Africa Jan 2022

 

Greetings to all!

It has been a very busy January, but it looks like we get to slow just a little bit in February.

The school is now open and we have almost 150 students.  This is really good although most of them are in the nursery classes, ages 3-5 years.  We need more in the upper primary to even things out, but it is getting hard to find places to put them.  We have had to reorganize and change classes and classrooms many times, but I think it is finally settled.  We hired a new head teacher and she is very good, but a bit overwhelmed because she has had to take on the full responsibility of enrollment and accounting since Kevin quit.  I help wherever I can but she has to be the one to talk to the parents as they come in.  Mostly I run errands and make sure we have all the supplies we need.  Usually this means going to town and school twice a day.  I also do the morning devotions and the weekly Chapel service.  Then on Friday I get to listen to the memory verses and pass out candy to all that have said the verse of the week.

The building is continuing, though much slower than we would like.  We got a really good deal on some un-fired bricks that they had made across the road and since we have plenty of wood we are going to move them and fire them.  Sounds easy but moving 5,000 bricks and stacking them for firing is a real work out.  We have also combined them with a lot of bricks that we had from our property and this will help. There is still the sand and cement needed to put it all together.  Cement has tripled in price since last year so that has slowed the  building program down too.  We are also having to purchase and make more desks, benches and tables.  We had about 110 students when Covid hit and now with more students and social distancing, we need more desks, tables and benches  in order to accommodate everyone.  There are a lot of new rules and requirements and getting used to them and implementing them takes time and effort, but God is seeing us through, we all need patients and understanding.

The property above the school that we wanted we were able to rent, with the rent money being applied to the purchase price and we have until the end of the year to pay for it.  This is good for there will be no interest or fees on it, but we still need to pay 15,00,000 UGX for it (about $4500 US) It is about 1/3 of an acre.  It will give us more road access and a good play ground for all the children.  It will also give us room to expand if we need to in the years to come. 

Besides giving excellent Christian education, we want to be able to meet the needs of the very poor in this area that we are in.  It is a balancing act to keep the fees low enough so that people can afford to come, but still high enough to meet all the expenses and improvements. There are still so many children that can not attend school because their parents can't afford fees. The Public Schools are packed and usually average 150 students PER CLASS, and they are few and far between.

The Christian School ministry is important because without an education these kids will be out working the streets in one way or another.  Plus it is an out reach to the community.  We are able to visit the homes of the students and that gives us the opportunity to work with the parents, as well as meeting the neighbors and being able to evangelize.  People know me because of the school and I am able to stop and talk and share with them. So this is my main ministry at this time.  It is a little different and out of my comfort zone but that is a good thing because I know I have to rely on God and be closer to Him; I can't do it myself.

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

PRAISES
1.    School is back in session
2.    We have plenty of children and a good staff.
3.    We are able to rent the upper land for a years and have an option to purchase it
4.    We are able to have an outreach to the community through the school.
5.    Even though we aren't able to travel the door is open to meet needs and minister in our own Community

PRAYER REQUESTS
1.    Continue to pray for healing for the Tiondi Family (and me).  Jesca has left a big hole in our hearts and the ministry.
2.    Pastor Moses is healing and regaining his strength slowly. Pray that he can continue to minister.  He is still having a lot of pain and abdominal problems.
3.    Finances for the building, equipment and supplies needed for the school.
4.    That we use every given opportunity to share the gospel with the children, parents, neighbors and community.
5.    In everything, that the glory of the Lord shines through.
6.    Finances of the ministry
7.    Health and safety as we travel.

Thank you for all your love and support.  God bless you all.

Tammie Walker

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