Mount Carmel High School

Yesterday we had the privilege of speaking at Mount Carmel School in Vancleve, Kentucky, a short stone’s-throw from Kentucky Mountain Bible College.  We left on Thursday, traveling through rural Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.  We had met the headmaster during our time at Avon Park camp in Florida and just hit it off with him.

This school was founded in 1925 and is a faith-based school that accepts kids from all over the US and the world.  It is what I would call at nitch-school, in that it fills a particular need for quality and affordable education in a boarding school environment.  It is a peaceful respite in a beautiful setting and it was our privilege to spend a couple of days there.  We were quite impressed with the students we talked with. 

In addition, the school has an elementary day-school and the staff are some of the most dedicated you could ever meet, answering God’s call on their lives in this unique and important work.  

I was especially impressed by a young man from Thailand, who was graduating this year and had been accepted by Asbury College where he will study education as his dream is to return to Thailand and teach physics, math, and science in his home country.  His home country is helping him with his education in return for a 10-year teaching commitment.  Seems like a good deal to me, especially considering the extremely high cost of tuition at private schools like Asbury.  We know well, for our youngest daughter attended Asbury for a year and a half.   Opps, side-tracking again.

This young man is strong in his faith and will return to his home country with more than just an education - but as a missionary for Christ.  You cannot put God in a box - He accomplishes His plans in more ways and methods than we can imagine.  

And then there were the girls from Papua New Guinea that were just a joy to talk to and hear their hearts and dreams.  And a young man from Korea who wants to study Engineering and wanted my opinion on the best engineering universities in my opinion - I could answer that one right off the top of my head from my days in my old Job.  

It was a joy to serve in this way - I enjoy all the energy that young people bring, with their hopes and dreams, and especially those who are working hard to achieve those dreams that God has put on their hearts.  We challenged them to seek God’s plan and call on their lives, for he has given each of us unique skills and talents for a reason.  We need to cast our dreams before Him and then work towards them, asking for His divine direction and help - for that clear Call that comes from turning it all over to Him.

Kentucky Mountain Bible College is just down the road and the two schools cooperate with some of the college students being resident assistants at the high school while others practice preaching on Sunday at the chapel, and some of the high school students participating in college level courses at the Bible College - a great partnership with world-wide impact.

The drive over was amazing - one day the purple and white blossoms bursting out in their radiance and magnificence, and the next day the trees, as if competing for their turn, bursting out in that rich yellow-green of spring.  Spring came on April 14 and 15 in the Appalachian mountains and we enjoyed every sound, fragrance and sight, for we have sorely missed springtime in the States.

Thank you Lord and guide these precious students and guide them into the future you have in store for them.  May they not be distracted by the clutter of the world, but remain  focused on fulfilling that Call that you have for their lives.  Give the staff great wisdom as they teach and guide those precious ones you have placed in their care.  Amen.

Dave & Ann

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed......In his heart, a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.....Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD."  Proverbs 16: 3, 9, 20

Donations for this school via:

Mount Carmel High School

PO Box 2

Vancleve, KY  41385