In case you haven't been paying attention to the past week's news, the Midwest was hit with record amounts of rain the past week-and-a-half.  Although Watertown did not make the national headlines, many of you may have perhaps wondered if Maranatha received any rain.  To answer that question one has only to look at the pictures included.  The road in front of Kwik Trip across from Weeks Dorm was covered with four feet of water. Many city streets have been closed due to flooding. A number of Maranatha families have had water damage to their basements and personal property.  This week is to be sunny and dry so we are hoping to dry out. (Visit the homepage of Maranatha's website for a link to the photo gallery.)

After 50 years of living, I had my first sandbag-filling-and-carrying experience.  Last Sunday night the wife of our plant manager called to enlist help with sand bags.  The tiny creek behind Weeks Dorm overflowed its banks and was within five feet of Day Dorm.  At 11:00 p.m. about 35 men, boys, and girls gathered and began moving first floor furniture and filling and carrying sand bags.  The task took little more than an hour, and Day was saved from water damage.

Please pray for the men in our maintenance department.  With the record amounts of snow that fell in January and February and the record amounts of rain in June, they have already put in a year's worth of time and energy into the buildings and grounds at Maranatha.

That's one parent's perspective

Today is the final day of May.  Summer school has been concluded for one week, and with that the sounds of laughter and conversation have concluded as well.  Those sounds are such a vital part of the atmosphere at Maranatha.  When those sounds are gone, it seems that the life is gone out of here.  If you are a parent of a college student, I am sure that you are glad to have your son or daughter home for the summer months.  Our youngest daughter is home for the summer, and although she only attends college two miles from our home it is still a joy to have her home.  Now she is working and anticipating departing for China on July 4th with the mission group known as Team China.

Five missionary student groups have been, are, or will be on foreign soil this summer ministering in various ways.  The first group went to Argentina and was involved in a typical missionary trip in preaching, singing, holding children’s meetings, etc.  Two groups went to remote parts of Mexico and Uganda to practice medical missions.  Another group is currently in Turkey, and, of course, the fifth group is heading to China.  All told, over 90 of our students are involved in Maranatha-sponsored mission trips this summer.  It will be a joy to hear all the stories from foreign lands as the students return in the fall.

Information about all the mission trips can be seen on the Maranatha website.  Simply click on the word "blogs" on the right side of the main page.

Today was scholarship chapel.  It is the day designated to give away money!  Nearly $40,000 was given to 50 students.  It is always a thrill to see the joy on the faces of the students as they come forward to receive the designated money.  The great thing about the scholarships is that the people who gave the money are people just like you and me; none of them are millionaires.  They are simply people who have a strong vision to assist the next generation in carrying out the Great Commission in their various vocations.  You may read about today's chapel and the special chapels that were held all this week by clicking here.  As you read consider what the Lord would have you do to assist the next generation.

That's one parent's perspective

Next weekend is our Spring Play Pygmalion.  This should be a delightful experience as it has the elements of romance, drama, and comedy.  For those of you unfamiliar with the title, think of musical My Fair Lady, because that was the musical adaptation of Pygmalion.  It is the story of a man who takes up a bet to turn a destitute London woman into a lovely lady of society.  The play cast is anchored by Maranatha students and veterans of our stage, Mr. Fraser Armstrong from Oshkosh, WI and Miss Jenny Harley of Ferndale, WA.  Through their years at Maranatha both students have been a tremendous benefit to our stage.  Most exciting to each of them is that they plan to marry their college sweethearts this summer.  If you live close to the college, why not take the time to come and enjoy the play.  Tickets are still available for the performances which will be April 10-11 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, the 12th at 2:00 and 7:00.

That's one parent's perspective

This past week my wife and I had the opportunity to eat lunch with two sets of parents-one from Pennsylvania and the other from Colorado-and their children.  What a joy it is to have lunch together and not only relate the "ins and outs" of Maranatha but to also share life experiences as well.  One of the perspective students is interested in history while the other is interested in nursing.  When I attended Maranatha in the late 1970's the only educational options Maranatha offered were for those either going into fulltime vocational ministry or Christian Education.  How wonderful it is that today we are able to provide a much broader range of opportunities for our young people.

That's one parent's perspective

An exciting event took place this past weekend for the Maranatha family; Ben Hoover won the NCAA Division III wrestling regional tournament and is now headed to the NCAA wrestling championships.  Maranatha has never had a team or individual make it to an NCAA national tournament so we are excited for Ben.  Do pray for him as he travels to Souix City, Iowa on March 7-9 for that tournament.  Ben transferred to Maranatha this year and has shown a real heart for ministry. He is a youth leader at our church-working mainly with the junior high boys.  My wife and I are thrilled since our son is in his care group.

One of the advantages of your son or daughter attending Maranatha is the opportunity to get involved in various local church ministries.  There is no campus church that students attend or one church at which everyone must attend.  However students are required to attend church on a regular basis for Sunday school, morning and evening services, and Wednesday night.  This gives them the opportunity to be involved in real-life church ministry experiences.  Maranatha students attend nearly 60 churches in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois and have the opportunity to minister in many different areas.  Not only will your child receive a quality education while at Maranatha, but he or she will also be able to get actively involved in local church ministry.  Whether your son or daughter is planning to be a pastor, home maker, banker, or landscape company owner, they will be a member of a church and what they can learn at their extension church now, will reap great dividends in the future.

That's one parent's perspective.

Once again it is snowing, and so far we have received one inch of snow today; at least the temperature is a balmy 25 degrees.  Anything over 10 degrees is truly a blessing. 

A parent asked me if we host a College Days at Maranatha.  The last time we hosted College Days was over seven years ago and then it only brought approximately thirty students to the campus.  Although there are times when the dorms are closed to overnight guests, prospective students may visit the campus any time and attend classes, enjoy chapel, or meet with faculty and coaches.

There are different events offered to high school students throughout the year.  These include various weekend athletic tournaments and fine arts events as well as summer camps.  Information about these can be found by searching Maranatha's webpages. 

If your son or daughter is not able to attend one of those events, please plan to bring him or her for a day or a day or night visit.  Meetings with various faculty and coaches can be arranged as well as overnight stays in the dorms.  Please fill out the online form on the visit page on Maranatha's website to set up a meeting.  Freshmen surveys confirm that the determining factor for them to attend Maranatha was the campus visit.  I look forward to meeting you.

That's one parent's perspective

I just walked below the windows of Burckart Hall and heard music coming from the orchestra rehearsal.  It reminded me of a question posed to me yesterday by a parent.  She asked, "Can music majors also take a minor?"  I asked the Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts, Dr. David Ledgerwood, and he told me that anyone may take any class he or she wishes.  It just means hr or she will be here that much longer.

If you plan to visit and your child plays an instrument please encourage him or her to bring his or her instrument and participate in band and/or orchestra rehearsal.  Dr. Townsend and Dr. Brown are more than happy to have prospective students sit in and play along during their rehearsals.  Whether your son or daughter chooses to attend Maranatha, the experience of playing in a college setting will be enjoyable.  I might also add that if your child sings, he or she is more than welcome to rehearse with one of our college choirs.  Of course, parents may participate as well. The choirs are made up of some great students, and they would be more than happy to share their music with each of you.

That's one parent's perspective