Auburn Adventist Academy - Rainier Vista Yearbook (Auburn, WA)

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Jlakbtttcnmts JVbiiress This world is so constituted that, sometime in our life we must face a parting, a farewell. It will ever be so until the constitution of this world is changed. As people go to new regions in which to live, they find new friends, new associates, and new surroundings; but always there is, in the hidden record of the past, the sad memory of the parting scene, the picture of old friends and loved ones. Tonight, as we have assembled to take part in this leave- taking, we are reminded of several parting scenes in tales with which we all are well acquainted. Let us turn for a moment to the story of Joseph: He was a promising boy, sincere, eager, and courageous. Taught at the feet of his patriarchial father, he earnestly looked forward to the coming Messiah, and placed true faith in the promises given by God to his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Then, when only a youth blossoming into young man¬ hood, Joseph was sent on an errand to his older brothers, and suffered the cruel fate of being sold as a slave by the sons of his own father. Indeed, that was a sad farewell, although a silent one. As he passed within a few miles of his father ' s tents, how he must have eagerly watched for a last glance of the well known scenes between the hills. Imagine how he must have harbored the last faint hope of his restoration to his father’s home, and how he must have longed for a parting blessing. But this was Joseph’s graduation. It was the gate through which he walked from his boyhood into his life of usefulness. God had a higher purpose for him than to be an idle dweller of Jacob’s tent. He had a great career outlined for His servant, one which later afforded the shelter of God’s people during a period of famine and distress. As Joseph determined in his sorrow to live for God and to do his best no matter what befell him, so we have deter¬ mined that, in c = ©t!i r future life, we will do our utmost to reach the highest goal set for us. His seemingly unfortunate parting brought about great good for his loved ones. So will ours, if we let God carry on His plan for us. As we leave the T wenty-two

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academy to complete our education elsewhere, and then to enter God’s harvest field, whatever success we may have will do honor to our beloved alma mater. At the seige of Jerusalem, Daniel left his quiet Jewish home for the busy metropolis of Babylon. His heart probably ached when he parted from the scenes of his boyhood, but in Babylon he was called to witness for his promised Savior before the rulers of the world. His faithfulness in serving his Master caused the light of truth to shine brilliantly in those old uni¬ versal kingdoms. And the light which he so kindled has not yet been extinguished, but daily increases its power as we under¬ stand the wonder of God as wrought through this honored servant. We realize that each of us have a place in God’s vineyard. To find that place is our true desire. If God should so wish for us to witness for Him in like manner as did Daniel, or, if we are to have but the humblest part, we shall be satisfied to have served our King. It is this desire to serve which prompts us to continue our education. God has placed the privilege of finishing the Gospel message upon the shoulders of the young people of today. We must not shirk this responsibility. We must prepare ourselves to be efficient that we might be worthy to labor in His vineyard. Before we say farewell to you tonight, dear friends, we wish to thank each of you for your cooperation and encourage¬ ment, and for the interest that you have shown in this academy. Attending this sc hool, surrounded as it is by the wonders of God’s creation, we have learned many lessons from His book of nature as well as from our printed text books. We have here enjoyed the association with Christian young people, and have had the pleasure of being taught by an earnest, conse¬ crated faculty. For all this we are grateful to Western Washington Acad¬ emy. The very atmosphere of the place has seemed to help us grow spiritually, mentally and morally. God ' s presence has been here and we have felt its special blessing upon many occa¬ sions. It has been here that some of us have found our Savior and all have experienced a closer walk with Him. The members of the class appreciate all the faculty have done for them. We thank each member for painstaking effort to help us, for patience in working with us, for encouragement in leading us on in the face of difficulty. We express our heart- Tiwenty-three