The Potter's House Fall 2022 Newsletter

Moving Forward with Gratitude

Letter from Mr. Booy

When I was little, I looked around and saw a world without any problems. But my whole view shifted when my grandmother had a violent nervous breakdown at church when I was nine years old. I thought to myself, “Why are we the only family that has problems?” I had an inaccurate view of the world, in which I thought everyone was living a perfect life. But as I grew older, I found out that the Kingdom of God is not about living perfect lives. It’s about entering the messiness and brokenness of our lives and making something good of it.

When I think about our school, I see families that God brought together from all over the world with numerous stories. There are many idyllic and intact families that have a desire to be part of a diverse community. There are families that struggle each day, and children who have fled their country for their lives (with their families or all alone) who are trying to make sense of this world and a new culture.

In the midst of our stories, we have a beautiful beloved community where we are learning to love each other and enter each other’s stories deeply. There are times when we are completely unaware of what is going on in people’s lives, but even then, God works through The Potter’s House to impact people.

Our goal is to train resilient followers of Jesus who not only encounter Jesus but become more like Jesus and do the works of Jesus. We hope our students will impact their families, neighborhoods, and cities for the better.

In this newsletter, we’re sharing several stories about alumni who have encountered Jesus and now have a desire to live out of the blessings they have received.

You will hear from Celeste, who as a child, was in a devastating situation and The Potter’s House was able to minister to her family in a way that inspired Celeste to begin a path that she never dreamed of. Zach, coming from a highly nurturing and supportive family, is inspired to work for justice in God’s kingdom. Greg shares a redemptive story where the transforming power of Jesus touched his family and now, he desires to be an evangelist. Then we have a story of Shum and Esther, both fleeing from political turmoil, leaving their homelands, and coming as unaccompanied minors seeking refuge when neither one spoke English. Now Shum is attending college and Esther has started a school in Uganda to offer the same hope that she experienced.

We believe that everybody deserves to have a rigorous education where they are accepted, loved, and have a sense of peace. It is a great joy to see our alumni passionate about their vocations and actively working to make this world a better place. Thank you for choosing to become part of their stories.

Your partner in education,

John Booy

Welcome, New Staff!

SANDRA MUTHYALA Advancement Donor Officer

ALICIA HYMA EL/MS Title 1 Teacher

MELISSA LEAMAN Grades 4/5 Teacher

SYUN HYUNG LEE Middle School Secretary

DAVID KONG Grade 6/7 Teacher

DANTE JONES School Counselor AMANDA HINKEN Grades 4/5 Teacher

ALYSSA BROWN Speech Pathologist

EVAN POST Discipleship Director

CLAY VANDER KOLK Grade 8 Teacher

JANORISÈ ROBINSON Director of Teaching and Learning

DAEJA TERHUNE Grade 6/7 Teacher

ROSIE TAYLOR Kindergarten Teacher

JACKIE SPREITZER Computer Teacher

Celeste (Russell) Breyer The Right Trajectory

My dad made a decision not to pay income taxes. He went to prison when I was in 8th grade. In time we lost our finances and 10 acres of property in Howard City, where we lived. Five out of seven children were still at home. Our mother had been a homemaker, but she needed to go back to school, find a job, and find a way to care for her children who had been home-schooled. That year, my younger siblings went to school. My older sister and I were old enough to stay home.

We were supposed to do schoolwork but got behind quite a bit. I went from being above my grade level to being mediocre. Mom decided that

could not happen. But what were the options? She worried about sending us to the local school that wasn’t the best and we could not afford Christian education.

Bob and Cora heard about the family in need. They lived in Howard City but worked as custodians at The Potter’s House School in Grand Rapids. They contacted our mom and began bringing us leftover lunches from school. We lived on those leftover lunches of milk, sandwiches, and turkey rolls for a year or two.

That food was a huge help, as mom could barely afford to keep propane in the tank to heat the house. We ran out of propane a few times. To stay

warm, we moved into our pole barn, which had a wood-burning stove. At times, I saw her stressed look when she realized she had another $300$400 bill that she could not afford to pay.

Cora mentioned The Potter’s House High School as an option for my sister and me. The school was incomebased. Our mom was interested, but the drive from Howard City to Grand Rapids every day would be hard. She was in school during the day and worked the 3rd shift. In between, she checked on her kids, did homework, and tried to take a nap. Cora and Bob offered to drive us home at night. Because of their kindness, we began attending TPH.

Celeste at 05’ high school graduation with Henry Bouma (former Board President) and John Walcott (former high school principal)

At 5:30 in the morning, mom dropped us off at our older sister’s house. She lived in Comstock Park. An hour later, our sister drove us to TPH middle school campus, where we took the shuttle bus to the high school. After the school day, we helped Bob and Cora with cleaning before heading home to Howard City.

Also, a Potter’s House family, the Haskills, helped us during those first two years. We spent Wednesday nights at their house and rode the bus to school Thursday mornings. It was amazing that we could sleep in on Thursdays.

That first year was tough. I was in 9th grade and hated the situation. I wanted to drop out of school. Mr. Walcott, the principal, did not understand, however, he did not dismiss my feelings and tried to comprehend them. He encouraged me to try 10th grade and assured me I could come to him with any problems.

One of my issues was that I thought I was too smart for school. The things I was learning were easy. I would complain to the teachers, asking why I had to be in their class. Mr. VerBeek and Mr. Kuipers challenged me. Mr. VerBeek once asked, “Celeste, if you

are so smart, why are you getting Bs on your tests?” I responded, “Because I didn’t study.” He said, “Maybe you should study more, get As, and test out of this class.” I did not believe he would let me test out, so I did not try.

It was good to have a stable education and teachers who would give me pushback and make me do my homework. I realized that I wasn’t just another kid at school. The principal and teachers cared and wanted me there. Eventually, that changed the trajectory of my life.

However, the not-so-good study habits I had followed me to college. My goal was to become an engineer. I breezed through Calculus one and two, but Calculus three was impossible. Because I had to take homework home, I thought I was not smart enough. I was upset and decided that the field of engineering was not for me. I dropped all of my classes to rethink my career choices.

Someone told me that my decision to drop the classes was dumb. I insisted to this person that I could do the work, so they challenged me to prove it. I returned to college and worked hard. After three years at community college, I transferred to Texas A&M University. It took seven years to receive my Aerospace Engineering Degree. I now work from home, and I love what I do as a Field Application Engineer. I provide advanced-level support for safety-critical markets such as aerospace and defense, automotive, industrial rail, and nuclear power plants.

For a long time, I felt somewhat betrayed by God. He could have changed the judge’s mind and kept my dad from going to jail, but he didn’t. I have come to understand that God knew best, even if it was painful at the time. He sent along kind people like Bob and Cora, the Haskills’, and the caring staff at a Christ-centered school when I needed it. That helped push me in the right direction.

Celeste touring the high school campus during the 20 years reunion

Celeste with her husband and her three boys (a set of twins)

Zach Reinsma A Different Experience

Iattended The Potter’s House (TPH) my entire life. Being raised in a middle-class family, my parents intentionally chose to live in a low-income neighborhood. Our neighbors were non-white people. Going to TPH was not much different from what I experienced at home. I appreciated having the same interaction with kids at school as I did outside school.

One teacher that spoke and still speaks into my life is Mr. Cho. He was also my senior project mentor. Through his guidance, I knew what I wanted to do in life. God is calling me to help people in poverty. I want to become a public defender for those who need good legal defense.

TPH teaches values of justice and being gracious toward others. The idea that there are people who are different from you is a good thing, not a bad thing. It is not only racial

differences but political views and ways of thinking. In controlled settings at school, I had conversations with people who think differently than I do. These conversations were helpful for me to see another side.

Growing up in the faith, I didn’t think I had a testimony. I would hear stories of people having a ‘come to Jesus’ moment. I did not have that moment and questioned my faith. It was through Pastor Trice, the Bible teacher, that I better understood. Everyone’s experience is different. He encouraged us to ask God the tough questions. I am growing in my faith.

The soccer team had three captains. As a senior, I was privileged to be one of them. The bond of friendship that we started in my junior year continued. We hung out together all the time. As a team, we decided to play for each other, not for a trophy. We had players from all over the world who were

talented. It was those differences that made us a good team, a team that won the state championship.

TPH school setting is not the norm. Although small, I enjoyed being able to know everyone in the hallway. I did not feel out of place interacting with anybody. Not many people can say that about their school experience. There have been times I have felt out of place, but not at TPH.

Zach is attending a diverse school Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, to study political science, and play basketball.

Photo by Riparea

Videography

Greg Rummelt A Solid Foundation

Ibegan The Potter’s House (TPH) in kindergarten. My mom always wanted me to attend a Christian school. God chose TPH for me and began to build a foundation in me. Hearing and learning about Jesus, I would go home and share verses and stories from the Bible with my family. Eventually, my mom and stepdad were brought back into a real relationship with Christ.

In middle school, a new teacher Mr. Colley started a prayer group. We prayed in the morning before school and often prayed in the neighborhood. My faith was growing. In high school, as a freshman, I was chosen to be a discipleship leader. Everything was going well.

Toward the end of freshman year, my family moved to Texas. I stayed and moved in with my biological father because I wanted to graduate from TPH. Unfortunately, he could not afford the tuition at that time. I transferred to a public school during my sophomore year. The atmosphere was not the same. The peace and protection I had were gone.

When I left TPH, I lost my identity. Almost depressed, I began giving in to voices that said, ‘You are a failure, and God does not care about you. If God is real, He would have made a way for you to stay at that school.’ I also sensed the Holy Spirit saying, ‘You gotta get back there.’ ‘There’ was TPH.

I had to get back. God worked it out. During junior year, my dad and I met with the principal, Mr. Dull. The school worked out a tuition plan. I was able to get back to TPH my senior year. For that, I am forever thankful.

I graduated and went on to college. Unfortunately, some bad habits that I picked up during my time away from

at 15’ high school graduation with his grandpa

wife and I are teaching our daughter about God. This fall, I decided to go back to college in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in theology and ministry at Sum Bible College based out of El Dorado, California. I am grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to becoming an evangelist.

God continues to reveal more of who He is. None of this could have happened without the foundation that God built in my life.

As the story in the Bible goes, you can build your house on rock or sand. The winds, rain, and waves will come. For me, transferring to a different school brought a storm. Because of the solid foundation that TPH put in me, my house did not come crumbling down.

TPH followed me. Consequences followed as well. God used it all as part of His plan. Later, as I repeated a college English course, I met my lovely wife. We began growing spiritually and studying the Word. We had our daughter, Ember Faith. I had a great job with a godly company. Then the pandemic hit.

I sensed the Lord saying, ‘Go. If you go, you will grow.’ We were not sure where to go, but we kept seeking Him. Then my family in Texas needed support. We did not necessarily want to go to Texas, but God made it clear and provided everything we needed. As the oldest, I was able to help my mom and be a big brother to my siblings.

God has been faithful to His promise for us to go and grow. I am growing; my

Greg

Greg with his wife and daughter

Shum Saleh In Search of A Better Life

Icome from a lovely family, but things were difficult in our country, Eritrea, East Africa. For more than three decades, the dictatorial government has controlled everything. The destiny of young people, especially boys, is in the military. Many leave the country in search of safety and a better life.

At the age of 14, I left. Leaving my family was not easy. I moved to Sudan, but it was not a safe place to live. After being there for almost a year, I joined others traveling to Egypt. We crossed the Sahara Desert. Smugglers led us. I was taking a chance, not knowing if I was heading into something better or worse.

A caravan of three trucks transported 45 - 60 passengers from different countries. It took five days before we crossed the desert. During the journey, I was hungry. I was the youngest passenger and witnessed terrible things. I was fearful of falling off the truck. Anyone who fell off was left.

Arriving safely in Egypt, I connected to an Eritrean community. Life was better than it was in Sudan, but I had

to be careful. The Muslim country was volatile. While in Egypt, I attended school for about six months but could not focus. My mind was on the status of my application to the United Nations. As a teenager, I had a better chance of being accepted into another country. Eventually, they called. The United States accepted my application.

Starting my journey in the United States without my family was difficult. After spending eight months in a group house with other refugee boys, I wanted a family who could give me a feeling of home. When I visited a friend, I met his foster family. They were welcoming and asked questions about me and my story. A few weeks later, they expressed their willingness to invite me into their home through fostering.

At the school I attended, I was not learning and did not feel safe. I had heard a little about The Potter’s House (TPH) from other refugee students who attended. They were receiving the necessary support for learning and more. My mom did some research on TPH. We agreed that it was a better choice for me. I began in 10th grade as an English Language Learner (ELL).

One of the ELL teachers, Mrs. Fisher, made learning the English language easy. Patiently, she worked with us. Also, Mrs. Leegwater’s support was very beneficial. Tutors were helpful as I transitioned into other classes. Mrs. Joldersma was the education specialist. Her classroom was the best place for me to be for after-school homework support.

I grew up thinking one way about religion, but at TPH, I heard God’s word in chapel services. It impacted my life. Being able to explore the Bible and learn about Jesus helped me to grow spiritually. Mr. Clark and Mr. Hoogstrate talked about sharing God’s word and how we can be better.

I left my family and country seeking safety, refuge, and support. I finally found it through multiple resources. I am grateful for my amazing foster parents, case workers, and The Potter’s House teachers and staff. Family is not just the people who are related to you by blood. The family includes people who are in your life when you need them.

Shum is attending Western Michigan University. His goal is to become a social worker to assist those who find themselves in a similar position.

Shum with Mrs. Fisher and his classmates in ELL class

A year ago, we shared the story of Esther Kamaliza, who is a proud ‘14 graduate of The Potter’s House. She was a child growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo seeking refuge from war in Kenya. Esther’s family is deeply rooted in their faith and even as a young girl, Esther knew God had plans for her. She had a vision that she would one day help children find hope and faith in bright futures.

Her vision and prayer came true in 2015; Esther’s Hope for Children (EHFC) was founded in Uganda. Beginning in 2019, God provided a location for EHFC and today EHFC is providing education for 275 students.

We recently received an update from Esther and we are excited to share and support our sister school. This year, they were able to provide uniforms for all of the students and added infrastructure to increase easy access to water for latrines and hand washing.

Esther’s desire is to expand the school in 2023 by constructing a 4th-grade classroom, a kitchen for food preparation, and add 43 new students. Many of the students do not have access to three meals a day and it is essential to provide nutritional support to the children. EHFC would like to offer a freshly prepared breakfast and lunch for all students. This means no student would sit in class hungry and go through the day without food.

Update from Esther’s Hope

Update on

I am so excited to share about our incredible Partner Program. The goal of this program is to support, strengthen, and shape our students by sharing in their lives and our community. As I celebrate my second year of stewarding this program, I am incredibly grateful for the students whose lives are being impacted by having a partner. I am humbled to hear stories of how student and partner lives are blessed by this program.

We recently celebrated these relationships by hosting a Partner Day Breakfast at the K-8 campus and a Partner Day Lunch at the high school. We had over 200 partners and students in attendance at the two events! Additionally, we have had 25 students and partners join the program since school started!

Our hope is for every student in 1st through 12th grade to have a partner within the next three to five years. Likewise, we want every teacher to have a classroom partner and every program to have a partner. These may seem like big goals but we have a BIG God and this is definitely His Program. The Potter’s House is not just a school. It’s a family. Our students are loved and supported by a whole community of people, from teachers to administrators to volunteers.

Our Partner Program provides a way for you to become a part of this family. It’s an opportunity to play an integral role in the education and development of our students by helping cover the costs of their learning community, and walking alongside them as they grow and develop in Christ. Our partners ensure students have access to: Christ-centered, quality education, where faith is the center of all that is taught and learned, compassionate and kind teachers and staff who shape how students see themselves and God, safe, creative learning environments that facilitate joyful expressions of exploration.

If you are a current partner, THANK YOU! If you would like to be a partner, THANK YOU! I am available to answer any questions via my direct line, 616.818.3759 or email dgarvey@tphgr.org. I look forward to sharing stories and information in our upcoming newsletters.

Blessings, Dawne Garve

WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR STUDENT

• Attend a Partner Day Event in the Fall and/or Spring.

• Visit your student’s classroom and volunteer to read, do an activity or provide treats during a birthday.

• Contact Dawne to arrange a date and time for your visit.

• Contribute to our “Birthday Book Club” by making a donation to our libraries for books on our librarian's “Wish List”. Students receive a book dedication for these donations.

• Attend plays, sporting events, or other events at the school.

• Schedule a partner lunch at the K-8 school or the high school for you and your student. Contact Dawne to arrange for a date and time anytime during the school year.

Calvin's Car Lot is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that supports Christian education. It is located right next to our high school campus on 28th Street. Calvin's Car Lot generously offered to donate 50% of their profit to The Potter's House. If you have vehicles to donate, please consider Calvin’s Car Lot and make sure to mention our school name for us to receive the donation!

Edward Baker

Marylin Ebels

Charles and Jane Westers

Willard Berkenpas

Carl Boughner

Roger and Judy Faber

Mike and Linda Philo

Shirley Ritsema

Jon Burman

Lawrence and Sharon Slager

Gary Slager

Terry and Theressa Nyenhuis

Marylin Burman

Ellen VanOyen

Faye VanOyen

David and Joann Haagsma

Thelma Wolffis

Mark and Cheryl Terhaar Vernon and Linda Verduin

Emilee Kuipers

Dave and Charlene Troost

Judith Verhulst

Eric Verhulst

Craig and Sarah Verhulst

Dick and Linda Antonini Ross and Lisa Antonin

Nancy Erffmeyer and Richard VanderWeide

Marilyn Dahms and Dahms Family Siblings

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