| |
|
|
|
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!
|
Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 10:05 A.M. (Limuru time)
Week ending Saturday 26th November 2005:
This was a very short week in terms of working days. Monday and Tuesday were public holidays to allow Kenyans vote on the referendum on the new constitution. The new draft constitution was rejected despite its superiority to the present. This was because majority of Kenyans listens and acts on the advice of political /opinion leaders as opposed to making independent and informed decisions. The political climate is now uncertain, as the president has dissolved his cabinet and prorogued parliament sine die. The country is however peaceful and Kenyans are very grate to God for this.
Wednesday:
School resumed on Wednesday. This was a special day at Grace School. It was the day for the Christmas books. There was no routine learning. Teachers were busy preparing food while children cleaned and practiced the Songs, Skits, poems and scripture reciting. Jubilation and busy filled the air from 12 noon. Community Presbyterian Church provided the Music system with Pastor James (Assistant Administrator) being the Master of Ceremony. Samuel co-coordinated the slaughtering of two sheep that provided meat for the children.
The real occasion began at 1 p.m. The children ate to their full. Different groups gave their presentations. One unscheduled presentations was from a boy who started throwing in the midst of the cerebrations. He had eaten beyond capacity. After the children and teachers did their presentations, there was dancing until 4.45. Monica gave brief closing remarks and Samuel did the closing prayer. The Learning will resume on January 9th. We shall use the break to visit the children in their homes. This gives us opportunity to understand the background of our children and also to share with the family the areas that we think a particular academically weak child can be helped. It is also a moment to share Christmas gifts if we have any with the families.
Thursday:
This was the day of cleaning up the party mess. The children and teachers were involved in the cleaning of the school. Grace School has the reputation of being the cleanest Institution in Limuru. T Jane the Head Teacher gave a brief address and they all sung the song wishing merry Christmas to each other and the School dismissed.
Friday:
It is time to prepare for the Medical team. They need a Kenya Medical Permit, which I Samuel acquires for them. It is a tedious and expensive process dealing with unnecessary bureaucracies. I hope that I will have the permit on Monday in readiness for their arrival on Wednesday night. The team will do clinic on Thursday and Friday and they will go to other parts of Kenya. The team will be in Kenya for three weeks. This team gives very much needed medical services and it is always welcome.
God bless
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, November 19, 2005 at 11:15 A.M. (Limuru time)
Week ending 19th November, 2005
It was a week of reckoning to both teachers and children. It was the week the children were writing their end year examinations. We buy our examination from professional Education Center. This works as our measure and guide to fall the designed Curriculum by the ministry of Education. There was joy by the end of the week after the teachers marked the exams. The grades were very high with a mean score of B+. We pray that Grace School will evolve to be a Center of Excellence.
MONDAY:
Teacher Stella was admitted in the hospital for an ENT Surgery. The surgery was successful and she is now recuperating at home.
Kenya is going through a period of Constitutional Change. There is a lot of campaigning with some people rejecting the draft Constitution. There will be a referendum on Monday to decide the fate. Monday and Tuesday (21/22) will be public holidays and there will be no School. When we get back on Wednesday the children will have their X-mass party and the School will go for a December break from 24th Nov. The children will have candies baked by the teachers, Sodas and a lot of meat to eat because we intend to slaughter the three months old bull for them.
The children will come back on December 1 and 2 for a free medical Clinic. This service is being offered by a medical team from Knoxville.
We are entering a festive advent period. Remember to pray for Grace School.
God bless
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 09:42 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING 12TH NOVEMBER 2005
The week was extremely busy. Teachers were busy revising with the children what they have learned in the year. This is preparing the children for the end of the year examination which starts on Tuesday 15th Nov.
TUESDAY:
I have shared in the past journal that Caroline is latest orphan to be added to our long list of orphans. On Tuesday the grandmother in the seventies came to school. She wanted to know the fate of Carolines schooling. She was very happy that since the death of her daughter Grace School has continued to support her. She particularly quoted the just ended school tour for the children where Caroline was not left behind for lack of money and she was properly fed and taken care of. She needed to know for how long is Grace going to support Caroline for she did not have money to pay for here tuition and she is even struggling to feed her in the evening together with other grand children she is taking caring for. Our response to her is to let Caroline continue attending school at Grace and she will be there as long as God wants. She left a very happy parson.
Wednesday:
Samuel and James went for a session meeting at the church. There has been a lot of concern in our church about a mentally challenged (Crazy) fellow that through the prayers of some church members he has partially come back to himself. Samuel insists that he needs medical intervention for the remaining healing. Due to the church concern Samuel borrowed the concept of inviting other members to the Session from Bethel Session. Many people came and they gave valuable opinions.
Friday:
Samuel was busy at Nairobi Hospice. He had been invited to give two hours lectures on the subject of Spiritual and Cultural issues surrounding death and dying to a group of fifty medical volunteer workers at Nairobi Hospice.
PRAYER NEED:
Stella the wonderful mathematic teacher of Grace School is due for surgery on Monday. Stella has been having very stubborn growth s in her nose. She has tried many methods to control the problem without a permanent cure. We hope that the surgery will fix the problem. We thank God for the person who has helped to pay for her surgery fee. She could still do with more financial assistance.
God bless and have a good week.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, November 05, 2005 at 09:41 A.M. (Limuru time)
The learning/ Teaching method changed this week at Grace School. All teachers have covered the prescribed curriculum for a given grade for the year. Some teachers have even entered into the curriculum of the next grade. Grade five has finished their Mathematics curriculum and we were doing grade six. Most of the remaining teaching is going to be revision. Teachers revise the topics that were difficult to be understood by pupils as well as giving extra help to slow learners. The children will then sit for an annual examination beginning 15th to determine if they have attained the competence to move into the next grade. Extremely few students are made to repeat the same grade and this has to be discussed between the class teacher and the concerned parent,
The week was quite frustrating for me (Samuel). I was unable to access the UT Bank a/c on line due to technical problems. The bank has now fixed the problem. I thank Peter our son who is at Knoxville College for having taken the issue with the bank for quick restoration of this service.
The weather is now warm and wet. We have more cabbages than our children can handle and we are distributing them to the needy families.
There will be a Christmas party for the children on 23rd. We are thinking of inviting the parents to join us during this time if funds shall allow. This is an important time when teachers meet the childrens parents and discuss School and children issues so that we can continue to work as a team.
The building for the classrooms has not started, but we are very confident that the Lord will supply all that we need to make the classrooms ready for January. We have seen his unfailing provision in the past for Grace School is a manifestation of this unfailing grace.
There was no School on Friday. It was a public Holiday of Ud Il Fitr marking the end of the Holy month of Ramadhan.The Islam month of fasting.
Gods peace and grace.
Samuel.
|
|
|
Please know that your donation can help, not only to save the life of a child in Limuru, but to guide that life in such a way as to loosen the stranglehold of despair and death that threatens so much of Kenya's population. Thank you, in advance, for your compassionate support!
|
|
