Lutheran principal fills position here after mission work in Hong Kong

  "This is not a job, this is my calling," says Karen Markin, the new principal at the Yuma Lutheran School, a ministry of Christ Lutheran Church.

  Gene Ewald, the principal since 2002, retired on July 1. "He was very organized. Stepping into the principal position was made easier because of this," Markin said.

  Vince Harman, pastor of the church, said, "We thank God that he brought her to us. Her extensive background, personality and different ideals are added gifts for the school and us."

   Markin came to Yuma from Hong Kong. "My husband, Jerry, and I were called there as missionaries for three years and stayed for 12.

  "At the Hong Kong International Lutheran School, there were 2,700 students and 300 staff members. We had an elite American curriculum with freedom to discuss our God and faith with others.

  "Along with the religious education, we took a group of students to the Yunnan Province in southwest China to dig ditches to bring fresh water to a small village. It was a learning experience for the youth to know how they had helped others."

  A third-generation Lutheran, Markin was born and raised in California. She attended Lutheran schools from elementary through college. Her husband is a teacher, now retired but with plans to continue ministry in Vietnam and China.

  The school principal has taught in Canada; Nebraska; Lancaster, Tustin, and Orange County, Calif.; Waterloo, Iowa; and Hong Kong.

  Her educational training has been with the University of Phoenix for leadership, Michigan State University and Concordia University at Seward, Neb.

  "The school year in Yuma opened Monday morning (Aug. 18) with the flag raising by the color guard from the Marine Corps Air Station. It was impressive and good to see students and teachers. Everyone was smiling, and it was a welcome that continued after the installation and dedication service with church members the night before," Markin said.

  "This school has 378 students for ages pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Our classes are limited to 24 students each." Students do not have to belong to the Lutheran church, but their parents must make application for admission.

  The principal continued, "We have a new building - north of the school - which is scheduled to be open by the end of 2008. This will be wonderful, as our classes are in every possible room.

  "The new activities building will include a kitchen, plus rooms for classes taught by Erika Hamel, Debbie Sebree and Lyndsee Flint. Now Karen Jarocki has 'mobile music' classes in homerooms until the move to the new building."

  Included the school's programs are the handbell choir and music. "I've been contacted by Maggie Fenske from Oregon who has offered to help teach orchestra. She's an organist, and we have a band."

  Future goals are to have service trips for the students, where they can help others. Recycling schoolwide is important so that the school can become involved in the community, helping Crossroads Mission, Habitat for Humanity and a mission in Mexico.

  The principal's philosophy is "Schooling is life. Opportunities, exposures, possibilities are all a part of the equipment the lambs (students) need to make decisions and choices within the framework of faith and action.

  "Educators are entrusted with God's most precious resources and gifts, which we must protect and nurture: our children. The integrity of our work is defined to the extent that the students are spiritually able to share their beliefs, self-motivated towards academic excellence, serving others without personal gain, compassionate - putting others first, and continually seeking to know and understand more of our global world and being curious."

  Markin added that friends had said moving to Yuma would give her and her husband an opportunity to be closer to their children.

  "Not exactly," she said. "We have a son in Egypt - a former Navy man now serving with the government; another son in Thailand, working with youth and a past Peace Corps member. Daughters are one married to a Tibetan and working as a translator in China, and the other daughter living in Utah. We have five grandchildren, and the sixth on the way."

  Her introduction - "God's word as written in Jeremiah 29:11, defines my life and caring:

  "I'll take care of you as I promised...I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.