Jambo,
I have now completed my first full year teaching at TESOL and living in Lubumbashi. By the time you read this article some of you may have already seen me at church.
These past several months in Lubumbashi were full of events and adventures for me. The first event was a fundraiser that Genavee and I were in charge of organizing. We decided to call it “TESOL Family Fun(d) Fair” and run it like a carnival.
We had everything from a water balloon toss, face painting, sack races, karaoke, hot dogs, and cotton candy. It was a great experience for the kids and also a lot of fun.
The second event, also a fundraiser but more traditional, was the International Supper. This year was the 24 International Supper in which students put together plays, dances, songs, and a fashion show to depict cultures from all over the world.
Families and friends of students and staff brought food representing their culture, and after the program we would feast!
In April, I had the opportunity to visit a local village in Lubumbashi for the third time. The village is called Mutwale (Moo-twall-ee). It is not much different from most other African villages. What makes Mutwale special is that it has a clinic (the only one in at least a 17 kilometer radius) that was put there by a fellow TESOL teacher.
Upon my first visit I noticed many children without shoes. With your help, we have collected over 200 shoes for Mutwale. After distributing the shoes to Mutwale, I will distribute shoes to the boys and girls orphanages here in Lubumbashi. I still need financial support to transport the shoes from Texas to Africa.
I am so thankful to the children of Williams who helped to raise over $700 during this year’s Vacation Bible School to help with the cost of moving and distributing these shoes. Many lives will be touched and changed because of their extravanant generosity.
I will be returning to TESOL in September for at least one more school year.
I want to thank all of you for the support you have shown me this past year. Your prayers, emails, and financial support have meant so much to me. Thank you.
See you soon!
Stacey
Stacey shares her thoughts and adventures on her blog discipleofgrace.blogspot.com
Also read about her decision to become a missionary, read her first update and see our interview with Stacey from Africa.
