A lot has happened this month but I will try to keep things short and to the point. I am now living on the base in Engakaret Monday through Friday and in Arusha Saturday and Sunday. While in Massi Land I am teaching. There are four classes going on every day, class A, class B, class C, and Primary one. Class A B and C are similar to preschool advanced preschool and kinder garden, where as Primary one is equivalent to first grade. The school is now an English medium school, meaning we are to be teaching all in English. As you can imagine this creates a bit of a challenge when it comes to teaching. Most if not all of the kids can’t read or write. This is also a challenge, in order for kids to be able to advance in school they need to pass written tests. If the student is unable to express his or her knowledge in the form of a written test then they will not be able to continue in their education. For the Massi this means they will be forced to go back and take care of cattle or be sold as young brides.
I am teaching English, writing, art, and sports for class C. My goal is to prepare and equip these kids to be successful as they enter in to Primary one. My prayer is that God will open their minds enabling them to quickly and effectively learn in order that they may be successful from Primary one up till they graduate form four, which is equivalent to High School. I also hope and pray that God will give me opportunities to be more than a malimu (teacher). I desire to plant seeds and to direct their hearts to the Father by loving them in and out of the class room.
Please keep praying for my health. God is faithful and is holding me, but there is a lot of dust in Massi Land and it can easily affect my breathing. Also please pray for rain! There are people who have expressed that they plan on moving if the rain doesn’t come by April. This may sound like a ways away however April will come faster than we know it. Not to mention there is very little water right now. There are to many cattle and people for the little water that is left. Please pray for God’s blessings to come in the form of rain. Also pray that I am able to teach effectively and don’t miss the opportunities God is giving me to reach out in love to these kids. And finally pray that God opens the hearts as well as the minds of these children in order that they may learn and retain everything being taught. Thank you so much for your faithful support, and holding me up in your prayers!
