The last two weeks we have been bombarded with school authorities coming for inspections. The first one was a week ago, with notice the day before that they were coming. This group is over the Primary School and they always have an agenda. This year they want the kid’s school registered with the government.
We have a list of requirements to meet their criteria. First they want a list of all the students, which they already have because of the kid’s testing. Next they want a five year and a ten year plan for the school. Next they want a plan for some sort of a business, that would make the primary school self sustaining. They are also looking for our computer lab.
We understand that schools are not what they were when we first started here and that even when compared with America most of what they want here isn’t even close to those standards our standards at home. It is reasonable that they want our school to be compatible with other private schools here. We will be asking Mollel to give us advice on how to navigate these requests. He works in the same office as these officials.
The next group that came had given us some notice they were coming to inspect the Technical School but not when. We knew it would be soon and had been working hard on preparing for them, but this week they said they were coming on Saturday.
The laws have dramatically changed in both Kenya and Tanzania, concerning any kind of school or ministry. All must be registered and there are long list of criteria. We didn’t understand when last year they had cancelled the registration for the Bible School and reissued it under a new title. Now it all makes sense and it is time to get registered or get shut down. We had started the process for registering the technical School by submitting a registration form, so we had some idea of what they would be looking for.
We currently have been holding the girl’s classes, formerly called Rescue Center, now called a Technical School, in the Multi-Purpose Room because of the size, lighting and it is cooler. The large upstairs room had returned to being used by the Bible School.
Now the government was wanting to see two rooms, fully equipped, for the sewing program. The upstairs rooms had not been painted since it was built and for a couple of years it had been a dormitory for sixty-six girls and full of bunkbeds. Most of our students are from the village and are just learning how to be careful and not bang up the walls. Harry, Deo, and Roma have worked diligently for the last two weeks, patching walls and repainting. There were broken windows and since they were up so high they needed cleaning. Another issue was the roof, which with our heavy winds whipping at it all the time, had small holes in it from screws pulling thru, thus causing it to leak. Thankfully Roma, Deo’s assistant is young and very agile. He did all the roof repair and also put in new, heavy wire screen to keep the pigeons out of the vented roof, they had managed to peck their way through what had been originally put in to keep them out. You didn’t want to look up when you are in the room or you might get a surprise in your face.
There is a list of requirements to equip the Tailoring Class. We need two dress forms, which we found we could get very generic store window dummies to use temporarily. We need the real kind of dress forms that are adjustable for any figure type. We needed to have the acceptable curriculum; two large storage units that would lock, which Harry has been building; two very large cutting tables; a large mirror and dressing room, that will be in a corner made by the large storage units; irons and ironing boards; a surger, which Domenic had bought—a used one that needs to be repaired—but they only asked to see it; and a computer lab with 12 computers. Eventually we will have to have electric sewing machines, but we pointed out that we are in the frontier and don’t have power, they said “OK that is all you need to do”; and blackboards painted on the wall. All of this by January for the school to be rated as an accredited Tailoring School.
Saturday morning was spent moving tables and equipment around so it would be in the proper place for them to see. Then we sent someone out to the main road to guide the inspectors from Arusha to our compound.
As they turned on to the dirt “road” they were convinced they were lost, and there couldn’t be a real school out here. As they approached the compound they were dumb founded with what they found. They were so amazed, as they drove through the front gate, that they didn’t feel a need to tour the whole place, which they would have normally done. They just “oohed and awed” the whole time they were here saying, “We don’t need to see anything else.”
The Lord directed the whole tour with Deo as the guide. He is very gifted in working with government people and in their offices. He guided the team ushering them around and answering questions and pointing out things they wanted to see. They went upstairs to our newly renovated rooms and were blown away by what they found. They couldn’t get over it. They felt our whole compound was university quality. They didn’t want to see our dorm, toilet/bath house, the well or computer lab. When told that as they complete their technical training they have a year in the Bible School, one lady expressed how important that was.
The only things we need to have immediately are the two very large cutting tables and two certified teachers. The tables from our house did not meet the standard they were looking for.
As the team prepared to leave they shared that they would meet with their office on Monday and give their report on what they had found. They said we would have our registration by next month. We need to have all the additional requirements completed by January when school starts again.
When the team had driven in they had found the girls sewing in the Mult-Purpose room on an apron project for Kathy. As they left they highly recommended that we keep the girls sewing room there because of it’s size, lighting and it is cool.
The team left here with no expensive lunch, no request for gas money, no bribe. We had paid the agreed fee for the final registration. We are praying we will have this kind of favor with the primary school officials.
This is a major step in faith for us. God had told us two years ago that He was going to do a “New Thing” and He continues to show us what it is. We have always done our best to be compliant with government requirements. Our main focus has been the Bible School. By meeting the requirements for the Technical School, the Bible School will come under that umbrella. The new Government regulations now require technical training for those graduating from the Bible School, so now they will accredit the Bible School because of the Technical School.
We are seeking your payers and God’s wisdom as we negotiate these changes. Our financial picture is growing but we know God will supply the needs for His new program.
How we love working for our Lord and seeing His hand in all of this!!!
It’s an amazing journey we are on and we are so glad to have each of you on it with us.
A short report on the girl’s dorm in Ol’Gulului is that Harry has sent the money for the roof. The workers are eager to complete the building there.
Serving in the Frontier of East Africa,
Harry & Kathy