Sakeji Newsletter

December 2005

December 2005 - News Update at 81!

We pause at the end of another school year here in Zambia, to contemplate the kindness of our God and Saviour. We look heavenward, and say, "Hitherto has the Lord helped us", as Sakeji completes the eighty-first year of operation.

Countless missionary families have been able to stay on the field, due to Sakeji. More recently, the mission of the school has been stretched to include children of Zambian commended workers, and other families whose concern has been a Bible based education. The Lord has also been using the school as a venue for evangelism, and we have seen some precious young ones accept the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

Who is here?

Commended to the Lord's work at Sakeji are:

Mark and Pam Ronald and their family-Mark, teacher for the upper grades; Pam, school nurse.
Janette Young, associate teacher for the upper grades, and dorm mother for the girls.
Tom & Lana Robertson and family. Tom is in charge of maintenance, and Lana teaches French. They are also dorm parents for the boys dorm.
Margie Young, teacher for the lower grades.
Jill Avery teaches Art & Music. She was on furlough this last term.
Vickie Saunders is the school caterer.
Bethany Fuller, keeps things running smoothly at the Administrative office.
Michelle and Joelle St-Laurent, helping on a short term basis.
Paul & Eunice Poidevin, have seen the Lord guiding them to continue at Sakeji for another year, leading the school.

Doing what?

We thank the Lord for the spirit of teamwork and co-operation among us all serving the Lord here, and pray for wisdom and help day by day. Since we are short of teachers, we all help-giving swimming lessons, and supervising other outdoor activities; as teachers' aids, listening to reading, checking spelling, correcting math, and coaching those that are a bit behind; teaching Scripture classes, Sunday School, and leading devotions in the dorms; teaching news and current events, and comparing this to what the Bible says; teaching music and PE classes; maintenance as well as upgrading of the facilities here; and feeding the staff and students in a family style dining room. In short, we care for the children 24 hours of the day-for their medical, emotional and spiritual needs.

What about the village people?

As well as the school work and many responsibilities, we seek as missionaries to:

Reach out in the Gospel with village meetings. We have been visiting a number of villages with the gospel.
Give ministry of the Word at conferences-several of us men have been invited to help at conferences.
Several of the ladies have Sunday schools, Bible studies, and reading classes with the ladies in the villages.
Help nearby assemblies with ministry meetings each week-the need for teaching is great.
Help nearby believers thatch the gospel hall, and building a new hall at Ikelenge.
Reach out to nearby high school students, with gifts of Bibles and the message of the gospel.
Some of us are involved in translation and Bible revision work.

We value your prayers for all of this.

What Projects are on the go?

We have a number of major projects we are commencing, and we do appreciate your prayers for these:

Upgrading the school curriculum, and purchasing new text-books and work-books for all the grades.
Rebuilding the school swimming pool, due to major problems, cracks, and leakage of water.
Upgrading the water system, both at the source, and with a new water tower and tank.
Updating the electrical system, with the help of Phil Cole an electrical engineer, commended from the UK.
Completion of new housing for staff, as well as refurbishing older houses and buildings.

Lots to keep us busy!

What about 2006?

We do thank the Lord for answered prayer for next term: Miss Leah Patola of Thunder Bay will be joining us here, commended to the work at Sakeji. Besides this, several short term workers will be coming.

Keep praying

We will value prayer that:

The new teachers and support workers coming next term will know God's help to settle in well.
The Lord will continue to ease the load on all of us here, by sending even further reinforcements.
All of us may know God's continued help, in teaching and training the children that have been entrusted to us.
All of us may be enabled of the Lord to continue outreach into the villages around Sakeji, and to build up local assemblies.

Pray for us!

We send greetings from all of us at Sakeji and wish you the Lord's blessing for the New Year.

Yours, through Christ Jesus,

Paul D. Poidevin, Headmaster

<< Back to Publications from Sakeji