In order to refresh the content of summer newsletters, I have decided to regularly "introduce" the new 2012-2013 staff members to you. "Say hello" to the new full-time Secondary Spanish teacher - Emily Riedl (pronounced ree dull, with emphasis on the first syllable). Emily is a native of Adel, Iowa, graduating from Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School, Iowa State University (B.A.in Journalism, Mass Communication, and Spanish), and The University of South Dakota (M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction). She most recently taught English I, English II, and K-10 Spanish at Sioux Falls Lutheran School in South Dakota. She has avocational interests in assisting with sports, the yearbook, newspaper, drama, or speech! One of Emily's references said, "The students are upset she's leaving Sioux Falls Lutheran, because they and their parents want consistent quality in their Spanish program. She has done extremely well. She was looking forward to transforming the Spanish program here. She's looking for an environment which complements her faith. She values the closeness of a staff on the same page. She's looking for close-knit community." Another reference stated, "She's extremely upbeat. She's very positive. She relates well to students. She'd be fabulous. She's a wonderful, wonderful Spanish teacher. She's a very sweet person. She's very outgoing. She loves what she does. And she loves kids!"   A teaching colleague of hers said, "She's very easily approachable as a person. I find myself confiding in her. Students respond well to her. She has a passion for what she's doing. She's a ball of fire. She's dependable, trustworthy, punctual. She'll do what she's asked. She's very responsible." Her Principal told me, "She holds tight to the inerrancy of Scripture. She has a lovely and close walk with God. She's solid in her spiritual walk. She and her husband are very active in their church. I told her she would have a life-changing experience with Christian education. She agreed. She set the bar high. She put teeth in our program. She's highly creative. She's very relational. She's highly reflective. She's special. She's a delight. She will grow spiritually as she grows professionally. She's just so fun. She has done fun things with her students this year. She has learned to integrate technology and work to multiple learning modalities. I just love her. It is heart-breaking to lose her." Our interview team had the following to say about Emily:

• Solid spoken Spanish with rapid-fire, stop, gather, and speak style
• Poised even if nervous at first
• Handled spontaneous Spanish conversation well
• Shifted naturally from Spanish to English and back
• Capable with Spanish I, II, III, and IV
• A learner
• Significant Spanish immersion experiences internationally
• Energetic
• Engaged students well
• Loving, genuine, nice
• Classroom activities sounded interesting, including high-level lessons for 5^th and 6^th grades
• Asked good questions
• Collaborative
• Desires a long-term commitment and stability
• Desires creation of a Spanish program which has a long-term impact and stability
• Uses a variety of instructional methodologies
• Creative about changing assignments to be more effective and to avoid burn-out

Sounds like Mrs. Riedl will be a great blessing to the Secondary students, parents, and staff! I praise God for people who have an affinity for learning and using new languages!

If I could have booked Iowa State University Football Coach Paul Rhoads to deliver his famous "I'M SO PROUD" message around 2:15 p.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012, I would have most gladly done so, because I WAS SO PROUD of the Des Moines Christian softball team and coaches for their excellent showing at the 2012 State Tournament!  Praise the Lord that the Lions advanced from the quarter-finals, through the semi-finals, to the championship game!  Unfortunately, in spite of a very vocal white-out crowd of spectators cheering the Lions on, the championship was not to be.  The team finished 2nd in the State, and, along the way, the positive notoriety of DMC softball gained steam.  The DMC team shut out all five opponents in District and Sub-state competition in advancing to the championship game!  Head Coach Howard Harris declared our semi-final win over Durant to be "perhaps the greatest game in school history."  It's hard to disagree.  During the post-season, in particular, all facets of the game -- pitching, defense, and offense -- were played at a high point of excellence by the Lions!  As a result of their achievements in Ft. Dodge, three graduated seniors were named to the 2012 All-Tournament Team -- Annette Bosman, Leah Harris, and Tierra Fletcher!  When you see any of the 12 student-athletes or Coaches Harris, Doug Glade, and Britt Schoon, please offer hearty congratulations for their magnificent 2012 softball season!  CONGRATULATIONS, Lions!

Check out the Des Moines Register photographs of the girls at the state softball tournament.

I so regret informing you that Jesus has ushered Jim Van Weelden into His presence.  Jim died a little before 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, 2012.  For those of you who did not know Jim, he was the husband of former Early Education Director Sheryl Van Weelden.  Jim and Sheryl enjoyed a remarkably loving and Christ-centered marriage relationship; they were a great example to me and my Cheryl.  Jim was a humble servant of God, using his wonderful vocal talents in singing the Gospel to others and working with all of his might for many Christian causes such as Joshua Christian Academy in Des Moines.  It was a privilege and honor to call Jim Van Weelden a friend.  He will be greatly missed. 

If you aren't encouraged by the following blurb, I need to put a mirror up to your nose to see if you'll fog it up! A fairly recent graduate of Des Moines Christian wrote to me this week: "I wanted to encourage you with this today! Because I SO TOTALLY WAS!!! I just spent 2 hours talking to this [adult] about Jesus! She is Buddhist!! The conversation was just to catch up, and she looked at me and said, 'Can I ask you something?' (She is 37.) She asked, 'Why are you so happy? Why do you have life all together at 21? Why are you so different?' She then starts to tell me how so broken she is. . .telling me about her divorce and how she just needs to figure out her life. So I looked at her and asked, 'Can I be honest?' As she shakes her head, yes, and is crying. I told her it is ALL Jesus -- that He makes me this way! That I, a sinner, was in desperate need of Jesus and that He has redeemed me! SHE STARTED TO BAWL for the entire rest of the time! I shared with her EVERYTHING about Jesus! From start to finish! She wants to know more and is going to read the Gospel, and I am going to read it with her! I am SO excited I wanted to tell you to pray for her! She is seeking!! She told me that she sees that all these religions don't ever bring true completion and satisfaction, and I said, 'You're right, but, you see, My Jesus, HE DOES! And she was SO excited!!! I ran to my car to grab her a Bible, and I'm pretty sure I cried ALL the way to my car, because I was SO excited!!! She is coming with me to church next Sunday! :) Just thought I would share!!! Please pray for this relationship -- that the Lord would continue to work in her life! I am so excited; I was praying the entire time I was with her that the Lord would plant the seed, and that she would see HIS hope!!! :) DR. BOB, I AM SO EXCITED! I have had to leave my office a couple of times, because I was so HAPPY I started to CRY!!!!"

I wrote back to her: "You are SO RIGHT!  I am SUPER-ENCOURAGED by your message, and I will be using it in this week's school newsletter (without the names)!  You have been equipped well to share the truth of Jesus Christ!  The Holy Spirit led you to a divine encounter, and you were obedient to the call!  I WILL PRAY for you and this hopefully new sister in Christ!

That e-mail made my day!

Former DMC Third Grade Teacher Angela Thye, who is now substitute teaching and blogging in Omaha, drew my attention to an excellent piece written by a strong Christian after the Mom and her two daughters survived the shooting carnage in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater very early on Friday morning, July 20, 2012.  If you would like to read this blog entry, please click here. The article is well worth your time.

Be a Box Tops Hero -- Help DMCS earn cash this summer!! Box Tops and other companies are giving away thousands of free eBox Tops. Box Tops earned will be credited to our school account this summer when DMCS supporters take a few minutes to play a fun game, enter a sweepstakes giveaway, or answer 4 short survey questions. You can even spin the Chex wheel for a chance to earn free Box Tops, too!! Enter daily for more chances to win. Just go to www.btfe.com for a chance to earn Box Tops for DMCS!!