For the past three years, I have been witness to God’s incredible blessings at Mount Ellis Academy (MEA) in Bozeman, Mont. I have seen blessings in the form of many people who support our school, sacrificing financially to make an Adventist education possible for those who might not otherwise be able to send their kids to MEA.
And while I tell everyone who will listen that Mount Ellis Academy admits all students regardless of financial need, I will admit that sometimes my faith is not strong enough.
Doubt had crept in this year after registration, while facing the challenge of raising $155,000 to help students attend. Yet my doubt has been replaced with joy. We have raised $115,000 and are well on our way to covering those unclosed financial plans.
Parents and students frequently relay their gratitude for our generous donors. I recently received a letter from a parent that touched my heart, and I was given permission to share it with you.
“Dear financial supporter of Mount Ellis Academy,
"I woke up early this morning thinking again about how much I appreciate you. Years ago I borrowed a large sum of money to invest in real estate. Shortly after that, the economy tanked, and I was left with a tremendous amount of debt.
"I went to talk to the principal at Mount Ellis and told him that I could not send either one of my sons because of this overwhelming debt. I was told that there were people that he knew that would help my boys, and he convinced me to leave them at Mount Ellis.
"I promised God that I would work earnestly to make my payments even though it would have been easier to declare bankruptcy. Time and time again during this period of financial difficulty, people who we did not even know stepped up and helped keep our children in an Adventist academy.
"All these years I have wanted to write and express my gratitude. I don’t know why I woke up early this morning, but I felt impressed to write down my experience and share it with you. I am so grateful. Thanking someone during those years seemed fruitless as I did not want to be seen as asking for more.
"So, my friends, I have gone years without thanking you. I am sorry for that. This morning I was thinking about how I could show my thankfulness. Since my words cannot convey my thoughts, I felt that I could give back in the same way that was given to me.
"Today I have donated to the Mount Ellis Academy Student Aid Fund. It in no way pays back what you have done for my family and me, but is a just a small token of my appreciation.
"Thank you for sacrificing so that my children could attend Mount Ellis Academy. I will never forget what you have done. I am very thankful that my kids were able to attend a Christian school like Mount Ellis Academy, where they interacted with Christian faculty.”
— Anonymous parent of MEA graduates
Stewardship is our calling: "But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:20–21). Mount Ellis Academy has for the past 20 years admitted students regardless of financial need. For more information on how you can help, contact www.mtellis.org/give.
Students enjoy the Glacier Outdoor School Science Classroom with James Stuart.
Junior Tankam from Cameroon speaks for International Sabbath.
Glacier Outdoor School participants hike to Iceberg Lake.
