22 March 2012

Opening of New Secondary Building

The rain stopped just in time on 17 February, and the official opening turned into a very happy occasion. Mr Bill Osborn, representing The Beit Trust, unveiled the plaque which gives credit to The Beit Trust and the many others who made the building possible.

The building has set the benchmark for future development in terms of quality and style — parents and community members did not imagine that classrooms would look so attractive. Well, they can, and they should!

Challenges and Problems

One of our supporters wrote in a recent email message, “I admire your seemingly boundless energy and great vision. You seldom seem to mention any real problems, though I’m sure you have your share of such.” Well, this set me thinking. Generally speaking, the encouragements far outweigh the frustrations, but, yes John, we do have our share of them! So, just to remind you all that we are indeed human, this month I would like to share five of them:

• Educational standards — Few of our pupils read very well, and even fewer can hold a simple conversation in English. Yet English is the language of instruction and essential for ongoing education.
• Lack of reliability — when people do not do the things they say they are going to do, or when they are tardy.
• Theft — when some of the people you are trying to help steal from you. I believe that compassion should not be conditional. But that is hard to put into practise under such circumstances!
• Driving — Alison and I live on the Limapela Farm at Baluba, which is 30 km from Limapela Cedric’s School. As a consequence we cannot be as available to the school as we would like, and we grow weary of the driving.
• Lightning — we rely a great deal on expensive electrical equipment. Close lightning strikes on the Baluba farm this season have twice blown our water pumping equipment and our internet equipment.

Well, we learn good lessons from difficult experiences! And it is worth it for the sake of these young people you see in the photographs. Please keep supporting The Limapela Foundation. The needs are ongoing — personnel, more buildings, electrification costs, books, furniture, fee sponsorship and better salaries for our teachers, to name a few. And if you are a praying supporter, pray for us! We know our God is both faithful and gracious.

—Matthew F. Raymond, Trustee