School Year 2017-2018
It was a busy but exciting summer for us in EZER School. Together with 4 of our faithful volunteer workers and 20 of our high school students, we were able to do several feeding programs, one medical mission, Bible studies, devotions and fellowship in 8 tribal villages as well as the impoverished communities near the school. We were also able to reach 3 new villages where we shared God's amazing love for them through the cross and the resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. To date, five hundred (500) Mangyans believe and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are now growing in the knowledge of and relationship with Him through weekly Bible study and fellowship.
SCHOOL UPDATE
From 72 students we had last year, we are now at 83 students, 5 full time teachers, 5 part time teachers and 3 staff. Of the 83 students, 78 receive free board and lodging as well as 6 of our volunteer teachers and staff.
We have 13 students attending grades 11 and 12 classes in a public school nearby. We are excited to share the good news with you that they have all been commended by the school principal for good character and behavior, diligence at work and are respectful and friendly to all. Their average grade fall within the 82-85 mark and one of them is in the honors list with an average grade of 90.
We were blessed to have a volunteer worker from South Africa for the entire 2017-2018 school year. He taught our students and workers how to speak English, trained them in Entrepreneurship, built our school playground and rest areas, improved the beauty of our school grounds with our students' art works and created a Hospitality Committee amongst the students where he trained them to welcome guests and take them on an English-speaking tour around the school! Everyone is now able to speak enough English to have a decent conversation!
This year, we have began sustainable livelihood programs to offer and train our high school graduates who desire to start earning to help support their family. We have started with a piggery and will soon offer a mushroom growing livelihood. Please pray with us for new partners to help us establish these livelihood projects. We aim to be God's vessel to eliminate physical poverty through skill- based livelihood training.
MINISTRY UPDATE
This school year began with a wonderful partnership with Campus Crusade. They have been providing free training to our students and workers on how to effectively share Bible stories to students in schools and communities and teach them how to apply the learnings in their lives. To date, they have applied what they have learned to 370 children, teenagers and adults!
There are still approximately 5000 people to reach in the tribal communities where we have reached and about 15,000 more in neighboring villages. Please pray to our God of the harvest to send more workers and students to the harvest! Besides being His vessel to eradicate physical poverty amongst our tribal families, we desire to also erase spiritual poverty. May His kingdom come, may His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
