SCHSS: Here’s how you can help.

Tears stream down my face and the headache sets in as my mind wanders back to 25 days ago when I met all of these beautiful smiling faces. I see Arlene’s face as she jumps into my arms and gazes at me in wonder. I hear Isaac’s laugh as we sit in his office and talk about life, I hear James’ voice as he sings songs about prayers and goodbyes. I feel Miss Debory’s hugs as she reminds me that we’ll see each other soon.

[[my beautiful miss debory]]

[[james!!]]

[[arlene, my beauty queen]]

[[Hannah Banana and Ellen]]

I see Hannah’s sweet face as she clings to Ellen. I see Thanga as he so faithfully carries the hot water that he just boiled all morning for thirteen people up to our buckets so we can take warm showers. I smell the delicious food as the cooks so diligently prepare our meals and I’m so thankful for their service to us. I hear John’s voice as he tells us how we are heroes of the faith, even as undeserving as that sounds to me, I’m so humbled. And I see Lawm’s sweet face, eyes full of tears, as she tells me how big of an inspiration we’ve been to them…I pray they know how much they’ve inspired us.
 
[[thanga, our amazing caretaker]]

I’ve felt like I’ve left half of my heart somewhere, but this time is different…my whole heart has been left with these people, my brothers and sisters…my family. I’m just plain sad thinking that I won’t see these faces everyday anymore. My heart feels like it may explode in my chest as I remember how I felt the first time that I visited the school and how much I knew I would never leave the same person as when I arrived. How I knew I had to be a part of it, I just didn’t know how.

And then…

I see Esther’s face.

 
[[john and lawm, such amazing people…can’t wait to visit them in Colorado]]

My memories find me again and take me back to the other day. I found myself sitting in Isaac’s office again, simply because I enjoy his presence. Isaac has been the principal of Sielmat Christian Higher Secondary School for the past ten years. The moment I stepped foot on the school grounds I knew this place was special. I was overcome with emotion just watching the students perform and recite scripture at the opening assembly and moments later, as I sat in Isaac’s office, I heard his heart for the children and staff here at the school and the tears just continued to flow. This school is truly amazing and such a gift from God for this community.
 
[[love these two so much]]

I had managed to get Katie to come with me to the school knowing that I really had nothing else planned other than sitting and just being there. A smile spreads across my face thinking about it, but I made a list of questions to ask him in case he was busy, just so he didn’t feel like he had to entertain me. Of course, I know he didn’t feel that way, but on the walk over to the school, God revealed to me why He had me write down those questions.

“You’re passionate about this school, here’s how you can help, share this story with others. Use the platform I’ve given you.”

[[my FAVORITE Isaac]]

Over the next 3 1/2 hours Isaac not only answered my questions but he reaffirmed why I love this school and why I automatically felt so attached to it. I’m going to share those questions and answers with you and ways that you can be apart of helping to fund the construction projects, sponsor students, and ways to pray for SCHSS, if you feel led to.

1. What’s your favorite part about being the principal at SCHSS?
-“That’s actually tough, I mean, it’s all pretty nice. Being with the kids, watching them grow. By watching them grow I don’t only mean physically, I mean spiritually and emotionally as well. I really enjoy all of the seasons and different facets of each season that we go through-I watch the students grow into young adults who are even more mature than I am! The worst thing is having to discipline and reprimand.”

[[SCHSS]]

2. Tell me a little bit about the school’s history & how it came to be.
-“SCHSS started in 1959, it’s part of the bigger mission, Partnership Mission Society, which was started by Dr. Ro, John’s dad. [[side note: John Pudaite was my contact all month long and he is the son of Rochunga Pudaite. For more info on Ro, watch the movie, Beyond The Next Mountain…Isaac is even in the movie!]]. There was a strong need for education & Dr. Pudaite, being a Christian on fire, he wanted the school to be Christ based. And you know, since he had to travel four to five days through the jungle just to get to school, he didn’t want the school to be too far in order for children to attend it. In the 1950’s there was a very strong need for good school’s in the area which was why Dr. Ro stared the school.
[[pioneer]]

3. How important is this school for this particular area?
-“Personally, for me, the whole idea behind it, because it is Christ based, is that it’s not set up for profit. The school is here to try and extend the kingdom of God, ultimately. It’s one of the bigger schools in the area. Many children come from socially and economically backwards homes so with sponsorships children are able to get an education which they otherwise wouldn’t. This school is serving a bigger purpose than just education.”

 

And coming from Hannah here, this school doesn’t specifically take only Christian students. There are many Hindu students who come because the education is some of the best around. So not only are they learning and gaining knowledge for a better future but they are hearing and MEMORIZING the word of God on a daily basis. What a beautiful way to minister to this young generation. This school really is serving a dual purpose and it’s a beautiful thing to see and to be a part of.

“School is a strong platform to preach God’s word, ya know? Sometimes it’s more effective than preaching from the pulpit-these kids listen here. They pay attention.”
-Isaac Pukhoungte, Principal at SCHSS

[[the construction happening at the school, new classrooms!]]

4. What are the current specific needs of the school?
-“More classrooms! We always need more classrooms. We have about 2600 students -we need more space for better student-teacher ratios. Classrooms and the funding for them is our biggest need at the moment.”

5. How can people help the school or sponsor children if they feel called to?
-“Bibles For The World website under the sponsorship tab.”

6. Is there any other information you’d like to share with me?
-“We have a lot of freedom for biblical teaching, pray that this continues because in many parts of the country, there isn’t that freedom. Prayer requests, not necessarily financially, but for good devoted Christian teachers. Qualified teachers. Also, pray that our endeavors will bear fruit.”
 
It’s a beautiful thing how God works on hearts and how He aligns things so perfectly. I had been praying about sponsoring a student since the moment I stepped foot on campus. After the “interview” I couldn’t deny what God was telling me to do. I mentioned to Isaac that I wanted to sponsor a student and with my tax return I was able to start sponsoring a student immediately.

[[look at that sweet face, my babe, Esther]]

Her name is Esther. Her father passed away last year and her mother has been struggling just trying to make ends meet. Her little brother has cancer and the chemo treatments aren’t easy to pay for. Esther gets good marks in school but she needs glasses pretty badly. I had the beautiful and amazing opportunity through Isaac and his wife to be able to meet this sweet babe the day before we left. She’s so shy-and so perfect. She’s kind and joyful and the sweetest thing ever. Tears started to roll down my face as her grandmother spoke to me in Hmar as tears ran down her face. Isaac translated as she thanked me and thanked God for answered prayers.

Being able to have the opportunity to meet Esther was one of the most precious moments I’ve ever had. Our conversation was limited because she is so shy and I was so nervous but when she wrapped her arms around me right before I left, her grip was so tight that there was no denying how excited and happy she was.
 

[[my precious babe, Esther]]

Even as my heart aches because I am not there anymore, I am overcome with peace. A peace from a Father who surpasses all understanding. A peace that gives me the strength to keep moving forward. A peace that tells me I will be back again, one day. I am given a peace in knowing that I am forever tied to this community and though we’re many miles apart, they truly are close to my heart.

Friends, I urge you, if you are looking for a sponsor child-please sponsor a child who attends the school through Bibles For The World. I know you have many options when looking for a sponsorship program but, let me tell you, I have experienced first hand what these children are learning, I’ve taught them in their classrooms, helped them during bible quizzing week, and been amazed by how extremely well behaved and polite the children are. These kids WANT to learn. Ask any single one of them and they all answer with “I love school.” School isn’t just something they “have” to do or something that their parents make them do. These kids want to learn, they want to have an education because they see what the benefits are in the future.

I asked my friend Josh why he loved school so much and this is how he responded:

[[Josh and Me]]

“I see how hard my people work. They never have a break. They are constantly working their bodies so hard, hiking up the mountains just to work the land for a little bit of crop to sell for a little bit of money. They work so hard for practically nothing. I admire them, but I don’t want to live that way-an education is an opportunity that not everyone has. I’m blessed to have a sponsor and excited for what my future holds.” Joshua Shakum, 17 year old SCHSS student.

 

This life is about so much more than just ourselves.  Love does things.  I challenge you to love in a big way today, whatever that way may look like-give it all you’ve got.
 
Resources:  Beyond The Next Mountain (Movie) www.amazon.com, Bibles for the World website:  http://bftw.org
 
Please contact me directly if you have any further questions on sponsorship, the school, Isaac, or anything else you can think of! [email protected]

[[precious sisters: Angela, Mary, & Baby]]