The school year is flying by for me, I can’t believe we are almost a third of the way done with our second term, where is the time going? This past week ended on a different note than the previous weeks, the children had a school holiday, so Medis and I decided it would be a great time to hold Parent/Teacher conferences. We have over 85 children, giving us about 45-50 parents for all the children, we knew it wouldn’t be possible to meet with each parent individually, although we offered for them to make appointments if they wish to, so we had two group parent conferences. During these times the parents got to come to school and experience what their children do everyday. 
Before we could have the conferences, we needed the children’s help to get everything ready for their parents. We reminded the children to teach them about our routine, the songs that we sing, and some of the letters we have been learning. The children were worried that their parents wouldn’t be able to do all these things, so they wanted to help them out and get them prepared. Also the children worked very hard at making clay beads for the parents art project…they had to gather the clay, mold it into various shapes of beads, and then paint them many different colors. The children loved making these beads and they turned out very well.
Friday came and the children stayed home, but sent their parents to school. When the parents first arrived, we talked about the importance of outside time for the children before we go in for the remainder of the school day. Once inside, the parents enjoyed sitting in a circle and singing our good morning song, then hearing a bit about how the morning routine goes for the children, and what they learn while they are participating in the morning meeting activities. Later, the parents had free time to walk around the classroom, read the documentation on the walls, check out their children’s art work, look through their writing journals, and even participate in a special art project. Using the beads the children made for them, one group of parents strung them on soft wire and bent them into different shapes, which all will be displayed on a wooden board, and hung somewhere around the classroom. 
Then the other group of parents made wire flowers with other beads we had in the classroom, which will be displayed on the wall for the children to admire. We wrapped up the conference discussing the various things the children do after they have free time in the class: music, sign language, Bible story, writing in journals, quiet reading at book nook, movement activities, and so on. The parents loved spending time at the school and are very happy at all their children are learning.
Medis showed great pride in displaying the children’s progress so far…she interacted nicely with the parents and helped them out in all the areas they were exploring, showing them how the children use the items around the classroom and their art work. We both had so much with with the two groups of parents and were very encouraged by all their kind words.
The parents have decided that they love the change in their children and what they are already learning at such a young age, so they want to build a Grade 1- Grade 6 school, for Medis and I to set up for the children to continue education here with Mission of Love. I am very humbled by this compliment knowing that God has made this all possible and He is working in the hearts of the parents in the community. This is a big project and one I am not able to commit to yet, but praying about how God wants to use me in all this. We are going to be meeting with the headmen and Senior Hedman to finalize the program to begin making bricks and gathering the materials to get a school building completed. It seems like they want Grade 1 in January, so the children can go right from preschool to primary school with us…so please be praying about this amazing blessing, but huge undertaking, as it will cost a lot of money to get the buildings made, time to train teachers and set up the classroom, and commitment from EVERYONE in the community to make it all happen, but most of all, it needs God’s approval and timing!!! Please also pray that God grants me wisdom and discernment on what this all means for me and my future here in Mpapila…
Thank you so much for your continued support and encouragement, I am enjoying the children more and more everyday, I find weekends are too long for me to not see them!!
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