Prayers for Thandie

This is a picture of Thandie's grandmother Elizabeth. She died yesterday at the age of 96. Please pray for Thandie and her family as they have her funeral services today. Elizabeth had her first birthday cake this past May. It is a memory that Thandie holds dear to her heart. Elizabeth was loved by her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. I had the privledge of meeting her last year and enjoyed my time with her very much.

















Here is Elizabeth with some of her great grandchildren.

Thandie's niece, Thandie, Elizabeth and one of Thandie's sisters

Here is Elizabeth with Savannah-Hope and Peace.

Thank you for praying for Thandie, Peace and their extended family.

Secondary School - Prayer Request

The above picture are the 20 children who currently attend Secondary School off campus. We recently had six children from Standard 8 (8th grade) compete their end of their year exams. If they all pass, we will have 26 children starting Secondary School in January 2009. The school year in Malawi follows the Calendar year (begins in January and ends in September). This is exciting news, but also comes with a mighty price tag and a HUGE prayer request. The cost is $180 per child per term (3 terms a year). This cost covers transport, school fees and food allowance. On Wednesday 9/24/08 the children were told that at this point there are no funds available to send them to school. The children held their heads down, but Thandie told them they needed to take their burden to the Lord. Please join these precious children in prayer.

Prayer Requests

Brother and Mrs. Gentry are on their way now to Malawi. Please pray for travel safety.




Brother Gentry is requesting special prayer for the upcoming inspection of the Good Samaritan Children's Home. The inspection will be conducted by the Commisioner of Child Welafare. It will be unannounced and happening any day now. Please pray that God will give Good Samaritan Children's Home favor in the eyes of the inspector. The Children's Home is currently being run by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Which is not exactly what they are looking for when they come to inspect. They are looking for numbers and quotas and ratios. Please pray that we pass the inspection. Please pray that the Lord will give the staff wisdom to meet the areas they are looking for on the day the inspector arrives. Please continue to pray for those who support the Good Samaritan Children's Home. The home is underfunded, now more than ever we need the funding required to run the Children's Home in a way that will be pleasing to the Lord, allow us to pass the inspection and be a good testimony.

Savannah-Hope 16 months

Savannah-Hope turns 16 months today. She continues to grow and flourish. Savannah-Hope weighs 19 lbs 13 oz and measures 29". She points to her nose when you ask her where it is. She knows the hand motions to "Wheels on the Bus" and "If You're Happy and You Know It". Savannah-Hope can crawl in and out of the bathtub and her newest habbit is trying to thow everything in the toilet. She keeps her parents and siblings on their toes. Thank for your continued prayers for the Johnson Family.

Exams and the Garden

I spoke with Thandie today. She gave me the following update:

School:

This week we have 6 children in standard 8 (8th grade) that are taking the National Exam to enter Form 1 (High School). This exam is not only important for the continuation of the education for these six children, it also is used by the Government to evaluate how well the Good Samaritan School is doing as far as teaching the children. We don't want to loose the opportunity to have control over our own school. Please pray for these children as they continue their exams. They take the exams at a site off campus with children from all over the country. There armed police officers sitting next the children to make sure there is no cheating. How nerve racking! Today they are taking Chichewa and Mathematics portion of the exam. Tomorrow they will be taking Primary Science. The children completing the exams are Mercia, Jennifer, Sampson, Peter Frank, Tisungane, and Elson.

Ida:

Ida had a tooth removed this week. I spoke with her on the phone today. What a blessing she is. I just have to praise the Lord for this sweet girl. I am so thankful she is having a good week. I am trying to get the money together to pay for the grave stone for her sister Ida. It is time now to have it made.

Garden:

Thandie is so thrilled with the progress of the garden. It is becoming more and more important that Good Samaritan grow crops that could be used daily for food. Our hope is to be self-sufficient from the land. The Lord has been blessing this vision. The green vegetables are doing very well. They are currently growing turnips, cabbage and tomatoes. The children have a 3 day holiday coming from school. They will be using the opportunity to prepare the land that will be used to plant corn with the rains come. Please continue to be in prayer for our garden, that it will flourish and provide food for our children and staff.

A year ago today:

September 4, 2007 Good Samaritan became guardians of a little peanut that would grow to become Savannah-Hope. Click here to read the post from that day. Click here to read details from that day, that I wrote reflecting back four months later.