Sponsored by "Into All The World" Ministries.

School life – growing in size and knowledge

    The 2009 school year is nearing an end.  In just two weeks we have our summer holidays! 
(Better know to us in North America as Christmas break!!!)  As the school year here runs January through December, this really is our longer holidays.  We have finished the year with a few new things. 

     Barb Sargent came out and led the school in a musical about Noah which delighted parents

and students alike.  The computer lab and library are in full sing and the students are enjoying the time with the books and computers.  Our teachers are trying out new things taught by Barb, Shirley, and Linda.  The buildings are slowly being finished and extended.  So overall, we have seen a lot of progress in both the school buildings and the academic achievements of the school this year. 

     Later this week, the school has the enrollment day for new students to test in, for meeting new parents, etc.  We have over 80 applications for students and only about 40 spots, so will need wisdom as we fill the seats with students who have both the need and ability to succeed here at the school.    Please be in prayer for us that we will continue to have resources to build so we don’t have to make such painful decisions on who to accept!                                                  

   Speaking about building!  We are currently working on a number of projects.  Beside the new library is room for two additional classrooms, and we hope to have both finished by the start of the new year.  Currently we have Greg and Debbie Renton here from Canada who are working with our construction team here to get the classrooms further along.  The walls and pillars for the roof are well underway. 

   While Greg is here, he has brought a welding machine and is teaching our construction staff how to use it!  This will save us a lot of time and money on hiring welders for many of the jobs here as we continue to build.  Also, as he is teaching, he is working on a door / grate for the school store which should open next month.  

   Also important is a cowshed that is just now going up for our new cow!  The cow is currently producing enough milk for all the children to have in their porridge plus a bit for our family as well.  We are very excited to have her!

Last newsletter we showed you this picture:
                  
The same room this month! Currently this is the combined library and computer lab.  It is not only serving the school children, but also bringing in an income to help with the school expenses as an after hours internet café.

FAMILY NEWS

    We are greatly looking forward to the holidays!  Holidays seem very strange here to David and I because of the heat but our children see nothing out of the ordinary about having a Christmas water balloon fight!  It seems like the holidays have come early with the arrival of the new cow and with our visitors from Canada.   We currently have ten people in the house and will soon see grandparents come in the new year.

                All the little guys are not so little any more.  Ethan can now sit for three or four minutes at a time.  He is eating and playing and trying to crawl.  Jeanetta and TJ are best friends and worst enemies as they play and explore together.  They are constantly on the go and desperately want to join in the fun of class.  Caleb wants to learn to read!  He almost has all his sounds down and is starting to sound out simple words, but wants to skip the early books and move right to “big kid books!”  Jonny makes his way through three or four “big kid books” a week, and he complains bitterly if his homework gets in the way of “reading time.”    Wow, that gets them all.  We are a busy and noisy family bunch who are excited to have school holidays coming up!!!

                David and I are still trying to cut back work hours to spend more time with family.  Sometimes we are successful, more often we are not, but are working on it!  David has still been struggling with migraines and I have been struggling with asthma, but both are improving.   We are all under a lot of stress with the current leadership issues going on with the church we are working with here.  It is hard to deal wisely with everything that comes up while making sure the school stays protected from the conflict.   The upcoming new year brings a lot of start up work as well as we try to get the school repair work and construction projects out of the way while the students are off the campus.   God is in control and has given us so many dreams, now we need wisdom to work through these dreams in His time!

         We love to hear from you

      Praise – Another year of school is coming to a successful end. 

      Prayer – wisdom in accepting new students to fill empty spots

      Praise – Barb Sargent, Devin Cross, Jericho Windover, Greg and Debbie Renton – all have brought their talents and abilities to help in the work of the school

      Prayer – For wisdom and safety in ongoing construction

      Praise – Renewal and revival of health and energy.

      Prayer – continued health concerns.

      Praise – God’s all knowing eyes are upon us!

      Prayer – wisdom to deal with the current situation in church leadership

      Praise – a developing relationship with the community that has been able to show the love of Jesus and demonstrate the difference in “real life!”

      Prayer – wisdom for the relationship between the school and the church.