March 15, 2011

We were encouraged in January, when the office manager for the accrediting organisation came along with three applications for his relatives and friends, to attend our school this year. He acknowledges that we have the highest standard in the country and we aim to continue with a high quality of workmanship.

Currently we (Alastair and Jill) are in Australia for a short break from the incessant hot humid weather and mosquitoes. In fact we have experienced some very refreshingly cool weather a few times. We are keen to open our SALT (Sustainable Agriculture and Lifeskills Training) programme this year. Our teacher is keen and has plans in mind to build a complex on 11 hectares that have been given to our school. The owner of the land is currently working on the transfer of land into the school name while the Ag teacher has helped our students to begin an ongoing planting programme to provide food for the students and cash crops to help provide for the school.

When we left late in February, all domestic flights had been cancelled, and the day following our departure, all flights were cancelled as another cyclone was brewing. Because of the winds and rough seas, shipping was cancelled, which meant that many of the students on their way to LATI, were delayed. School began on March 1 as advertised, but with a small enrolment of six new students and six returning students. We know that the number will gradually pick up, as in the past, and our next update will tell you the latest figures.

In the meantime we are still working on upgrading facilities for the students. As yet we have no desks and chairs in the classrooms, and no workbenches made for the workshop. Our block of two toilets and two showers will need to be increased for the expected added numbers, plus some housing for our teachers. Although much of the building is from bush materials, we want to add galvanised roofing for better protection from the heavy rains,

We would very much like to find and ship a tractor for the use of the Agriculture Department, which would mean that cash crops could more quickly be produced to help support ourselves. At present our students will go and help plant and weed gardens every second Sunday, but some basic implements attached to a tractor would greatly enhance the production.

We also want to find a tractor to use in conjunction with our portable sawmill, which is providing timber for furniture making. We have started small, but we see the Lord's leading in our endeavours, and expansion seems to be the direction we should take.

Boat building is another course we are offering, and as soon as the land we have been offered has been signed over, there will be another building project in progress to set up a slipway and boat building shed along with accommodation for students and teachers - this on a very nice piece of land in a beautiful location close to the sea.

There will be some boys who are really keen to attend who have not arrived yet, simply because they do not have sufficient fees to make a deposit. Last year we 'survived' on approximately $7,000 of fees paid, with about $3,000 outstanding. Because this school is much more than just a business, we are keen to help the boys who cannot afford to pay, by encouraging them to work extra in spare time or during school holidays, to help with their fees. Even so, the amount of fees received is not a large budget to run a school on, especially since we are still building up the physical plant.

One of our students who did his first year in 2010, was offered a year-end job with a local company. He did such excellent work, that the company has agreed for him to continue to work through 2011, which will give him sufficient fees for the next two years of study. His holiday work completed the payment of his fees for 2010.

We solicit your prayers for our students and teachers. We have a dean of students who is also teaching Bible class every day, and our new office assistant is teaching English and Maths. Our teachers in practical subjects, though skilled in building and furniture making, lack experience in teaching, but we have confidence that each and every one of our workers will produce good results as they continue to dedicate their lives to God in service.

May each and every one of us do our part to fulfil the will of God by showing love to our fellow man every day of our lives, and in every way that we can.

God bless you each one.

Alastair and Jill