MMS Challenger Spring 2017

m o u n t a i n

m i s s i o n

CHALLENGER The Quarterly Newsletter of Mountain Mission School

Farming Returns!

Grundy, VA USA

SPRING 2017

ANNUAL REPORT

MMS KIDS ON STAGE

Serving kids in need in the name of Christ since 1921. mmsKids.org

“Filling our hearts Beginning in the 1920s and ’30s, MMS kids raised their own food and livestock. Students and faculty toiled side by side in the fields, planting, tending and harvesting the crops that would sustain them all year long.

It was partly a necessity, in order to feed dozens of hungry kids in the midst of the Great Depression. But MMS founder Sam Hurley also knew that it was good for kids to remain in touch with the land, to feel the rhythms of the seasons, to learn the value of hard work, and to be intimately acquainted with the methods of agriculture…and with the handiwork of our Creator.

While we’re not quite returning to that degree of self-sufficiency, we’ve taken a first step toward giving our kids a taste of the values cultivated by Sam Hurley a century ago.

With the help of a generous grant from the Eastman Foundation—plus the donations, effort and expertise of many tireless volunteers—MMS now “We know it’s healthy because we’ve planted it and harvested it ourselves!” has its own 100-foot-long –Selena hydroponic greenhouse. Our new indoor garden is making a significant contribution to our food supply with spinach, onions, kale, and nearly 300 heads of lettuce a week!

“We’re already eating fresh, nutritious greens daily,” notes MMS president Chris Slone, “and we’ve just gotten started.”

“He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from

with food and gladness.”

Workers for the Harvest Teacher Rachel Hood is one of the green-thumbed staffers who supervise the students’ work in the greenhouse.

“They have all found their niche in the greenhouse,” says Rachel. “We visit twice a week, and every time we come, the plants have changed so much.”

Hydroponic gardens surround plants with circulating

As the crops grow, the students grow water and nutrients instead of soil. in new ways, as well. “It’s a great experience to learn how things are grown,” said Sarah Tedla, who’s headed to culinary school next year. “This will help me for my future…and will definitely help me prepare for my summer internship.”

“We’re putting all our learning into action,” adds Halealuia Gugsa.

“And I really like knowing where my food comes from.”

Selena Guerrero agrees. “I can definitely see the difference between store-bought lettuce and the lettuce we grow—it tastes better! We’re also learning to take care of the temples God has given us with healthy food. It’s so good that we want everyone to have this experience!”

Halealuia and Millen gather the greens.

heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:17

M M S TA L E N T KENTUCKY MMS students enrich the life of surrounding cities and towns in a variety of ways. This spring, for example, the bond between Mountain Mission School and the Artists Collaborative Theatre (ACT) in nearby Elkhorn City, Kentucky, grew even deeper.

While MMS students have participated in prior ACT productions (onstage and behind the scenes), five students and an MMS staff member played key roles together in ACT’s recent presentation of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Paul Platt has been a staff member at MMS for more than 50 years, and the former drama instructor has played a key role in ACT productions for the past few seasons.

Mockingbird was the first exposure to community theatre for MMS students Tadiwos Alemayehu, Halealuia Gugsa, and Ellie Gugsa. For student Tim Rogers, the production provided the chance to transition from set-building to acting. And it gave Libby Wickman, a veteran of past ACT performances, another credit on her theatrical resume.

Harper Lee’s classic tale of one man’s lonely crusade for justice in a small Southern town proved to be a fitting vehicle to showcase the talents of Mountain Mission’s diverse student body. Though Americans all, Tadiwos, Halealuia and Ellie were born in Ethiopia; Tim was born in Liberia. Their own cultural backgrounds gave them unique perspectives on the play’s sensitive themes.

Mockingbird could even springboard Ellie and Libby into acting careers. Ellie is heading to New York University and Libby to Emory & Henry College to study theatre!

As for Tadiwos, the experience taught him an important life lesson: “Don’t let your dreams just be dreams,” he said. “Do whatever you can to make them a reality.”

HITS THE S TA G E

Members of the broader MMS family joining in the cast of To Kill A Mockingbird (l to r): Tadiwos Alemayehu, Tim Rogers, Paul Platt, Halealuia Gugsa, Libby Wickman. Absent from photo: Ellie Gugsa and understudy Sara Adefrisew.

mmsKids.org

MMS Gets a

W

Up” “Souped Minivan!

hen Judy Blankenship joined the staff of Mountain Mission 16 years ago, she assumed the job of collecting Campbell’s Soup labels to take advantage of the company’s “Labels for Education” program. (Over the course of many years prior, MMS had saved enough labels to earn a van from the company.)

Just weeks ago, after 16 years of work, Judy got to walk outside and see the school’s brand new 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan, courtesy of Campbell’s Soup.

The price? One million, six hundred thousand soup labels!

“We want to thank all the churches and groups that helped—and even the individuals. Sometimes we’d get envelopes that had just 10 or 15 labels in them.

They all mattered!”

Another key person in all the label cutting, collecting, counting and bundling was our beloved Joan Caraway. A 1952 graduate of MMS, Joan for many years was also the head of our Alumni Association. She recalls that whenever the Alumni gathered for their board meetings, “we’d all come in with soup labels!”

Just What the Doctor Ordered!

Judy says the new van is perfect for trips that don’t require a large school bus.

“It’s helpful to take the kids to doctors and dentists—even here in town, going to the health department.”

Let this thought simmer: the MMS label collection equated to more than 3 million bowls of soup—a bowl for everyone in the states of Wyoming, Delaware, North Dakota and South Dakota combined!

TOP$ X O B

Sadly, Campbells just ended their longrunning soup label promotion. But Mountain Mission still benefits from the General Mills “Boxtops for Education” program. Contact us if you’d like to help MMS collect “Boxtops” coupons from General Mills products!

2016

ANNUAL REPORT FIGURES Every day, we serve a thousand meals, house 200+ children, and have a dozen vehicles riding the roads. That’s a lot of food and fuel!

So what does it cost to efficiently operate a home, school and church for 250 children and 50 staff members? These numbers from our most recent, annual audit tell the full story.

We do what we do for about $15,000 per child per year, an incredibly low amount compared to similar enterprises. While we struggle to meet our operating costs each and every year, thanks to you, MMS continues to operate debt-free and free from government funding.

2016

2015

2014

INSTRUCTIONAL

726,019.14

658,347.31

797,129.03

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

125,269.20

134,151.43

134,536.93

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

975,473.38

927,479.18

961,841.94

AUXILIARY SERVICES

680,524.15

624,637.79

640,667.22

STUDENT SERVICES

166,189.17

141,090.08

192,610.86

COST OF OPERATIONS

PHYSICAL PLANT

1,014,452.86 1,078,391.78

3,687,927.90 3,564,097.57 3,944,748.01

51% Home, Health, and Food

HOW EACH DOLLAR IS SPENT

1,217,962.03

23% 21% Education

Support Services

5% Development

mmsKids.org

e s o Cl e m o to H

A former MMS staff member looks back at the school in a whole new light.

I

only worked at MMS for a year but the memories of the time I was there have lingered and are special to me. I saw firsthand the love and devotion the staff has for the children. I saw young people who were heartbroken because they had nowhere else to go and no one else to take care of them blossom into happy, loving children because they found love there.

“I know it’s a safe place for kids to go to be loved and cared for and set on the right path for their lives.”

Since I left MMS, life has taken many turns for me. My children grew up, I remarried, grandchildren have been born and we retired. Unfortunately, my husband, Bill, and I have had to face one of the hardest challenges of all in our family: heroin. Because of this, we took in three of our grandchildren, ages 16, 9, and 8. We had temporary custody for nearly three years and finally full legal custody in 2014. Sadly, Bill died in 2014 and I am raising the two youngest myself.

Bill and I knew there were very few choices for the placement of our grandchildren. We also knew that taking them in was a long-term situation and that it would mean being aware of the possibility that we might not be able to finish what we started due to our age. MMS has always been an alternative for us.

This was even more of a concern Have you included after Bill’s death. I know that MMS MMS in your will or is a loving option for them because I estate planning? know it’s a safe place for kids to go We’d like to hear to be loved and cared for and set on your story. the right path for their lives. Because Call Jayne Duehring of this I decided to include MMS (276)945-1457 or in my will to continue the legacy email jduehring@ of love and care for the kids. It’s all mmskids.org about the kids.

Mary Cornelius PLANNED GIVING

mmsKids.org

Freedom from the Taliban O

n a warm weekend afternoon, a large crowd of families in Paktika, Afghanistan, gathers to watch a volleyball match. It’s a scene that could be found in many nations around the world. But in Afghanistan, the excitement of the spectators is suddenly shattered when a suicide bomber detonates his hidden explosives, killing 32 adults and 21 children.

This true incident is sadly representative of a relentless wave of recent attacks on civilians in Afghanistan perpetrated by the Taliban.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reports that civilian casualties have totaled around 10,000 each year for the past few years—with casualty counts of civilian children increasing by 33% in the span of just one year.

Many families have attempted to protect their children by fleeing Afghanistan to escape the carnage. Several families have discovered a sanctuary for their children at Mountain Mission.

A First for Samim At the age of 9, Samim saw his school closed due to the constant threat of Taliban violence. One of his former teachers introduced Samim’s parents to Mountain Mission School…and today, he studies in the safety of our secluded rural campus.

“Being at MMS is the first time I feel peace in my life,” says Samim.

A Family in Danger Life in Kabul, Afghanistan meant constant danger for 14-year-old Elias and his family. “We always feared bomb attacks,” he explains. “Being in the city there were high risks because every two months or so there would be a bomb attack.”

His father was an editor at a TV station, but when the Taliban warned the network not to publish bad news about them—and exploded a bomb outside the building to make their point—he decided to leave his job.

Elias’s uncle found out about MMS from a friend, and that discovery changed his nephew’s life.

“It’s good here,” says Elias. “The teachers are friendly, the students are nice. There’s no war, and I am getting a good education. Here I am safe.”

M

M

S

F

R

I

E

N

D

S

Reinvent the Wheel T

he water wheel that adorns the entrance to our campus is turning once again, thanks to dozens of friends from Oklahoma and Florida.

These faithful MMS supporters not only paid for the needed materials, but actually traveled all the way to Grundy to handle all the repairs, from piping and painting to the reconstruction of the water trough!

Installed in the 1960’s, the wheel has always added a nostalgic, rustic touch to our entrance. But more than 20 years ago, it was shut down and secured out of concerns for the safety of our kids. In its new configuration, the wheel has been re-engineered with safety features appropriate for our young residents.

So the next time you visit our campus, you’ll once again be greeted by the serenely turning water wheel, after decades of stillness.

Our water wheel has been a local landmark for generations.

The campus gathers to witness the wheel’s reactivation. mmsKids.org

Spring 2017

mmsKids.org

1760 Edgewater Drive Grundy, VA 24614

DO YOU KNOW A FAMILY THAT NEEDS OUR HELP? At Mountain Mission, we’re helping fight poverty in America in a very practical way: by coming to the aid of destitute families. If you know a family that cannot support its kids— but doesn’t want to risk losing the children to adoption or foster care—let’s talk.

We accept children in need all year long, offering: • Immediate care plus a future plan • Short-term intervention plus long-term involvement • Heart responses plus engaged minds Our assistance is not based on ability to pay.

Call (276) 935-2954 to discuss how we can help.