This past month I had the privilege of painting at a Escola de Hlauleka Mumpswa (“Esh-cola day Thaouw-lake-ah Moom-swah”), a 6 building, 11 classroom school that provides education for nearly 250 children. The school name means, “be set apart young person,” and the namesake comes from Leviticus 19.2, which says, “Be holy because I am holy.”
The school was started as a preschool seven years ago by our ministry host, Sybil, but transitioned into a primary school a few years later because Chokwé community officials realized that Hlauleka ‘s students, when joined together with students from other area schools, were better educated than their peers. With assistance from the community officials, Escola de Hlauleka Mumpswa now goes up to Grade 4 and is certified to teach up through Grade 7.
Sybil believes that education plus God equals a better future for Mozambique. She doesn’t want to just educate students; she wants to see them become followers of Jesus Christ who will go out into the community and make a difference. Sybil has faith that these students will become educated leaders who will bring change to the country of Mozambique and help it’s people come to know God.
Prayer Requests for the New School Year:
– That teachers will have wisdom and can incorporate Christ into all lessons
– That the students grow in Christ as well, not just education
– That God provides a fundraising miracle for the new building project.
(The school wants to construct a two-story building that will house 5 classrooms,
1 office, and roof-top shelter during rainy season floods. Estimated costs are
$180,000 USD and more information can be found at the school’s website.)
If you would like to learn more about this school, how it came to be, and Sybil’s heart, ask me or check out these websites: www.sybilskids.org and https://hlauleka.wordpress.com.
Grade 1 Building, which can be seen from the road.
Preschool building that we painted.
The school’s playground.
The paint crew hard at work.
We made welcome signs in English, Shangana, and Portuguese, weather charts, verses, alphabet charts, and other signs for each classroom.
Miss Sybil giving the students directions on how to behave in the lunchroom.
The future of Mozambique (and me.)
