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The Grace Journal is a place where Rev. Wambugu, and perhaps occasionally others of the Grace Ministries staff, will summarize the work of the day or week. We want you to feel that you are an active part of our work and our lives, and hope that this on-going journal of our activities – our joys, our sorrows, and our day-to-day work – will help to bring you more closely into our world.
God bless you for your interest and your support!
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Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 29, 2005 at 10:36 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER:
The children were very excited telling stories about their experience of the tour. You could find them in groups or with teachers narrating what they saw. They were busy writing letters to their pen friends expressing the same excitement. We are very grateful to Jane the Head teacher who tirelessly made many connections with various bus companies until we found one that gave us a deal which we could afford to pay.
Jane sent a letter to friends of Grace School explaining about the meaning of Christmas to the children of Grace School and the community. It is the tradition of Grace School to host a Christmas party for the children and teachers. We have always been fortunate for we have always gotten a person/group give financial assistance to enable us do this. We hope that the same will happen this year. We want to go a step further and invite the families of the children to come and be with us. The children will sing Carols, do nativity skits and recite scriptures verses. This is an appropriate time to tell of our faith in our God who sent his begotten son Jesus Christ to come and become an appropriation for our sins and to reconcile us to God.
We are still down in our knees praying for Gods speed in the provision of funds to put up classrooms needed for January 2006.
There is a Medical team that has promised to come on 30th Nov. They will do free clinics to the children and their families as well as the surrounding community. This team has done the same in the past and we look forward with anticipation.
I (Samuel) am especially happy because they will bring me the diabetes medicine and bring Monica blood and cholesterol medicines.
Have a blessed week
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 1:24 P.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 22, 2005:
The week was brief in class time, relaxing and enjoyable to both children and teachers. Monday and Tuesday were the only class days. Tuesday was half day as children went home after lunch to prepare for their much-waited tour that took place on Wednesday the 19th.
We could not afford a bus that could take all the 80 children and 9 teachers. We hired a bus that accommodated 60 children and their 9 teachers. We were able to do this tour, which we take to be very important in the learning and growth of the child. This was possible because the teachers sacrificed to prepare and pack the food instead of buying; they also agreed to pay a portion of their cost. We made an appeal to the parents and the community and they paid for 10 children. The School rewarded 10 bright, well-behaved and poor children by paying for their tour.
Thursday the 20th was a public holiday in Kenya and there was no School. We agreed to let the children rest on Friday and Saturday and resume School on Monday 24th October. The parents were very happy and supportive in the planning and implementing of the tour.
The children saw many animals like Lions, Giraffes, Zebras, Hyenas and many others in their natural habitat. The School assisted in taking photographs, which the children will share with their newfound pen friends especially from Bethel Presbyterian Church in Kingston Tn.
We look forward to start another School time with renewed strength after the rest.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 1:00 P.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING 15TH October 15, 2005
The temperatures have started getting hot. We are having highs of 22 and lows of 16 degrees Celsius. These will continue to rise as with the highest being around January and February. The learning is progressing very well with many parents requesting places for their children in Jan. 2006. The good reputation of Grace School in high academic performance and good moral behaviors are key elements attracting parents to Grace School.
Our desire is to be able to help as many children as we can without overloading our classrooms, which have a capacity of 25 children. There will be shortage of classrooms in January unless we shall have built three more on level three. We have appealed to friends to assist us with funds and we hope God will give us a way.
Teachers have continued to offer their best and all have finished the scheduled curriculum for this year.
We are anticipating rains in this month and we used the week to plant tomatoes, Kales and cabbages.
The much-waited tour is next week. We do not intend to leave any child behind because of non-payments. We have had significant local support with over one individual paying for 10 children. We thank God for this lady.
Our land Lord who has rented us the building we use for Kitchen and playing ground died on Wednesday night after along sickness. We hope that this will not interrupt our education system when the next of kin takes control. The family has been a friend of Grace School and we hope that the cordial relationship will continue.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 08, 2005 at 09:46 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING 8TH OCTOMBER 2005.
I began the week on a discouraging note. It was time to compile the quarterly Grace Newsletter for July-Sept. I had done all the components but on putting them together, the file weight was 10.2 MB which is impossible to send as an e-mail attachment. Something funny was happening because when I added the weight of the individual parts it was coming to 1.5 MB. I am very happy because when I shared my frustrations with Dan McDowell our web manager, he instantly knew what was wrong and fixed the problem. I sent the Newsletter on Tuesday and it is already on our webpage. If you have not received a copy of this very informative Newsletter letter, you can download it from our website www.graceministries-limuru.org
TUESDAY:
This was spectacular day. There was an eclipse of the sun over most parts of Kenya. We provided picture negatives to protect their eyes so that they could see the phenomenon. This was not only a time of fun, but the teachers used the occasion to teach about the Solar System especially the rotation and revolution of the earth.
Our intended tour for the children has unfortunately created mixed emotions among the children which are becoming more intense as the tour date which is 19th of October approaches. Some children are joyous because they have paid the $ 10 while others are closing their fingers that their parents/guardians will pay before the due date. We are only anticipating about 40 children to be able to pay. This is an important event of the child and we are praying that the remaining children will get some sponsorship.
The learning is proceeding on well and our fear of not getting food for the children has now been taken care of. We have received a gift of $ 350 which will go towards buying the children food. The teachers morale has been equally boosted by a gift of $500 from a family at Bethel Church.
The Lord bless you all and have a relaxing, spiritually nourishing week end.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 01, 2005 at 08:13 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING 1ST OCTOBER 2005.
This was the last week of the month and as usual a time of much anxiety as the teachers expects to get their little support. We thank God for the family that gave towards teachers support this month. The teachers got a little bit more to compensate other months when they have to do with very little.
The week had a lot of inquisitive enquires coming to Grace School after hearing that a known mentally deranged person, who was known by the people of Limuru was healed through prayers at Community Presbyterian Church.
The people have been requesting Samuel to explain what happened. We Praise God for healing Njenga and is now living with the CPC Church Care taker. This fellow was loitering naked in the streets of Limuru and feeding on the decomposing food in the dust pins. We are humbled by what we have seen and praying that no one will take pride in this for it is all Gods doing and to him alone belongs the honor and the glory. My (Samuel) teaching is that we are daily witnessing Gods transforming power. When we minister to the many orphans and windows that God brings our way, it is to me a working of God. We need to trend carefully in the area of overt signs and wonders. Many fads, conmen and quakes have distorted the gospel for mundane gains. Our prayer is for Gods glory to increase and bring many to a saving faith through our words, Life and deeds.
We had a church leaders meeting on Thursday afternoon, (3 ministers and 5 elders) to deliberate on this phenomenon. Our decision was to handle the event with moderation and humility and to look it as a means and not an end.
Samuel was requested to consider taking Pastoral Church ministry on full time basis due to shortage of clergy in the denomination. Samuel explained the importance of his present ministry and how it could be affected. The issue was left for prayers.
Children and teachers of Grace School are doing great. The temperatures are now warm and there is no wearing of the heavy jackets.
Samuel
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