Updates and News from the Saituni Fund
SAITUNI SCHOOL NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2009
Looking back, it doesn't seem so very long ago that the 'school' was just a few poles stuck in the ground on a hill and a tarpaulin, or a mud hut which fell down in the rains, with six children and one volunteer teacher! Now thanks to the generosity of people like you, and the Grace of God, the Saituni School now has over 230 children, all of whom have a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, with fourteen dedicated, committed Christian teachers and the children are eager to learn , they are happy, and have a hope and a future.
As you know the school rents two acres of land to grow our own crops to feed the children. On my last visit I saw a miracle there, despite the extended dry season and crops failing all around us, I was encouraged when I saw our crops thriving. This can only be the Hand of God. Furthermore and to our delight, the last crop of maize and beans has been good, again while others have been poor. Again the Hand of God was working; as well as food for the school we were acutely aware of the needs of the families of the children, so we also help them whenever we can. Recently sixteen very needy families have benefited from this abundant crop. We have contracted to rent our two acres for another three crops. Last week a lady came into the church and offered us a quarter of an acre of land for one year free, so we are able to grow sweet potatoes, to supplement the diet of the children.
The building work is still ongoing to build more classrooms to accommodate our proposed secondary school status; that will be going on over the Christmas period. Talking of Christmas if you remember in our last newsletter it was hoped to raise enough money to buy each child a Christmas gift. thank you everybody - this has been accomplished. Each child at a special Gift Day received a gift for the very first time, there was enough left over to pay a bonus to the staff and a gift also to each teacher. This was a great encouragement for them, and they are looking forward to a happy Christmas. This was all due to your generosity.
More good news! At some point this month the school will receive 200 Bibles to distribute freely to the children that are old enough, again another answer to prayer. This has been made possible by The Gideon Bible Society who are going to provide these Bibles free of charge.
Finally, now thanks to a young man called Sam Warne, who is extremely gifted with computer programmes, we have produced a short promotional DVD of the school. This is a 'must see' DVD! Anyone who would like a copy of the DVD, please contact me at oakmanchris@yahoo.co.uk
Prayer Needs:
- To be able to upgrade and move onto a secondary school, we need one qualified teacher at that level to begin with.
- For more child sponsors.
- For funding to pay for the extra school buildings which will be needed.
- The existing classrooms still need glass in windows and a roof will be needed for the assembly hall.
- For the love of God to grow in these children, and for their health and safety.
It just remains for me to thank everybody that's involved so far, all our sponsors and well-wishers and wish you all a very merry Christmas. It is certainly a better one for the children, thanks to yourselves.
Do visit the website www.saituni.org for more information, and if you would like to visit the school, or for me to talk about the school to your local church, school or people group, please let me know!
More news soon
Chris Hirst