Train a Teacher, Help a Child

In my December Kid's Edition Prayer letter, I mentioned a special project that people can give to this Christmas.
I want to tell you a little bit more about Mrs. Sa'adatu Yashim, her staff, and school.
New Vine Academy is a small emerging school in Jigo-Bwari, a little town about 30 minutes outside of the city of Abuja, Nigeria.






It is a secondary school (middle school/high school), that a group of people had a vision to start a few years back. They started with one class of 11 students last year, Junior Secondary 1 (grade 6)and this year added a second, JSS 2.




Mrs. Yashim is the principal, and she has a real passion for developing her staff, especially in their understanding of Christian Education.



There are 8 teachers working there, all teaching a particular subject area.



I have had the privilege of working with this school for the last year. We planned a teacher's appreciation day, when most of these pictures were taken. The students put together a dance, the principal put together small gifts for the teachers, and I spoke on the joy of teaching as a calling.

In the last few months, the staff and I have been meeting monthly to do a book study together, using "Walking with God in the Classroom" by Harro VanBrummelen.
It has been a wonderful experience! We have had many discussions on teaching practice, lesson plans, life, and living in general.







God is really working in the lives of these teachers. Because of gifts like yours, we are able to meet together weekly and grow in becoming better teachers and disciples of Jesus Christ. We want to be able to continue so that these teachers may continue to grow and be transformed. Your gifts make this possible. Thanks in advance!
Our goal is to use this goal as a model school for development, along with 2 other schools in the greater Abuja area.
Each teacher that is trained impacts the lives of so many students, and we thank God everyday for the impact that is being made here in Abuja and all of West Africa!