Life really, really has gotten in the way...so I'm over a half-term late with this...sorry. Though many of you have been keeping up with us on Facebook and the (almost) daily photos we post there. There'll be another post hot on the heels of this one.
The last month or so has been full of the usual highs and lows; and we're one week into our Easter holiday, feeling recharged and preparing for a few days out of the city (I've spent less than 24hrs out of the city since last August!).
The last term was long...very long...which means our final term is frighteningly short. Scary because there's much to do...exciting because we can almost touch the summer break!
Prayer Requests:
- For our students to focus on the exams and achieve their potential
- Thank God for the blessings on our staff and how we are really growing together
- For maturity as we continue to discover how to live with financial uncertainty
- Thank God for how our children take less for granted now
- For rest in anticipation of Term 3
HALF TERM
Our half-term was simple, which was nice, but perhaps a little hectic. Some high-lights were a day at the beach with lunch and brunch...a little treat and the Worker vs Teacher football match.
The football match is part of our initiative to integrate the school's 'workers' into the staff body. So on a Thursday some students and teachers went to watch them battle it out. The teachers were, perhaps, a little 'rounder' than the workers and the workers had even managed to draft in one of the school's policemen, so the outcome wasn't certain.
But it was a strong victory to the teachers with a 5-0 win. The post-match feedback from the teachers was that the workers had an unbeatable level of stamina, they just hadn't trained together. So there is definitely a Term 3 match on the cards.
STAFF TRAINING
Straight after half term we had our usual staff training day...which was amazing. One of our pastoral team preached on the importance of respecting leadership...which was great, even if it did look like a set-up. And of course we played some very silly games.
But we also had our very first staff value awards. It was peer nominated and was looking for teachers who exemplify our values. We had two winners and four runners up, and when I was given the list I was pretty choked up. What a great group of role models! All six were Godly, humble and reliable servants...and all of whom would never have expected to be nominated, let alone win.
I really feel that this was such a strong turning point for our staffroom culture. The nominations acted as a clear staff endorsement of what we are looking for in our staff. In effect, what a King's School teacher should look like. Powerful stuff.
BEACH
And then we went to the beach! Woo Hoo!
We took all the staff, and their families, to the beach for the day. 120+ people were bused to a beach on Lake Tanganyika for swimming, volleyball, relaxing, lunch and silly team games. No work. Just fun.
Pretty much everyone came and it was such a wonderful day; seeing our staff community interact, grow and play together.
It was perfect.
11A
If there was trouble in the school, 11A was where you would look for the cause first. They had 'given up' on their GCSE's , were unruly, lazy and disrespectful.
So they had me as form tutor. One girl went home and said 'I feel like I've just joined the army!'.
I've been privileged to spend some time with 11A over the last few weeks and they are fabulous kids. In our first (rather strict and scary) session they really surprised me. They all have aspirations, interests and brains...but just needed some love, attention, discipline and motivation.
The feedback on their behaviour change has filled me with such joy and pride. For the much of last term we've had 100% attendance and punctuality. Praise God! I'm determined that they will all make the necessary grades for A-levels or college courses. I also got time with them each week in devotions, providing a perfect opportunity for me to share my faith and life as a missionary. The highs and lows of following God's call and living by faith.
10A get me next term, until April 2015, but they don't know it yet :)
STANDARDS
Being a form tutor has meant I need to be in the Secondary School every morning. Although I am, temporarily, neglecting some other areas of the school, it has given me real encouragement about how we can continue to raise the standards in the school.
Lateness and a general lack of urgency has been a continual thorn in our side at the Secondary. So we've really raised the bar. Five minutes before morning and afternoon registration we lock the gates. If you're the wrong side, you go home. Week 1 was a bit hectic, so we were flexible. Week 2 started well, but with a few very unhappy parents. Now few students are late.
This may seem like a small thing, but our students often don't benefit from good role models or cultural influences at home. Attitude change is a big focus for us and it is so gratifying when you see the fruits of changes.
EXAMS, EXAMS, EXAMS
Our GCSE and A-level candidates are on study leave, so we have done so much to get them in the right place to succeed. Good results represent a huge social mobility opportunity for many of these kids.
We've done exam technique training, careers and university evenings. Mocks were held in the actual exam venue under proper conditions. And on the last day of term we held a commissioning service for all 70 candidates. A time of worship, encouragement and prayer led by Pastor Edmond (International Director of ARM).
The students have been edgy and working hard. Mock results could have been better, but results, typically, reflected student effort.
Behind the scenes there is the usual, frantic data exercise as examination entries were uploaded. Exotic names, uncertain birth dates, transitional paper codes and regional variations all make for a tricky exercise. But we got there.
I'm not going to predict our results, but we've never been this ready.
BILLS AND DONATIONS
A little while ago, after a rough evening, I was driving a friend home when the other wheel of my car came off. I'm never sure if things like this are God making me stronger or the enemy trying to make me weaker. Or maybe both. I managed to pay some guys to sleep with the car so it could be towed the next morning.
But we had no money for the repairs. But we trust God. And then a very large bill from the local power company arrives! Now what? So we wait. It's frustrating but, sometimes, waiting for something to be fixed makes you more grateful for it.
While we were waiting for the repair money, we were able to borrow a 16 seater van. What fun! And what a way to bless others, being able to give so many of the car-less missionaries lifts to church and parties. If we ever got another car we'd love it to be one of these. So many people benefit.
Our car is back now, and a real pleasure. And with new parts, it is nearly 20 years old, I'm hoping it'll stay in one piece.
But as well as surprise bills, there have also been surprise donations. A BIG thank you to the anonymous donor(s)....we were able to pay for our summer flight taxes and have more monthly stability. THANK YOU!
Still some debts to clear...but tomorrow is God's.
POWER & WATER
Power and water are rubbish...I think the worst we've ever had since we've been here. I reckon we have power 30% of the day; maximum. Our reserve power is through batteries. Great when you have power most of the time, useless when it's like this. Water is usually on for a couple of hours in the morning and during the evening.
Bathing the children in buckets, breakfasting by candle light, trying to keep the fridges cool is really draining. And it's likely to get much worse.
But the real silver linings are the cheers the children give when power or water come back; they bring the promise of a warm bath, a movie or a bed time story CD. It's wonderful to see that they don't take these things for granted anymore. Such a blessing.
And again we've been really blessed. One of our supporters has said they'll ship us a generator! This will make such a huge change in how we live.
TUESDAY NIGHT DISCIPLESHIP
My Tuesday evening with 9 boys from the CRIB orphanage is going so well. We eat first and we have been trying to 'out cook' them. In our last week 2kg of rice, 2kg of beans and 3 bags of doughnuts (smothered in chocolate) nearly finished them off. They were so full, all we could do is laugh whilst trying to play the ice breaker...and never got much further than that.
But they enjoy our time together, listen and are beginning to open up as we deal with issues like peer pressure and life as a teenage Christian.
Another blog soon,
God bless,
Jeremy xxx
