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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

We aren't at DCA any more~Owe School



This is grade 5 & 6. Notice the hanging ceiling.





























Last week Drew and I had the privilege of traveling about 45 minutes north west with Pastor Eco and Joshua, the bus driver, to visit Owe's church school. Drew had visited the church a few weeks ago but it was my first visit. The drive was beautiful. The last 15 minutes of the trip involved us turning onto a bumpy dirt road. The van stopped in front of a small building in need of paint, we had arrived at the church. We were greeted by a couple of teachers and led around to the back. Here there was a small courtyard with the landlords laundry hanging on lines between the buildings. We were allowed to greet the classes. K1,K2, and Grades1&2 consisted of 18 children. They were crammed into a small 8' X 8' room. The only way for the far ones to get in and out of the class was to crawl across their desks/a small bench in front of them.
The second room held grades 3rd & 4th, same conditions. The last room housed the 5th & 6th grades. That class has only 8 students but the room was in the worst condition, notice the cardboard hanging from the ceiling to try to keep the rain off of them. One of my first thoughts about the conditions were that they could manage now in the dry season but what would they do in the fast approaching rainy season. The rooms have no electric lights, they leave the door and window open for lighting.
Now let me say with conditions as appalling as they were to me the attitude and orderliness of the students and teachers made a huge impression on me. They need a lot of help, they don't even have textbooks or paces for the students the teacher has one set of paces and rewrites it all on the blackboard for them. With all their needs and difficulties there are 4 teachers who stay to work there, come pay or no pay, to help teach these children. As we left there I felt strangely encouraged and in good spirits. It had been a very needed and good visit to meet the teachers and see what the needs were and how we could help them. Our goals are that the schools and churches be self supporting but this school first needs to be equipped with the proper materials. We are looking into getting more ACE paces and other textbooks to them as soon as possible. There are many other needs and I am asking if there is anyone out there who would feel a burden to financial bless the good efforts that are being poured into this school. For $150 dollars we could have paces shipped here for the Owe school. There needs also include school furniture, food to feed a small lunch to the children there in that very poor community, basic school equipment and better rooming conditions.
As I mentioned before we are working toward self-supporting ministries here but these teachers have shown they are willing to stick with it and sacrifice so we would love to help equip them to do their job to the best of their ability. So how about it? Is their anyone who could take on this project of equipping a Christian school in Owe? May God bless you as you prayerfully consider it. If you cannot give the Owe church and school would really appreciate your prayers. They are going through a transition time with their pastor just resigning. We believe God has a plan for this ministry and through prayer and support we get to have a small part of His plan, how exciting and blessed we are.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

It is wonderful to hear of such dedicated teachers! God bless them and you!

Anonymous said...

Wow, my kids have no idea how blessed they are to have the school they do. We will be praying for these teachers and students.