Much is ado in Zambia as Stir the Fire Ministries continues to grow.
We have now grown to accommodate students through grade 9. It is so exciting to realize that we have a secondary school! God gets the glory! Doors continue to open to meet the needs of a growing student base and add the staffing and classrooms needed for these students.
This year we were informed that we need to be offering a science course with a laboratory to the students in grade 9. We continue to learn what it means to operate a school in a foreign country, but we are also witnessing the improvement of the public education system in Zambia. As these improvements come, both in course offerings and teaching staff requirements, it means a better education for the children of Zambia. A few years ago, we were surprised by the requirement to teach computer education but quickly realized that computer education may very well be a Zambian student’s ticket out of poverty. So we were wise to embrace this new obstacle and blessing.
We are witnessing the improvement of the public education system in Zambia.
Generous donors have just recently assisted us in purchasing a small home that borders the school property. This purchase is a large cost savings for us versus building new classrooms every year. And because our school is so large, the additional classrooms have encroached on our playground to the point that there is barely a play area. So this new building will house the secondary grades and allow them to have a bit of a separate space from the elementary students. We are immune to the idea that even African teens like their space!
Our garden (small farm) continues to grow in stature, though a heavy rainy season last year did take its toll on our fruit trees and very few survived. Tomatoes, corn, and rape (like spinach) do well and are the staple of the diet of our orphan feeding program. One of our teams that was able to visit the site this past summer found two local farmers who are willing to offer their expertise in both plant production and poultry farming. Our next goal is to raise chickens to provide a more varied protein source for the children that mainly receive vegetable protein. Though the general health of the children has improved since we began this ministry in 2010, we are thrilled with the option of a more varied and healthy diet.
Our next goal is to raise chickens to provide a more varied protein source.
We have had so many blessings with our work in Zambia. Some other highlights:
- The acquisition of a van to transport teachers to the two schools so that they don’t have to walk.
- We are working on upgrading all of our teachers academically so that they meet the new teaching standards of the Zambian education system. We are creating sponsorships for their educational needs.
- Our caregivers have received a new sink so that they can do dishes off the ground now!
- We are in the process of upgrading our irrigation system at the garden so that a larger area can be covered.
- We are constructing a home for our second gardener so that he, too, can live at the property. Theft is a huge concern for unfenced properties, so with an additional person on-site we should be sitting better. A border fence is also being budgeted for.
God continues to bless this ministry, and we stand in awe that He has allowed us to be His hands and feet in this area of Zambia.
