Carol* is an attorney working in the federal court system.  A long-time supporter of WWCS with a heart for India, she recently corresponded with us about why she feels compelled to help others, and how she does it.  These were her answers to our questions.

WWCS: What (or who) inspires you to give?

C: Scripture, which teaches sacrificial giving, and a desire to share life’s bounties with less fortunate people.  It is only fair to do so.  Certain heroes of mine, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Archbishop Oscar Romero, who gave their lives for oppressed people, have also inspired me.  Frederick Beuchner said, “The life you clutch, hoard, guard, and play safe with is in the end a life worth little to anybody, including yourself, and only a life given away for love’s sake is a life worth living.”

WWCS: Do you have a particular region or population you are passionate about? Why?

C: I am deeply passionate about the plight of poor women and children because they often are the most vulnerable members of a society, and statistics indicate that they are disproportionately poor among the world’s population. I wish that I could do more to help them.

WWCS: You are a long-time supporter of WWCS. Why have you chosen this particular ministry?

C: I choose to support WWCS because it makes the Good News of the Gospel available to people without forcing it on them.  WWCS works with, through, and for people regardless of race, faith, denomination, or age, and provides education to children who might not otherwise have access to schooling. The education is a tool for jobs, which in turn provide income for basic necessities.  WWCS directly or indirectly protects, nourishes, and sustains children physically, emotionally, and spiritually. For example, in India, WWCS provides lunch money for poor children, many of whom have an alcoholic parent.

WWCS: How is it that generosity has remained so important to you in these hard economic times?

C: I have been blessed immeasurably with a job that permits me to continue giving even in difficult economic times. Beyond that, the needs of the poor are greater now than ever. There is an ongoing global food crisis due to drought and natural disasters, changes in the global economy, and the use of crops for bio-fuels. Education gives people the tools needed to break the cycle of poverty.

WWCS: What would you say to someone who thinks they have nothing to contribute?

C: Read Scripture (especially the Gospels) and walk with the poor. Educate yourself about the causes of poverty and the issues facing indigenous populations; serve in a soup kitchen; build a school through WWCS or construct a house for the homeless; go on a mission trip or minister to those in your own community; and, above all, pray for the poor, for the people and organizations who serve them, for people in positions of authority here and in other countries, for permanent solutions to poverty, and for increased sensitivity to those in need.

*At her request, this supporter’s real name was not used in the published interview.  She wishes to remain anonymous.

Do you feel compelled to give?  Tell us why by commenting on this post.

Well, we’re back in Kolkata for a quick break before heading on to the next school - a chance to recharge our batteries, both literally and figuratively.

Having shot over 1300 images in 24 hours, you’d think I’d feel exhausted.  I haven’t felt this alive in a long time.  I’m sleeping less - waking at 3 am each day, feeling as if I could take on the world (but unfortunately am stuck in a train and can’t even take on the next car).

We took a train 16 hours from Kalkata to Kesinga, in Orissa, to visit New Life Orphanage and School.  What I experienced there was one of the sweetest times of my life…..

As we drove up to the orphanage, these 75 children stood in line, all dressed up to present us with a welcome to their home.  75 Beautiful faces.  75 apprehensive smiles.  75 little hearts.  All in a row.

How do I even put in to words what these children have done to my heart??

“Sister, sister!” I heard over and over as they asked for another “snap” and to see the picture I took.

I got to hug, cuddle, tease and play.  I got to dance (Indian style, and apparently I’m pretty good at it).  I learned how to pop leaves in my hand, and saw that children who have no toys can turn their flip flops in to a game.

What I didn’t see was an orphanage lacking in love or hope.  These children are being lovingly raised by a family & staff who have dedicated their lives to serving others, and are being cared for and supported by prayer & donations.

These children praise God in ways I have never heard or experienced.  They may not know the love of their earthly father, but they do know God’s love, and you can see it on every one of their faces.

Of course I wanted to pack one up (ok, maybe two or three) and bring them home with me….but I also know that I didn’t leave them in a place lacking in love, grace, truth, and hope.

To learn more about new life, you can visit our website: http://us.wwcs.org/slumschools/slumschools_newlife.html

- Lynell Shooks, Staff Photographer for Student Sponsorship

I was warned.

And re-warned, and re-rewarned.

About how utterly, devastatingly dirty and crowded it is.

But I wasn’t warned about how utterly, devastatingly beautiful it is.  The people, the faces, the sea of humanity - - each one an image bearer of my beautiful God.

Before I left one of my coworkers shared a great devotion about Christ leaving his divinity to enter our humanity - and how it would be like us turning over a rock, seeing a sea of ants, and deciding to go and live and become like an ant (it’s an analogy, not theology).

I thought I might look at this like something in to which I would never want to step.  On my way here I prayed constantly to God, asking him to see beauty, and to see him wherever he looked.

And I have.  Wow, have I ever.  Instead of just seeing the stinking sweat of bodies, I look in to eyes, see faces, and heard chatter, and laughter, and seen a community not just individuals.

I have so much in my head, but as I am here, awake, at 2:30 in the morning, I’m just so in awe.  In awe.

Of this beautiful disaster.

- Lynell Shooks, Staff Photographer for Student Sponsorship

La Fraternidad in El Transito looks like a new school thanks to donations from both WCS and Missionary Ventures which totaled $27,745.  I’ve attached some pictures from Eric’s and my visit.  Below is a link to additional pictures.

 http://picasaweb.google.com/rtpostmafamily/ElTransitoUpdate

The new construction was well thought out with the objective to prevent a large wind storm from destroying the school again.  As you will see from the pictures any roof overhangs were closed up to prevent the wind from catching it underneath.  Even the front of the school is designed to help protect the school from large wind storms.  They have learned that they could not build the school in the same way and have a new design that will last.

Despite these many improvements the school is not yet complete.  There are no more funds available, the reason why the front of the school is half done.  They actually still owe $900 in labor for the project because those who worked on the school were willing to wait for their money so that they had more money for materials.      

Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tip O’Neil, is often credited with saying, “All politics is local.”

A simple truth, really, is that the most important of all elections are those of our city or township councils, mayors or supervisors, school and hospital boards, water/sewer, housing, city planning commissioners, district judges, even the local sheriff.

All of us fixed on making a global impact, through education, might do well to take the words of O’Neil to heart, and, profess that “all learning is local.”

Faith-based organizations, FBOs, insist that “we can change the world,” or, “stop poverty, defuse terrorism, bring hope, defeat despair,” and a host of other laudable but hard to substantiate claims.

Under the principle of “all education is local” we must confess “we” are not the ones who are going to change the world, end poverty, and all the rest.

Who then?

To paraphrase another politico, James Carville, running Bill Clinton’s bid for the White House, “It’s the economy, stupid.” We might say, “It’s the Children. Always was, always will be the children.”

The children. The students, or learners, school-age or not-yet-born, in existing or future schools, are the carriers and deliverers of this hope, transformation, prosperity, democratic leadership – “we” dream of and claim.

So, the challenge is this: “How child-focused are our endeavors?” “How will all that we do, actually reach and impact the child in the classroom, in the school, in the community?”

We talk “Christ-Centered” as a key definer of what is “true” Christian “schooling.”

The question remains, “Are we also Child-Focused?”

Some check points on the “Are we Child-Focused” scale might be:

1. Are the children getting good nutrition, to enhance their abilities to learn?
2. Are children drinking safe water which minimizes illness and absenteeism?
3. Do children have access to mosquito nets to cut down the n of malaria?
4. Are children safe, period? Are schools refuges against abuse and exploitation on due to gender, religion, or, even their HIV status?
5. Do children, with consent from parents/guardians, have access to HIV testing, immunizations, hearing and vision screening, all of which impact ability to learn?

I could go on…these are only a few of the most basic examples of “Child-Focused” schooling, let alone the academic, cognitive considerations.

The “uncomfortable truth” is many organizations focus “top-down” as change agents to those whom we trust will be, in turn, implementers of change for teachers and, eventually, children.

Meanwhile children are figuratively dying to access a seat in an affordable school, and/or physically dying for lack of access to the most basic health services, enough to attend school, to learn, and mature mentally and physically.

Top-Side approaches have their value, but, it matters not to a child or parent whether their teacher can afford to attend a conference, if they are too sick to learn.

The irony is that minivans filled with touring educators love to have photo ops with children in schools or orphanages, clinics, or, churches. They may even get to learn the child’s name who is sitting on their lap.

The story, and daily drama, behind that name, that face, that small frame of a child, is as much a mystery to the visitor as it is to wonder, “Why did God have me born in my country, and circumstance, instead of as this child, here?”

As we consider whether our Christian schools are, or should be more, “Christ-Centered” we cannot honestly probe of this dialogue, without coming face-to-face with this question:

“How can we promote Christ-Centered schooling, apart from insuring we are also Child-Focused?”

The challenge is: Can we commit to balancing value and resources to clean water as well as curriculum workshops? Mosquito nets as equally important as teacher mentoring? Immunizations as critical as new, instructional designs?

Could the international community dedicate a percentage of every registration to yet another global gathering of Christian educators toward a fund for insuring every child has “access” to these basic “living to learn” resources?

Could every visiting teacher, workshop facilitator, curriculum designer, volunteer work team, etc. also raise and dedicate a percentage to such a fund for nets, nutrition, or, water or immunizations?

Remember – transformation is local. It’s the children.

-Dale Dieleman, WWCS Field Director for Africa

Last night we were honored by an invitation from the newly elected mayor.

We visited his office and we received an official Proclamation of Gratitude from the municipal government. Then we were treated to dinner at his home. This was extremely high honor in this community and it also is one of the amazing surprises that the Lord has blessed this school and school leadership with.  I have a signed proclamation that was presented to Worldwide Christian Schools that I will be taking back with me and sharing with you all when I return.

Thanks for Praying for us!

Steven Geurink, WWCS Field Director for Central America & the Caribbean

Just when we thought that our HANDS team knew how to work hard, one of the local cooks demonstrates how she can carry blocks up the stairs to to the third floor of this school building. Even though we tried, myself included, none of us were able to even come close to what this local worker could do.

Great photo from Guatemala!

Keep praying for this project and the leadership team at this school. The number of amazing surprises that the Lord had in store for this school and leadership just keep piling up! To God be the glory! Take a look at the final photos from the DeMotte Team, www.eduguate.com/blog

Serving a Mighty God with You,

Steven Geurink, WWCS Field Director for Central America & the Caribbean

Just a quick note to let you know that the work in Guatemala is going very well. The size and scope of this three story school project is hard to understand unless you are here on site. The team is working well and over 1/3 of the roof was installed today by the team from DeMotte. Tomorrow we are expecting to install a majority of the second side of this building.

Our relationship with the local leaders is touching as they ponder and wonder at the miracle that is going up in front of them. This prayer and dream of reaching many more students in the region is being supplied through the combined efforts of nationals and our WWCS HANDS teams. Tomorrow the mayor of the town has invited the whole team to a special meal in honor of this construction project. Last night I was able to attend a Quiche Indian church service and it was filled with Indians that loved the same Lord our God.

We will be celebrating with the school children, teachers, board members and parents on Wednesday morning with a dedication as, hopefully, we put on the last two sheets.

Well… if you want to see some pictures check out the blog on the www.eduguate.com site.

Again, thank you for your prayers and support (special thanks to the Tech group at Comprenew for getting the laptop set up for future groups to use).

Serving a Mighty God with You,

Steven Geurink, WWCS Field Director for Central America & the Caribbean

Kampala, Uganda

GO! The message from Jesus for the church.

GO means get out and meet the people where they live. See who they are. Be among. Watch and learn.

We go - into Banda and see among the drinking shacks the children of the Tentmakers school.

We go - and find in the rural areas the villages with no school in sight. We see the roadside lined with children, smart in their uniforms, walking for kilometers to whatever school they can find.

We go - and we see, hear, and from a distant house comes loud mourning. Another family member dead. AIDS claims one more. Villagers start their way toward the house but stop just outside. For inside it is a private matter. And no one claims AIDS is the cause. It is always something, but, not AIDS.

We go - and we begin to see the gift of teaching in the heart and soul of one who knows this is not a job, but a calling. One who engages the children, games with them over math and spelling, sings the multiplication tables, and always a little story with every lesson.

“Let us all clap for Moses!” and the whole class cheers,as the young boy spells the word correctly on the pitted chalk board, with the stub of the clalk the teacher has left in her supply for the month.

“Cheer for Shiffa” says the teacher and immediately the room explodes with excitement, as loud as a rock concert, and the Shiffa stands to spell the new vocabulary for the day.

We go - and begin, only just begin, to learn, and not yet understand, the real schooling here, the truth of Christian education for a ground-floor worldview. The essence of the matter we professionals have lost far back in our first year in the classroom ourselves.

We go - and find it again. The soul of learning. The heart of teaching. The time when each day and each child were blessings, before the methodologies, pedagogies, and practiced lesson planning which were never truly followed anyway.

We go - we see. We who call ourselves educators, now again must become students, learners. Like Jesus who said we must be born again, and Nicodemus who wondered how can this happen. Before we think we can teach anything to any of our sisters and brothers here who teach from their souls, we must watch and learn, and perhaps better go back to from where we came, unless and until we can come close to what is achieved with so little.

We go - why?

Because it is a sin to say, “Come unto us, and let us teach you the ways you should teach”

We go - Where?

To the places God is showing us and revealing what true Christian education is in the flesh. To where we believe in our professional minds that it cannot be, but only because we are blind to see what is there before us.

We go - When?

Now, because we know the time is at hand. The days are few before all of Africa will be threatened with forces and religions whose sole agenda is to bury Christianity in the sand of the deserts or the red earth of the fertile regions.

We go - as Jesus went. We go and encourage and build up the sisters and brothers in the classroom, the aged grand mamas with their dead children’s children to care for.

We go because they cannot come, and if they did we would not find how it is, truly, and honestly, and, because we are called to go.

This is why we in Uganda are packing up our conference and taking it on the road rather than calling the few who could come to the big city - Kampala.

The sheer numbers are the rationale. Rather 500 or more coming from the countryside within one-day’s walk, than 50 affording the transport to the capitol. Rather we GO and by going, perhaps we discover we are the learners and they the hosts.

Dale Dieleman, WWCS Field Director for Africa
Writing from an internet cafe in Kampala, Uganda

Thank you to all of you for your support and encouragement to the DeMotte work team during the WWCS Honduras worktrip.

Marv and I [Bob G.] left Catacamas on Monday afternoon about 3 hours after his fall. The best I know so far is that there was a loose piece of roof sheeting that shifted slightly under Marv’s foot which resulted in his fall through the roof from about 12 feet above the concrete classroom floor. When he fell, his upper body went first and he broke his fall with his hands. This resulted in several bones in each wrist being broken; the doctor described these fractures as “the normal kind of fractures when you break your wrist.” He will require surgery to make sure the bones are aligned as exactly as possible by the joint to help avoid any future complications of arthritus. Marv also struck his head on something, but we really don’t know what. He is skinned up on the right side of his face, with stitches on a good cut above his eyebrow. Whatever he struck must have pushed his jaw to the left enough to cause the left side of his jaw to fracture. This will also require surgery. The jaw surgery took place on Friday (Feb. 3) and went well according to Ruth. Marv is experiencing pain in the jaw as well as pain and discomfort from the wires and rubber bands in his mouth. Surgery is planned on Monday (Feb. 5) for Marv’s 2 wrists.

When Marv fell God was there! And God was clearly holding Marv in his hands when he fell because, to have a person fall from 12 feet up down to a concrete floor with his upper body first, it is truly a miracle that far more serious injuries didn’t occur. Marv has no leg injuries, no abdominal injuries, no chest injuries, no back injuries, and no neck injuries! And we saw so many other examples of God’s intervention in this situation too! A good, well equipped clinic with an English speaking doctor and American nurse was 6 blocks away (a mission outreach clinic); an orthopedic surgeon from Holland, Michigan was on the other work team and went to the clinic to supervise Marv’s treatment and he set the splints on Marv’s wrists; the work team had 2 supplies of Vicodin along which Marv appreciated immensly; Continental Airlines had several open seats and we were able to fly Marv and I home a day earlier; we were able to meet up with Jorge Gomez, President of the Honduran Bible Society, who took us the last hour of the trip back to Tegucigalpa, took us to our hotel, and then picked us up the next morning for the airport; the night went well for Marv and he got a lot of rest; the airline flights both went very well; and Marv was checked over last Tuesday night at St. Anthony’s Hospital on our way home and a precautionary CAT scan showed no other difficulties.

Yes, we are all hurting because Marv is hurting and will continue to hurt for awhile; but if you step back and look at the Lord’s intervention in this situation. you realize what a LOVING and CARING God we have! He held Marv in His hand during the fall, during his treatment, and during the last two days of travel; and He will continue to hold him during the next weeks of treatment and healing. Marv and I had that discussion several times over the 2 days we traveled together, and Marv fully appreciates how good God was to him!

I would request 3 items for each of you to pray about:

1. Pray for Marv and Ruth and the doctors as they all work through his care, and pray for Marv and Ruth to have patience during healing process to be able to deal with the pain and extreme inconvenience of jaw problems, eating difficulties and two rather unusable hands for a number of weeks.

2. Pray for the work team members as they deal with their emotions about an injury to a close friend and fellow worker.

3. Pray for the teachers, parents, pastors, and fellow Honduran workers; they are hurting because it is very hard for them to see a U.S volunteer coming down to help them build their school for their children, and then see him injured like this.

Thanks again for your support, encouragement and prayers. God is clearly a Mighty God, but He is also a LOVING and CARING God!

Serving Him,

The DeMotte Work Team