EMS Expressions N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 7 , I S S U E 3

Spiritual Battles in the City Getting out of your

comfort zone! Meeting new people!

Telling others about Jesus! These

are the exact things that occurred

when the junior class went to New

York City. They were pushed out of

their comfort zone as they talked to

those who do not know Jesus or

who have rejected him. As it took

about 3 hours to travel to NYC,

there were many mixed feelings as

to how the trip would go; but it was

different from what anyone

expected. It was amazing being

given the opportunity to interact

with people that none of us have

ever met and having the freedom to

tell them about what Jesus has done

for them. The trip started off with a

“scavenger hunt” throughout the

city. We were given different

suggestions of things to do in order

to communicate with those walking

on the streets daily. Once we had

regrouped, we enjoyed an amazing

supper and then rode on the subway

to Staten Island in order to ride on

the ferry past the Statue of Liberty.

Till we got back to our houses, we

were all wiped out from traveling

and walking around the city that we

fell asleep very easily. The next day

consisted of classes which helped us

realize how and why we can

evangelize to others. We were

reminded that we are “Blessed to be

a Blessing” through hearing the

teachings of Seth Lehman. We also

had a class taught by Joel Yoder

where he talked to us about the

difference between Jesus and the

teachers, rabbis, and prophets of

other religions and how Jesus stuck

out among them. He reminded us

that Jesus is in fact the son of God,

and Jesus never denied it, even

when the world was against him. It

was a great reminder of how we

don’t have to fear the world when

we are out evangelizing and passing

out tracts. Before we were sent out

to evangelize, Caleb, a current

intern at the Mission Training

Center, spoke to us about different

evangelism tools that we could use

as we were out in the city. Finally,

we were sent out to evangelize in

groups. The experience was

amazing and was different for each

person. Though many people would

reject us, it was also really

encouraging when people would

stop and listen to what we had to

say. Knowing that God was using

us to spread his word was very

exciting and helped fuel our energy

while handing out tracts. On

Wednesday we had some more

classes and then broke into smaller

groups and prayer walked around

the city. It was awesome knowing

that we could fight in the spiritual

battles that were going on in the city

through prayer. Once we ate lunch,

we travelled to Manhattan and

walked down 5th Avenue. After we

finished touring 5th Avenue, we

went back to our lodging and ate a

snack. The next day we headed

home, and though it was nice to be

heading home, it was sad to leave

the city and the experiences we had

there. -Kya Snyder

P A G E 1

Fall Fundraising

Coming up in March, the senior trip

to Nicaragua is quickly approaching! As the

senior class, we have been brainstorming and

planning different ways to raise money to

cover the costs of the trip. We have elected to

once again sell Calloway Cards to aid in this

process. Calloway Fundraising helps their

clients by allowing them to customize their

own Calloway discount cards for them to sell.

We are very excited to include 14 exciting

establishments! To purchase your very own

Calloway Card today, simply talk to a 2018-

19 senior near you! If you don’t know a

senior, you can contact Miss Tiffani Heisey at

(717) 738-4266 ext. 212 to order yours today!

-Jenna Stauffer

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

E D I T O R I A L

E D I T O R I A L

A God-Shaped Hole Millions of shoppers stream into stores all over America, ferociously thumbing through thousands of deals. People cascade toward the registers, consumed by a shopaholic fever. We call this Black Friday. Was it just yesterday that we were thanking God for our families, friends, and our wealth? Who cares? Today is the day to run frantically through aisles with glazed eye searching for “50% OFF,” in bold, red letters. Buy, buy, buy. Wait...did that say 75% off?! America continually sinks into an unhappy, hollow abyss, otherwise known as materialism. Importance is placed on material prosperity rather than spiritual abundance, and so many people fall for this seemingly satisfying lifestyle. However, the more one obtains the more one

desires. It is a vicious and relentless circle that only ends in destruction. Happiness can never be obtained. Humankind seeks to fill this void in themselves, and so many grope through life trying to find satisfaction. But of course, everyone knows that “you can’t buy happiness,” however, there happens to be so many things we try to stuff in this void. For example, hobbies, drugs, social status, and even family. As it turns out, this void is exactly the shape of God. Any other attempts at relieving the ache of an unknown purpose cannot be fulfilled without the one who gave each man and woman a specific purpose. Fruitless seeking is the claw of Satan curling his hand around our hearts, whispering in our ear, “More, more, more.” It is astonishing to see the desperate

attempts at fulfillment. So, one has to ask himself, “Why do I go Black Friday shopping?” Is it the futile pursuit of happiness? A frivolous endeavor for satisfaction and peace? The impossible attempt at closing the God-shaped hole? One also has to ask himself, “Will I be consumed by the greedy daze that so many Americans imprisoned themselves in?” So many find themselves ensnared in the web of materialism, but unlike those who seek to break the captivity of material greed with friends, hobbies, and family, the only one who can demolish the greed in our hearts is the one who created us.

-Jordanna Musser (inspired by Andy Rutt)

P A G E 2 E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

Fantastic Photographers PHOTO GALLERY

First Place: Gar rett Mar tin (12th) Second Place: Karissa Stoner (12th) Third Place: Josh Beachy (10th)

Fourth Place: Mrs. Emily Alwine (Teacher’s

Aide)

Fifth Place: Jenna Stauffer (12th) Sixth Place: Mrs. Emily Alwine

(Teacher’s Aide)

-Collected by Jenna Stauffer

This month, the newspaper team held a photo contest in which the secondary students and EMS staff were encouraged to participate. We were overwhelmed with the rate of competition and were presented with nearly 60 breathtaking

submissions. This made judging unsuspectedly challenging, but we have collectively nominated our favorites; taking into account quality, content, and sheer aesthetic. Thank you to all who participated in the photo contest this month!

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S P A G E 3

MONTHLY SPECIAL

Would You Rather...

-Collected by Alexa Burkholder

S P O R T S

A perfect set sends the ball floating into the air,

seemingly defying gravity. The hitter vaults into the air greeting

the ball and sending it careening towards the court floor, gaining

a point for the Ephrata Mennonite team. Cheers erupted from the

growing crowd of Ephrata fans. Throughout the weekend of the

Fairview Tournament, the girls’ team played Fairview, taking a

loss of 6 to 25 and the second game’s score of 11 to 25. We later

played a very close came with Maranatha that resulted in a loss of

23 to 25, and the second game we lost by one point. However, in

the consolation game we won the match against Schaefferstown,

winning the last

game by 2 points.

Although, it may not

seem to the outsider

that our weekend

was very successful,

we left feeling

accomplished. To us

the tournament was

not about

demolishing the

other teams and

taking the gold, but about

worshiping God through our

ability to play volleyball.

Our coach constantly

reminded us to have passion

for Jesus and to focus not on

the ever-pressing scoreboard

but above. With every

passing game, we improved

in our fluidity and

communication, earning us

the satisfaction of

experiencing improvement in

our team. For the coming

years, the Ephrata girls’

volleyball team will seek to critic and perfect our team as a whole

and come back every tournament with improvement.

-Jordanna Musser

Playing for a Higher Purpose

P A G E 4 E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

S P O T L I G H T

Where are They Now?

STUDENT WORK

Aspiring Artists

-Collected by Hadassah Martin

This month, we took some time to find out where the EMS alumni are now and what they have gone on to

pursue in the work force. We tracked down nearly 50 of our graduated students, and here is what we found!

Samantha Weaver (8th) Brynne Huber (1st) Owen Zimmerman (8th)

-Collected by Jordanna Musser

Jenna Shovgan (4th)

F I E L D T R I P S

Adventures in Arkansas

P A G E 5

Elementary Explorers

M I S S I O N S T R I P S

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

Imagine yourself as an old grandparent, unable to

do anything but look at the sad walls in your room, which if

you’re lucky enough might have some colorful pictures

tacked up from your grandchildren. You eat the same food

everyday, read the same books every week, and sit in the

same chair all the time. You watch young people hustling

around, some stopping to care for you, and you remember

your younger years. You never thought you’d be so grateful

for the ability to walk or even the company you occasionally

receive. Until now. Now you just want someone to laugh

with, someone with lots of energy to take the time to ask

about your well being. And there are some who do that. You

never thought they could bless you like they do. But their

love for the Lord and compassion just warms your heart in a

special way. That’s the kind of experience and ministry a

small part of the youth group from New Haven got to

experience for a week in July. They went to Hillcrest Home

in Arkansas to help with random projects around the home,

some in extreme heat and others in the comfort of AC. Near

the end of the week, they participated in a family-fun event

for the residents and their families. This included helping

with food prep and running a human Candyland course.

Interacting with old people all week was new to many of us,

but it was special knowing how much they appreciated us

and how we were brightening their week. In the end, it was a

refreshing week that put a new perspective on life. One day

most of us will get the chance to rely on others to meet our

needs. Let’s not take for granted the abilities we have now

and use them to serve others.

-Hadassah Martin

On Monday November 19, the third and fourth

graders traveled to Middle Creek and Brickerville area where

they visited Mrs. Chantal Zimmerman’s farm, a one-room

schoolhouse, and lastly to Elva Hurst’s studio. At Mrs.

Zimmerman’s farm they learned that her house was built it

1790 and was where Middle Creek Church of the Brethren

started. They also enjoyed horse rides, holding puppies, and

playing games like Steal the Bacon and a popular outside

game played in Grenada. Elva Hurst accompanied the third

and fourth graders to the one-room schoolhouse where they

sat and observed a bit of the school day in session. A few of

the first grade students showed them what they were learning

in math, and then the children sang the third and fourth

graders a few songs. In between going from the one room

schoolhouse to Elva Hurst’s studio, the students went to an

Amish lady’s farm and had homemade soft pretzels and

lemonade. At Elva Hurst’s

studio, Elva gave the third

and fourth graders a chalk

talk. She told she them the

story of the Pilgrims coming

to America, and she drew a

picture with chalk of a boat

on the ocean symbolizing the

Mayflower. She drew the

picture with different kinds of

chalk and shone different

kinds of light on the picture to

give it different effects. Some

of the highlights of the trip were Mrs. Zimmerman’s house as

Chloe Burkholder expressed, “My favorite of the field trip

was when we went to Mrs. Zimmerman’s house because we

learned different facts about it, and we also got to

play games and pet their animals.” Mark Moiseev

stated, “The chalk talk was my favorite part because

she drew really nice and there was an American flag

on it.” Overall this was an exciting field trip for the

students.

-Alexa Burkholder

December Calendar Stuco Update

Check It Out!

Learning to Serve

598 Stevens Road, Ephrata, PA, 17522

Phone: 717-738-4266

E-mail: office@ephratamennonite.org

Ephrata Mennonite School

Connect with us at:

@ephratamennonite

Ephrata Mennonite Student Newspaper

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

Congratulations to the Super Sub Party who won the 6th grade mock election on November 6. On

November 16th they held a sub fundraiser at school from 3:45-7:00pm. All the

money raised was given to the school.

The meals they sold included a sub, chips, cookies, and drinks.

The fundraiser went very well, and thank

you to all who participated!

6th

: Backyard Agriculture field trip to Hendricks

Greenhouse

10th: 77th & 9th grade Christmas Caroling in Reading

12th: Christmas Program at 1:30pm

13th: Christmas Program at 7:00pm

14th: Stuco High School Devotions at 7:45am

21st: End of 2nd Quarter

21st: Half Day – Christmas Vacation

22nd – Jan. 1st: Christmas & New Year’s Vacation

Stuco has been busily planning for the events of

November, one of which was the annual persecuted church night.

Though the rain kept us from experiencing the physical part of the

simulation, it gave us the opportunity to join in on the spiritual war

that is going on in other countries. Each Stuco member studied up

on the persecution going on in a certain country and then had a

station set up for that country. As the groups would rotate through

the different stations, they heard of the different kinds of

persecution that plagues that country and then all joined together in

prayer for those in persecution. It was a great reminder that,

although we aren’t there in those countries being persecuted, we

can still be involved and remember our fighting brothers and

sisters. December 7th is devotions we hope to see you all there. On

December 20th is Christmas Caroling; come and spread the joy!

And finally, December 21st we are continuing the tradition of the

talent show; look for signups at snack stand. Check out the snack

stand display screen for more details regarding upcoming events.

-Kya Snyder (Stuco Treasurer)

P A G E 6