kids had little hope of realizing these dreams. But thanks to your help, MMS instills the faith, the education, the confidence, and the opportunities that help dreams take shape.
DREAMS LIKE...
Abenezer, Grade 12 “I want to study neuroscience, and ultimately become a neurosurgeon, so that I can one day use my fascination of the human brain to save the lives of many.”
Keyone, Grade 3 “I want to be a preacher in the Air Force. God has given me a talent to preach in front of people and not be afraid.”
Mikiyas, Grade 8
Amen, Grade 2
“I want to be a businessman and help poor people and help my family.”
“I want to be a scientist so I can invent better technology.”
David, Grade 7
Rediet, Grade 5
“I want to be a paratrooper medic in the military so that I can help people who serve our country. And I want to jump out of planes!”
“I want to be a missionary doctor. I want to go to places where there are no doctors. I want to help places like where my mom grew up. My mom’s sister-in-law died because there was no doctor close by.”
100 YE
OF RESCUING KIDS • RAISING L
Lets Celebrate! ,
serve at Mountain Mission If you have ever volunteered to . School, this invitation is for you us over the past 100 years To all those who have helped all over the world, THANK to rescue children in need from blessing! YOU! We want to return the
MINISTRY PARTNERS APPRECIATION WEEKEND OCTOBER 10-11, 2020
UR COFFEE CHAT & CAMPUS TO ATION 5 PM COOKOUT CELEBR W HIP WITH LUNCH TO FOLLO OCT 11, 10:30 AM WORS OCT 10, 3-5 PM
love to have 2-6 Space will be limited, we would or organization. rch representatives from your chu ck page to register. ba the on m Please use the for Thank you!
EARS
LEADERS • REACHING NATIONS
We couldn’t have done it without you!
RELEASING DESTINIES OLIYAD CHIBESSA ROBIEL KIDANE Policeman in the D.C. area
Missionary serving people in the Sahel of Africa
MMS has been everything for me. It’s my foundation. It has shaped and molded me as an individual. If I had to pick one thing I’m most thankful for, it would be for allowing me to experience the love of God. The experience of God’s love has carried me through the various seasons of life, and continues to carry me as I look hopefully into the future.
I graduated with an Accounting degree from Virginia Tech, and am now working for an accounting firm in the D.C. area. I married a wonderful woman named Emma who loves the Lord, and we recently welcomed a son into our family. As a lot has changed in my life, I have had the opportunity to reflect on all that has brought me to this point.
Today, I would say I’m emotionally whole, relatively speaking, and I credit it to being raised in an environment where I experienced unconditional love and witnessed godly relationships among husbands and wives, parents and children.
S OLYIAD WITH MM S, THE HOODS HOUSE PARENT
Once again, MMS is the firm foundation on which my life is built — but our ultimate foundation is Christ, who has sustained MMS the past century and whose hand selected me and placed me in that environment.
I truly believe if it weren’t for MMS I would be on the other side of the law.
I can truly say I don’t know where my life would be without my time at MMS. I struggled ROBIEL & MMS TEAMMATES to find my identity and purpose for many years, but in those most formative years, I was surrounded by this loving family that sculpted me into the man I am today. From the devotionals in Parker Hall, to the many conversations I had with staff members who opened up my heart, God was solidifying my foundation in Him. On this foundation the Lord has grown to be the Lord of my entire life and future. Through witnessing and experiencing the daily sacrifice made by the staff, my wife and I have in turn, chosen to sacrifice our lives in service to those who are unreached by this gospel of hope! I am so thankful for you – MMS will always be my family and home! “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Cor. 3:6)
MINISTRY PARTNERS APPRECIATION WEEKEND
RSVP
We hope you’ll give us the chance to say “Thank You” for your support of our Ministry by being our guest at these appreciation events. There’s no charge, so make plans now to attend one or both days, and send in your registration by June 1, 2020. You may mail your response in the envelope provided in this issue. Name: Address:
Organization or Church: Email: Phone: Number in your group attending the Saturday evening cookout: Number in your group attending the Sunday lunch: PLEASE NOTE: Due to ongoing construction projects, no lodging is available on campus for this event. Please seek accommodations in Grundy or surrounding communities. (Richlands, Claypool Hill, etc.)
On the Cover Several members of our 7th-grade Woodshop Class strike a pose in front of a shed they’ve helped build, under the direction of Dave Mayer (Head of our Vocational Dept.) Combining academics with handson experience, the boys learned basic principles of construction by carrying the project from a concept on paper all the way through the actual build. Their project serves as a simple reminder of how Mountain Mission helps children build faith, character, confidence—and sometimes even careers!
1760 Edgewater Drive Grundy, VA 24614
Mountain Mission School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
WHEREVER YOU ARE,
you can help care for these precious kids. Mountain Mission School has never received any government assistance, so we rely on the Lord to work through friends like you for our kids’ sustenance. It costs about $15,000 per year to house, feed, educate and provide healthcare for each of our children. That amount may be out of reach for many donors—but if 10 of our friends give $125 per month, they’ve achieved a total that covers one child. Won’t you please consider using the envelope in this issue to make an ongoing gift? You’ll be playing a vital role in the daily care of kids like little Lydia (pictured). And if you happen to know a child in need, please contact us.