Faithful Prayer Supporters, I?m sending you this special update which includes a letter from a missionary family here in Niger. It mentions a major concern of ours that we ask you to pray about tonight as you meet together and then this week as you think about us. Thank you.
\”Whenever you create a file or install a new program on the computer you want to make a backup copy of whatever it is. Then in case the original copy gets corrupted or deleted, you haven\’t lost all your work. In a war, the troops on the front line need plenty of support and backup to maintain their momentum. Without adequate transportation facilities, doctors, air support, food, water, and ammunition, the army cannot do its job. Planning ahead and working together as a team are essential if the war effort is to succeed. Likewise, any country needs a good infrastructure to maintain a certain standard of living. Roads, airports, electric grids, water and telephone lines, sewers, schools, postal systems, offices, churches, and manufacturing plants are all essential to our way of life. But what if all these backup systems were pulled out from under us and we had little support to continue living our lives the way we always have?\” (Written in 2002)
We have often said that if it were not for the support of Sahel Academy, we would not be able to continue our work in Tera. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but we certainly would not be able to continue with the same amount of effectiveness. We also look at how well Daniel and Suzanne are doing and know it is in part because of the partnership we have enjoyed with Sahel Academy.
Because we are 100% behind Sahel Academy and their mission, we come to you with two very urgent prayer requests. By mid-January (or before!) we need to have a high school math teacher (or two) and a principal (grades K-12). It would be ideal if the principal were also familiar with the accreditation process for ACSI and MSA, but we won\’t be too picky at this point! We need somebody to fill each of these positions until early June.
Our high school math teacher came to do a year and will be finishing 3 1/2 years in December! So, a warning comes attached to this plea: You may like it well enough to stay! He extended another 1/2 year this year because no math teacher was in the pipeline for the fall, but he needs to be back in England in December. Our principal has finished a four-year term and is on a much-deserved home assignment in Australia. She will be back for the beginning of the school year in August 2008.
Please pray for these positions to be filled. Our teaching staff is already over-extended and cannot take on any more classes. Our director is trying to do his job, the principal\’s job, and keep the school moving forward in the accreditation process and has more to do than one man can possibly ever get done. Some of the teachers have taken on extra responsibilities to try to lighten his load.
Please think about filling one of these positions. If you are interested, contact SIM directly through their website (www.sim.org), write to them at Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241, or call them at 1-800-521-6449 or 1-704-588-4300. We\’d love it if you were able to partner with us in reaching the Songhai.
It is also possible to come to Sahel Academy under EBM (www.ebm.org) or SIL (www.sil.org). If that were to be your preference, contact them through their websites.
Thanks so much for your prayers for these urgent needs.
Love,
Nancy and John DeValve (and Suzanne who needs a math teacher!)
Maybe you are God?s answer to this prayer. If you need more information, please visit the school website at www.sahelacademy.com.