School Has Begun!
Medical Outreaches
Here we are already at the end of September. The weather here in Nigeria hasn’t changed much in the past 2.5 months. Still raining and still hot and humid! Hope you all are enjoying a bit of fall.
Lots has happened in the last month. Here’s a quick update.
The first two weekends in September we held medical outreaches. We had around 200 people show up the first weekend and another 100 the second. We teamed up with our friend, Dr. Tina, from our church in MN and one of her teammates, as well as the Jason foundation (a group of local doctors who volunteer their time to do medical missions) to serve these people. Those who came for the medical outreach also had the opportunity to take home some gently used clothes that were donated to the ministry over the past year.
On Sunday, September 20, we welcomed our new and returning students back to Hopeful Academy. We had 11 students return, and welcomed 22 new friends to our school. This was a few more than originally planned, but we just felt led to say “yes” to these kids.
Therefore, school has resumed. We’ve modified some things for this session and are looking forward to how God will work.
As part of the welcome service, all the students were given a gift. We were given bibles from International Bible Givers, based out of Anoka, Minnesota. Therefore all our students were given a Bible of their very own. After the service, so many students were walking around holding those Bibles close. It was so great to see.
Interestingly, the president of the United Missionary Church of Africa, Reverend Dr. Gbenga Odebiri, heard about what we are doing. He’s stationed much further north, with ministry throughout the northern parts of Nigeria. Last year he brought a few students to our school, and this year we have 6 students coming from this ministry. The north is known for having a much higher poverty level, so these students are truly coming from some very needy homes. (Rev’d Dr. Gbenga and Pastor Mrs. Odebiri, pictured below)
A cool story: We had a student apply and take our entrance exam, and he passed with the highest score of anyone. We didn’t accept him. His family can afford school, and we weren’t willing to compromise our standards for accepting the neediest children just because their family wanted admission. Interestingly, the family came to our welcome service for new students and shared that they were proud that we stood to our standards, and they told the families present what happened, and that their children are blessed to be joining Hopeful Academy. It also turns out they live within walking distance of our school. Both parents hold PhDs and the wife has now volunteered to teach at our school a few days a week. God is good! (Dr. and Dr. Mrs. Shittu with us, below)
A second cool story: earlier this year we needed a lawyer to help us verify a document and someone recommended one for us. After she saw what we were into, she decided she had to join us and has offered her services free of charge to our organization. She came to the welcome service last Sunday, and when we asked why she decided to join us, she said, “I came from a terrible background, there is no reason I should be a lawyer today.” She never went to secondary school, she was used as a maid as a child. It was by the grace of God she studied independently to pass her secondary school exams so she could get admission to university. She worked for years to save enough money to go to school. Today she is a lawyer, and she’s now part of Rescue the Hopeless Mission too. Praise the Lord for his provision once again! (Our lawyer and her husband)
The dormitory is looking great! There are just a few small things that still need to be finished, but the space the students are using today is set. The girls were so excited to have a space of their own that isn’t makeshift. Praise the Lord!
Thank you again for all your support! Please continue to pray for all the pieces that still need to fall into place, the projects that still need to be completed, the teacher training that is ongoing, and a few hiring pieces that still need to be solved. Pray for the staff to really get to know our new students and help them adjust and transition to this place. Pray for the students to feel welcome, loved, cared for, and encouraged. Pray for God to sink deep into their hearts and adopt them into His eternal family. Thank you again for all you do.
