We Are Rooting For You
“That moment that you realize that 2022 is pronounced 2020 too.” Have you seen this saying floating around your social media? It’s funny because we all get it. 2020 was the year socially designated to illness, pain, and uncertainty. And here we go again. 2020 too. Maybe you’re running into the new year ready for battle, or perhaps your crawling in bloody and bruised. Maybe you don’t want to face what the year is going to bring: more bills and more responsibilities. Let’s face it, life is difficult. And sometimes, it downright sucks. Are we as Christians allowed to hate the life in front of us, even though it’s what God blessed us with? Yes. You are. We are somehow engrained to believe that you can feel all the emotions. But not that. Not the anger. And certainly not the hate.
“When the righteous [that’s you and me!] cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34: 17-18
My grandpa was put on Hospice on Christmas Day this year. On. Christmas. Day. Yes, I was angry. It’s not fair. Life isn’t supposed to suck. Is it? I’m sorry, but sometimes it just does. It’s okay. Feel the emotions, live through the suck. But then what?
There is hope. God does hear you and He will deliver you. Maybe not now, but He will. In the meantime, it’s the new year. I always tell my kids, it’s okay to be angry, it’s what you do with it that matters. So, what are you going to do? Take this as your sign that someone cares about you. You are our family! You may only graduate from high school once, but you are a part of our MLHS Lancer family forever. So, grab your champagne and make your vision boards. Perhaps it is time for that better body, a greater income, or a bigger dream. A new year is a new chance to make a change. Or not. But I encourage you take the next step. Whatever that looks like for you. That might just mean getting out of bed, or saying ‘hi’ to a long-lost friend (or your fellow MLHS alumni 😉 ). Push yourself to live your life just a little bit more, and know that your family is still here any time you need us.
Jennifer Dittbenner MLHS Mission Advancement Assistant
Have you been to our Campaign page lately? If you have, you would notice our new FAQ videos featuring MLHS leaders answering our frequently asked questions about our current building project. As a part of our FAQs series, we want to hear from you! What questions do you have about the campaign or MLHS building addition that we can answer for you? Your responses can be done anonymously, but will be used for inspiration for our future videos and articles coming from the Mission Advancement office.
Alumni Spotlight: Mark Ross
Mark Ross, 2008 MLHS and St. John's Newtonburg graduate, currently lives in Manitowoc, WI with his wife Kimberly, four-year-old son Hudson, and two-year-old daughter AvaMae.
How did MLHS prepare you for your future studies or career?
MLHS gave me a strong foundation on which to continue building my life after high school. Not everyone goes to college, and that is perfectly fine. The world needs laborers and tradesmen just as much as they need doctors and lawyers. The teachers I had at MLHS encouraged me to do what I wanted to do, rather than do what may have been the "norm" at the time.
How did MLHS prepare you spiritually to go out into the world?
I served in the U.S. Army for almost 10 years after high school, with two deployments: one to Afghanistan and the second to Guantanamo Bay. Attending a small Lutheran grade school and MLHS gave me the spiritual foundation that I needed to keep me on the right path after high school. The military can take you all over the world, and you will experience many things that can test your faith. With the knowledge of God's Word that was instilled in my daily life from birth, I was able to overcome many hardships and remain steady in His Word. I have a beautiful wife (also an MLHS alumni), and two amazing children. We thank God for everything He has done for us, and pray that He guides us through life, while giving us the strength and patience to raise our children in His Word, the same way our parents did for us. And here's the best part, all of the travels and adventures God has sent me on since high school have sent me all around the world...and now here I am, back at MLHS. I now work at Lutheran High as the Maintenance Technician and am ever thankful to God for the gifts that He blesses my family with every day.
What is your fondest memory from MLHS?
I don't remember ever not wanting to go to school. I looked forward to seeing my friends every day, and always having fun when I was at school.
What advice would you give to current MLHS students?
Quit trying to be cool, just be a good person.
Upcoming Events at MLHS
Freshman Information Night
MLHS invites all 8th graders and their parents to come to MLHS Monday, January 24 or Wednesday, January 26th at 6:30PM to see the MLHS campus, meet our faculty, and hear more about keeping Christ in higher education. This event is NOT a binding commitment, and no fees are involved. To help us plan for those nights, please provide us with some basic information about your child by going to www.mlhslancers.org/application.
Questions? Contact Ryan Holper, Admissions Director at rholper@mlhslancers.org.
NHS Pizza Fundraiser
From now until Monday, January 17th, the NHS students will be taking orders for freshly made 12" pizzas to fundraise for a mission trip to Arizona. Dollars raised will go towards plane tickets for the 12 students and chaperones, (plane tickets are $515 per person), van rental, site-seeing entrance fees, and meals.
PIZZA PICKUP DAY: Sunday, January 30th from 2-4pm at MLHS
We would love to see you! Contact Mission Advancement Director Ryan Hulse if you would like to request a personal or group meetup in your location.
rhulse@mlhslancers.org Office: 920-682-0215 ext.100 Cell: 651-587-2060
Manitowoc Lutheran High School 4045 Lancer Circle | Manitowoc, Wisconsin 54220 920-682-0215 | MLHS@mlhslancers.org