FROM THE DIRECTORS DESK
The past four months have passed in a flash. There were very many activities that happened. Some were good while others were terrible experiences. The Biblical imperative that all things works for good to those who love God and are called to his purpose became the driving force in all that we did. Monica was very sick and she went through surgery, Robbers attacked us at 2a.m on 23/24th July, We held teachers/ parent meeting that was very successful, the School curriculum went on uninterrupted.
The cost of Monica’s hospitalization, surgery and after care became a revolutionary mark of divine care in our life. Our friends wrote encouraging mails, some sent encouraging books and some gave funds far beyond our expectation. Thank you for your support and diverse ways of encouragement.
We are planning to visit the US in February 2008. The legal details are already formalized. Our purpose is to share what we are doing by helping Orphans, Widows, and the Poor in Spiritual, Physical Social development and giving the hope as the Lord enables us. We would like to share this in churches, groups and individuals whom the Lord brings in our way. If you would like us to do this at your Church, Bible class or group please get in touch with Ron Mayers e-mail ronmayer@comcast.net so that he can put you in the schedule.
Monica is recovering from the surgery and the Doctor has given her an appointment for January. We are also healing from the traumatic experience of the burglary attack.
The work at the Church is going well and we are enjoying the fellowship of brothers and Sisters that the Lord has given.
Term two:
This is our second newsletter this year. The school second term started well with most of the children reporting back to school in good numbers. We also don’t take it for granted that the teachers came back ready to teach
We are happy to have the privilege to be able to compile the terms activities which have been a manifest of God blessings upon us.
Showers of blessings have continued to shower Grace School in very many ways we couldn’t even count.
Grace Goes Online
We thank God for the provisions of funds and gifts from friends to the school. We went online with the installation of wireless phone service.
We are now able to read and write our mails right here at the School.
This service saves on money and time. We are now able to give immediate and accurate response to our mails.
Website Update (www.graceministries-limuru.org)
We have continuously been able to send information for update in our website. We thank Dan McDowell who maintains the website for his tremendous support and the beautiful work. We updated our staff profile as we have had new staff joining us as well as some leaving us. The column on the needy children was also updated and an addition the list was made as we had identified new children who would use the help of a sponsor.
LET US MAKE JOYFUL NOISE UNTO THE LORD!!!!
Singing at Grace School has become better with the purchase of a keyboard. We thank God for teacher Patrick who has the skills of playing the key board.
The morning assembly is now a joy as children enjoy singing now.
The Music club is also now more active.
Teacher Patrick playing the Key board as Mohammed and Amos observes.
Parents Meeting
We held our parents meeting on 23rd July 2007.
This is usually a very significant event in the schools calendar as this is the time the parents and staff of Grace get to interact and also the schools administration updates the parents on the school strategic plans and where they are required to chip in.
On this day there were a number of issues on the agenda.
The Director Reverend Sam started with bible exaltation and the theme was based on Amos 3:3 where he emphasized that two cannot walk together unless they were in agreement which was very relevant to our case where our work involves the parents, teachers and the children.
He went ahead to introduce the staff members to the parents as there has been changes as well as the new parents bringing in their children. He also updated the parents on the progress of the ongoing projects. We Thanked God for the financial support to finished and furnish the classrooms and the beginning of the Dinning/Kitchen.
The head teacher Mrs. Jane reported academic related issues. Our last terms examinations performance was read to the parents and they were very happy to hear how well Grace School had performed in relation to the neighboring schools.
She also reported on the Extra curriculum activities in the school and the already planned school trip in October was discussed.
A new and better report book was introduced to the parents. This report book is more detailed and all examinations done will be filled in and taken to the parent to sign and give feedback. This book will ensure that we have constant communication with the parents about the child’s continuous progress.
The head teacher aired school concerns to the parents in relation to the schools expectations on the children. She insisted that the parents have an obligation to ensure that the children complete their homework, come to school clean and maintain discipline. The parents promised to cooperate with the teachers.
The parents were also given a chance to air their concerns and give comments. Most parents thanked the administration and teachers for their hard work.
The last terms financial statement was read to the parents and our major deficit was read to them. It was acknowledged that without gifts given to the school it would be difficult to run the school. We have very few parents paying school fees while the majorities are grand parents taking care of their orphaned grandchildren.
Goodbye Grace School
Teacher Catherine’s Wedding bells are ringing!
Genesis 2:24
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh”.
It is with this reason that leaving Grace has become inevitable. I will be having my Wedding on the 25th of August 2007. We shall be living 200 miles from Grace and it is therefore impossible for me to continue working at Grace.
I have previously taught in other schools but there is something unique in Grace School. There is a loving atmosphere and one feels it is a place you ought to be.
It is in Grace School I have grown as a group player. A place that you feel that other person’s problems is your problem. The friendly atmosphere in Grace School enhances the smooth running of the school.
Grace School shall always be cherished in my heart for in it I have become strengthened and given hope always for a better tomorrow.
It is my sincere prayer that that God shall continue blessing the Grace community and shall always be there in it times of Joy and distress. I also pray that the lord shall continue to expand its territories until it attains its full heights and that peace shall always prevail in the hearts of all the people of Grace wonderful community
The work at Community Presbyterian Church is going on well. We are experiencing numerical growth and we have remained faithful to authentic gospel message which is not very pleasant to those who are getting lost, but to those who are getting saved it is a sweet aroma.
Our calling is primarily to preach the message of the Cross by word and deed and Grace School is as a Para church ministry expounds this conviction.
It seems that the Lord purposed that we shall be plough and planters, while others will come to weed and others to harvest. We thank God that you have stood and supported us during this particular formative stage of Grace Ministry.
Our church facilities continue to offer a safe sanctuary as a meeting venue to the stigmatized and rejected people suffering from HIV/AIDS. We have on occasion had host two groups meeting spontaneously and sharing the depilated facilities that we have. We are in the process of finishing a new sanctuary that can accommodate about 200 people. We are doing the roofing. Our prayer is for you to pray for these groups that the society shall accept and support them.
We praise God for the efficient staff who committed to do what they are doing as a calling rather than a job both at Church and Grace School. I do have special regard for Lillian the administrator and Jane for the wonderful work they did in shooting the Video CD that is being put together by Dan McDowell and Jerry Harvey.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE PERIOD
MAY –AUGUST 2007
