Wednesday's Events

With our teacher development workshops now finished, the team has turned its attention to other areas of our mission objectives. This is truly a remarkable experience for all of us.

On Wednesday morning, our team was invited to travel to meet families with children in need of sponsorship. For most of the team, this was the first occasion to visit the homes of people in the community surrounding the school and our eyes have been opened to the considerable need and poverty that surrounds us, as well as the undeniable warmth and welcome that we receive again and again from the new people that we meet. Our visits have provided opportunities to deliver staple food items and to pray for families. We have been blessed by the occasions to give as well as receive. The families are very grateful for our offerings of love to them, and on our first visit, appreciation was shown in one instance by a mother who shared a gift of freshly chopped sugar cane that we would later enjoy with our lunch back at the guest house.

That afternoon, our team divided into two groups. Sheila, Julie, Glenna and Sharon visited the homes of some of the local children who are currently receiving sponsored support. One highlight of their visits was observing the efforts of a woman in establishing a successful farm operation that included a solid series of structures built for cattle and an innovative five story apartment complex for rabbits, including a basement wing that offered protection for young ones. While these visits were underway, Gord and I had an opportunity to visit the local high school and make a 45-minute presentation to over 100 high school students on goal setting and how to maintain and build personal character.

We continue to make connections with teachers and administration in Buikwe who appreciated the content and professional learning relationships established in our four day PD workshops for teachers. There are a variety of opportunities for an exciting exchange of ideas and possibilities, and for this, we are energized and hopeful. Please pray for the educators here, who work extremely hard with large class sizes and the stress of preparing students for written state examinations. They are excited about the possibilities of implementing new and fresh ideas from the conference, and we ask that you pray as they reflect on where they can best apply their learning in their own classrooms in areas of behaviour and discipline, literacy, special needs and instruction that address individualized needs of each child under their care.

The administration here at Buikwe is most grateful for the generosity of Forestview church in sponsoring many children who attend school here. There is still need for more children to receive sponsorship, of course. It is incredible to see the fruits of the sponsorships that are taking place, as sponsorship provides children the opportunity to not only attend school but also to receive nourishing meals while they attend. New developments while we are here include the news that Sheila is thrilled to sponsor a young girl, Patience, while Glenna, Julie and Gord are now sponsoring two young friends, Alice and Charity.