Emmanuel Sampson

RURAL SCHOOLS WELCOME SUSTAINABILITY

The issue of lack of teaching staff is very common in remote deprived schools throughout the country. This problem is what produces students with very weak foundations in numeracy and literacy. To solve this problem in my community, two months ago I engaged three people in the community to serve as volunteer teachers. I arranged to personally pay their monthly allowance of GHC 80.

When the issue came to the PTA, they were so excited and full of praise for me. But then they began to wonder what happens after I have left the community. They therefore came to a conclusion to pay a PTA levy of GHC5 each term to help run the program. They could do this by paying in GHC 1 installments weekly.

Amazingly before I arrived in this community, the same PTA had kicked against GHC 3 PTA levy every year. They thought it was too much but now they are glad to pay GHC 15 every year. They have come to understand sustainability and they are willing to pay to ensure a better future for their children.

The new teachers have also brought in extra momentum to the school. Although they do not meet the minimum qualification to be employed as teachers they are doing extremely well with children and I am so glad that these children in Kindergarten, Primary 1 and Primary 2 can now boast of their own teachers. I know a better future lies ahead for them all.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil.
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master's will.

WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO TALK TO GOD IN PRAYER.

As a missionary in a place where there is no electricity and mobile network, my mobile phone is often of no use to me and I hardly set eyes on it. But this week, I became worried because the phone was no where to be found. I was so disturbed because that was my moms phone.

I remembered I could talk to Jesus about this. This morning I called one of my young prophets into my my room and we prayed. God told him to tell me not to worry because I will soon find the phone.

It gave me soo much peace. Indeed, as Christian we often worry needlessly. Just take things to God in prayer, He Cares.

All over the world, balls play a significant role in the lives of young people. Whether it is a football, a basketball, or a volley ball, it is an epicenter for them to share passions, make friends, kill their worries and learn various character traits. Just in this same way, through the ball, we can organize young people to share with them the love of Jesus and to use their positive energies to build them into Christlike Disciples. Indeed the time has come to take ‘CHURCH’ out to every child in a language they can understand and enjoy speaking.

That is why as a school-based missionary, I have taken Physical Education very personal. Through this I am uniquely able to fill the role of mentor as well as a teacher in the lives of my kids. Because many young people grow up without loving, present parents, I am often in that position to validate their potential, establish authority and confer a positive identity on them.

The response I get shows that it is worth every bit of my time. By using games to organize young people, the attraction is contagious, the learning is fast and the mentoring is deep. It is a language every child understands. So Youth Pastors, Church Leaders and Fellowship leaders whenever we read Mark 9:37-Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me-let us remember the BALLS to Jesus and Bring All Lost Longing Souls to Jesus.

The problems of our generation is not in the failure of education to develop our minds but its failure to develop the hearts of people.

Help me thank the Lord for the lives of these great men who were resource persons at the seminar at PRESEC.

We took this photo at the end when Bernard Kelvin Clive had already left for his radio show on Vibe FM.