Isaac & Ama:
We’ve learned the level of education in their village is MUCH lower
than we originally understood. Although
they have all As & Bs and they are currently ranked #1 & #3 in their
JSS1 class (would be like 7th grade in USA), their academic level is
more like slightly below P6 (6th grade). In Ghana, unlike the USA, students finishing
up JSS (we refer to as Junior High School) take an entrance exam to enter into
Senior High School. Not all students
pass, not all are accepted into Senior High School, and those who are accepted
are not all necessarily are able to go.
Those who pass are sent to the public school they are assigned, and this
school may be in a totally different city in their country. Basically, Senior High Schools are mostly
boarding schools. Through prayer and
discernment, we have all agreed, these two children need to be in a private
boarding school NOW, to ensure they are receiving a better education to ensure
their performance is more in line with their actual grade level. By doing this NOW, it will ensure they pass the
Senior High exam.
Isaac dreams of being a doctor and Ama a nurse or teacher. We know God plants seeds and dreams and we
want to follow His lead. Just as he
brought these new details to light on their education, He provided through sponsors
and donations the necessary funding to transfer them to a Christian boarding
school. This week was their first week
in the new school. We will get an
official update later tonight, but we were able to hear they were SOOOOO
HAPPY!! They love their new school and
the excitement of their new life. Troy
and I were sharing with our children at dinner the update on all the kids, and
as we talked about Isaac and Ama, we talked about how they must feel and how
their families must feel. By doing this,
it helps to know what to pray for. The
kids were comparing their village life to the new life at a boarding
school. Toilets. They shared now they have toilets. A bed.
They now have a bed, not a mat on the hard, dirt ground. Time to learn. They now have time to do their homework, with
teachers pushing them to study, study, study.
Peace. Our little Isabella
shared, now Ama has peace to know she can learn more and not always taking care
of everyone else first. How about
that! Our oldest Taylor said they are
probably happy and sad. Their families
are probably happy and sad. They are
happy and excited for the opportunity, but sad to leave be away from family,
home, and the life they know. He said it
is probably hard at night. So, he and
our middle child prayed for sleep and rest even though they were away from
home. I am sure they are all right. I know a different culture makes a big
difference. In a country where boarding
school and/or being raised by people besides your parents, for a better
opportunity - is common. Yet, children are
children…so I will join my children in praying for them and their
families.
The school is 10 minutes from Eddie & Regina’s home. Right now, the school is in 3rd
term of the school year. They will enter
in P6 (6th grade) and they will be required to repeat 7th
grade, yet they understand it is better to start fresh, than to struggle
later. The children, their village,
parents, headmaster of current school…are all SOOOOO excited for this
opportunity! They told us, their dreams
have come true, for Isaac and Ama to get a BETTER education. Let me share, it takes a lot of supplies
(clothing, personal items, etc) for the children to attend the boarding
school. As Eddie and his wife Regina
took the children from vendor to vendor to obtain the necessary supplies, they
had shared their story and how they came to have this opportunity. So many of the vendors stopped the children
in their tracks and told them - DON'T WASTE THIS - STUDY HARD! This is gift
that is rare and they should take it very serious. Eddie kept saying they were
told - it is VERY SERIOUS. Eddie shared, these vendors don't even know me, but
even they know this is a huge miracle and opportunity. I am sharing with you,
so you can see the culture and how much this touches even those who are selling
their supply needs. Please be in prayer
for the children as they enter into this new journey. Snip-it of day-in-the-life of boarding
school: Children get up, do their chores (cook/clean, etc), school work,
then go to school...return home and repeat chores/school work, then bed. Now, of
course they are getting baths and eating in there as well. I'm just sharing
they are kept pretty busy, not much idle time and very structured. They learn
to work together, and everyone is working - not just girls! They love the
opportunity to have a GREAT education!! Praise God for all He is doing!!
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