URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: We met with our team members tonight to pray; we ask you to do the same as you meet together this Sunday. Our Regional Coordinator summarizes the problem like this:
“Last year we made some policy changes at our French Elementary School with regard to discipline. ![\"fs2\"](\"http://greetings.gillespiesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/fs2.png\" "\\"fs2\\"")
Corporal punishment in the school system has been an accepted practice in this culture for many, many years. However, when we found out that it was against the law according to Niger government, we informed our teachers that this would not be an acceptable practice on our campus. It was even stated in the teacher contracts that this practice would not be tolerated.
“We recently let a teacher go who was caught hitting a student. The teacher of course is not happy and this past week we were summoned to a meeting with the Department of Education over the case. After the Director listened to the teacher’s side of the story and then to our side of the story his first suggestion was that we reinstate the teacher and give him a written warning. We were totally shocked.
“We have met with the Director of our school and the committee who oversees the running of the school and have decided that this suggestion is not acceptable to us. There is another meeting scheduled with the Department of Education for Monday mid-day. We are asking that you pray much with us. We will be stating that ![\"fs1\"](\"http://greetings.gillespiesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/fs1.png\" "\\"fs1\\"")
this is not a viable option for us. He broke the contract he signed with us, he broke Niger law and we have already replaced him. We will be asking for another option to be considered. Please, please pray. We do not want to end up in another law suit and yet we do not feel that we can reinstate the teacher.
“Satan seems to be attacking from all sides. Pray with us that our testimony as a school and as a mission will not dishonor our Lord. “
We hesitate to say more, but please know that this matter is critical to the ongoing ministry of this school here in this country.
Some of you have written and asked about Boubacar. We don’t see him and his family much anymore since he no longer works for us. However, just this past week he came to talk to Bob about his younger brother who also worked for us on occasion. This 17-year old brother had a large fast-growing cancerous growth removed from his neck this past week and is recovering at home. Bob saw him today and was amazed at how emaciated and pale he is. Please pray for the healing of this brother and that God will use this time to turn their hearts towards His Son.
The concerns we mentioned in our February Update are ongoing. We’ve heard from many of you this past month and know that you are praying. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!