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CHALLENGER The Newsletter of Mountain Mission School
SPRING 2019
Leads a Family to Mountain Mission
This Issue Reminds Us:
All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination. Earl Nightingale Grundy, VA USA
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Serving kids in need in the name of Christ since 1921. mmsKids.org
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A Mother’s Crisis... Interrupted by God’s Plan
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ntil they came to Mountain Mission, Elijah, Alex, Kaia, and Rhylee lived from one crisis to the next. Some weeks a car would be their only home. And sometimes when they did have a house, it was not safe. Their mom’s name is Nina, and this is their story… As a troubled teen in Northern Virginia, Nina was a drug addict at 15, and was in detox at 18 – for the first of many treatments. The father of her children was violently abusive, which only compounded Nina’s tendency toward addiction. (“The only way I could cope was to get high,” she recalls.) A raid of their house by Federal authorities put an end to her husband’s counterfeiting and drug dealing—but also cost Nina and her children their home. The only place they had to go was to Southwestern Virginia. The following years saw a dismal procession of shelters, homelessness, addiction, incarceration, and rehab. Often, her children were distributed among family members—but given the generational dysfunction, those homes were usually unhealthy environments. Near-fatal drug overdoses landed Nina in a three-month stint in a California detox facility. When she returned, she and the children were living on the porch of a house with no water or electricity. (The inside of the house was not fit for habitation.)
In the midst of those circumstances, Nina failed yet another drug test, and was charged with dealing drugs. At the moment when she faced the prospect of more jail time—and the removal of her children—Social Services made her aware of Mountain Mission School. In desperation she contacted MMS President Chris Slone and was relieved to discover that here was a place for families in need. “Mr. Slone said he’d be happy to help, and even prayed for me.” The trip to Grundy, Virginia was an emotional one for Nina and her children; they all were anxious about another separation. But Nina was amazed at what happened when she and her kids arrived at the campus of MMS. Members of the community were able to connect with the children, get them to open up and actually become comfortable in the new environment. “The kids didn’t even say goodbye to me when I left, because they were playing and were so excited. That’s how I knew everything was gonna be OK.” With her children in a better place, it was time for Nina to get herself into a better place—permanently. She returned to rehab. “I was in detox for a month and a half; I almost died. I didn’t have any motor skills…I couldn’t even feed myself. I couldn’t pick up a cup. I couldn’t do anything. My doctor told me, ‘You’re the worst case I’ve ever seen…I don’t know how you’re still alive.’” Nina is now employed and has been clean for six months…and counting. Her kids now have a safe, stable home on a Christ-centered campus. She has also obtained the chance to seek healing and restoration for herself, and ultimately freedom from the vicious bondage of addiction. Nina has realized that God’s interruption can reverse the family cycle of addiction and dysfunction. She is also encouraged His plan now gives her children the opportunity to graduate from high school and attend college. “My kids are my life,” Nina says. “Mountain Mission School is doing what I could not do. My children now have the opportunity to succeed and be something in life.”
ade. Elijah is in the 6th gr d an ts or sp es He lov working on cars.
ade h gr t 4 n is i ll Alex loves a cially e and ts, esp r l spo etbal ! k bas
Kaia is and loves in 3rd grade doing gy indoors o mnastics— r out!
Rhyle e is and l 2nd gra in oves de pl with her fr aying iends .
Eagerly Mapping Their Futures... More than 95% of MMS graduates go on to college. Here are just a few of this year’s seniors...along with the “road maps” they plan to follow for their lives.
NICHOLAS: I plan on attending Danville Community College to earn an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts. Then upon graduating DCC, transfer to Old Dominion to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology. I have been interested in becoming a SWAT officer since I was 12 years old, and I am so excited that, thanks to MMS, I might be able make it a reality.
BIMELINE: I’m still undecided on my college, but I want to major in Finance. MMS helped me to get to my destination in many ways. First of all, MMS helped me to read and write English. They helped me to love my friends and classmates as my brothers and sisters. MMS helped me to follow Christ everywhere I go, as my Provider and my Guide.
YADEL: I plan to attend eithert James Madison University or Quinnipiac. I’m majoring in computer science, with a minor in music. MMS has helped me take my schooling more seriously. The challenging classes in Physics and Calculus here helped me get closer to my major. My love for music has grown tremendously because of the chance to play in the Sunday praise band.
HOLLY: I plan on attending Cosmetology school in Roanoke. Mountain Mission really strengthened my faith in God. This has given me the confidence to go out into world as an adult and pursue my career, knowing that I am under the Lord’s protection. I can do anything through Him.
MARIO: My future plan is to attend Clemson University and earn a degree in Business Administration in hopes of being CFO for a successful company one day. MMS helped me by showing what it takes to be a true leader in the world for God’s glory.
ISAAC: I am planning on going to the University of Northwestern Ohio and majoring in business. Mountain Mission has encouraged me to follow my dreams, and has provided the opportunities I needed to fulfill my desire to work on cars.
MILLEN: I will be attending Grand Canyon University in the fall to study Computer Science. MMS has taught me soft skills that will help me succeed in the future. This includes even little things like saying “sir” and “ma’am.” I have also formed relationships that are going to last beyond high school.
REBECCA: I will be going to Wake Forest University and plan on going into the premed path with a minor in Spanish. Staff at MMS have encouraged me to strive for a great future. They have also helped me along the way by reading my essays, guiding me through the college process, lifting me up when I’m down, celebrating when I succeed, and continuously praying for me and my future.
MISGANA “GEORGE”: I will be attending University of Northwestern Ohio, majoring in Auto/ Diesel Tech. Mountain Mission is my home. I have lived here half my life, and I feel connected to the campus like no other place. Without the education and mentorship I have received here I don’t think I would be the person I am.
2018
ANNUAL REPORT FIGURES What does it cost to efficiently operate a home, school and church for more than 200 children and 50 staff members? These numbers from our most recent annual audit tell the full story. Our total expenses average out to about $15,000 per child per year, an incredibly low amount compared to similar enterprises. And because we accept no government money, we’re always mindful that every dollar we spend in each of these categories comes from generous donors like you. We strive to be good stewards of those resources every day—and thanks to you, we continue to operate debt-free. EXPENSES
17–18 (18)
INSTRUCTION
$674,026.94
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
$166,647.76
ADMINISTRATIVE
$1,142,663.67
AUXILLARY ENTERPRISES
$678,421.01
STUDENT SERVICES
$149,236.28
PHYSICAL PLANT
$1,040,250.02
TOTAL
$3,851,245.68
ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE ABOVE FIGURES HOME, HEALTH & FOOD
$1,867,907.31
EDUCATION
$840,674.70
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
$794,664.14
FUNDRAISING
$347,999.53
TOTAL
$3,851,245.68
48% Home, Health, and Food
22% 21% Education
HOW EACH DOLLAR IS SPENT
Institutional Support
9% Fundraising
mmsKids.org
Robel Teffera REFLECTIONS
OF COURAGE
We often think of courageous people as being individuals who are devoid of fear. I don’t know if I totally agree with that idea. Courage to me is someone who is scared to death and still moves forward anyway. My parents dropped me off at Mountain Mission School when I was just four years old. My father was ill at the time. My mother was working two jobs. My mother knew instinctively that our home in Alexandria wasn’t a healthy environment for success. I’ll never forget that first day at MMS. I was scared to death…and the fear stuck with me. So I had a choice at an early age and throughout my all my years here: Would I give in to that fear? After all, the teachers at MMS weren’t my parents. Could I have faith that they loved me and had my best interests at heart? And Grundy was a lot smaller than my hometown of Alexandria. Could I have faith that this little town was preparing me for a bigger purpose? I needed the courage to trust God’s plan and move forward amidst all the fear and discomfort that surrounded me. It’s funny…when I graduated from MMS, I
Robel with MMS board member Bill Weldon
really thought that I graduated from all the fear. I look back in hindsight and realize that I was so wrong. Just like my first time coming to MMS, the fear of the unknown came back as I began my college career at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. It was another place far away from home. I needed courage that with my foundation of values from MMS, I could thrive in college. I felt the butterflies of fear creep in again. It felt like the first time my parents dropped me off in Grundy. However just as I succeeded at MMS, I knew I could overcome the obstacles I encountered. Four years later, I graduated from Quinnipiac, and I now work for Johnson & Johnson as a Medical Sales Representative. When I look back at my journey thus far, I realize fear will never go away. I don’t want it to. I now see fear as a keen sense that identifies where my biggest opportunity lies. Courage is like a muscle that has to be developed. I’m just blessed to have had the support system at MMS to help me develop it!
(L-R) MMS grads Moses Hayelom and Robel with Jerry West and MMS grad Emanuel Binyam
Mountain Mission School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
1760 Edgewater Drive Grundy, VA 24614
CARING. The MMS campus is blessed with people who are committed to caring for the spiritual and emotional needs of our residents. But caring for the material needs of those 200+ children is where we need your help.
It costs about $15,000 per year for us to house, feed, and educate each student. Will you please join us in caring for these precious kids by using the enclosed envelope to provide a tax-deductible gift?
Please contact: Greg DePriest, Director of Development, at (276) 935-2954 or gdepriest@mmskids.org