School Sponsorship Project:

October 1st is the International Day of the Child.  We had many of our sponsorship schools, as well as other schools asking if we could help in their celebration of this day.  We decided to incorporate an assistance that we hope to be able to do every year with our sponsorship schools.  On September 24, the 28 schools that we currently sponsor, were invited to send someone to represent their school and attend a meeting at the ministry center. All responded to this invitation.  Each school was given a piñata and 500 pieces of candy to use for their activities for this special day to recognize children from around the world.  The teachers were all very happy with this new outreach.

 

     

 

We have completed the mid-year distribution.  The table will now reflect the last 5 schools receiving their mid-year packs.  We have gotten a number of thank you notes from the directors of the schools and one school even had the kids make us thank you cards.  We are collecting new solicitations toward our 2009 school year and are beginning to take advantage of “back to school” (in the US) sale prices on school supplies as we begin to work toward next year's project.

 

We have seen tremendous results in this outreach this year.  We have been picking up new sponsors and support to make sure that it continues.  We have almost completed our mid-annual distribution for the students (see chart below).  Their school year will continue until about mid-October so they are only at the half way point right now.  We added 8 schools to our roster.  It took almost a complete month to visit each school and to hand out their mid year packets.  There are many stories of slippery roads, treacherous paths to walk etc; that were involved to get these school supplies into the hands of the children.  For this reason some of the students cheered and really expressed their gratefulness for what it cost to give them this assistance. 

 

The classroom resources that we handed out thrilled the teachers.  We had 15 vinyl banners  made that have maps, charts of the human body, bones, muscles, the 5 senses etc.  These should last a life time for the school and will be a great asset to the teachers.  We gave a complete set to each school in a storage tube and they can be shared between the different grades.  We covered 26 schools for the mid-year hand outs and have already signed up 2 more for the 2009 school year.  All 28 schools received the classroom resources. 

 

We continue to encourage businesses, schools, churches, clubs and individuals to consider helping with this outreach.  Education is the hope for a better tomorrow for these children.  It is the way to break the cycle of illiteracy that reigns in their parents’ generation.  Together, we can make a difference and give hope to this new generation!

 

For further information you may communicate with Jeanne@servantministries.net to receive the directions for how YOU can become involved!

 

School Sponsorship Flash Video

Click the play button on the below player to view pictures from the School Sponsorship Project

 

 

 

 

 

City Trash Barrels

 

We had the metal shop that made our trash barrels make us some lids that are chained to the barrel.  We were experiencing problems with the rain filling the barrels and it would cause them to begin to rust very quickly.  The lids were delivered and the chains connected to the barrels.  One barrel had been installed in front of our medical clinic.  The other 6 barrels were taken to be given to the mayor on July 18.  The city has workers that should be able to install them.  We will keep an eye on that situation and if they don’t get them installed within a reasonable amount of time, we will offer to send out our workers to install them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reforestation

 

NOTE:  Due to the fact that David will be absent from overseeing these projects for almost a 4 month period, we rehired Mynor Erazo, who worked for us in the past.  Mynor is overseeing our projects for the reforestation and helping us to be able to continue on and to take advantage of the rainy season to do planting.

 

 

Servant Minstries has been involved in a reforestation project since 2001.  This immediate area was placed in a "red alert" for food shortage in this timeframe.  This area is known to be in drought 3 out of every 5 years.  The area has been extremely deforested due to people's need to have daily firewood with no thought of replenishing the trees.  The lack of forestation affects the rainfall.  The people live off the land and so lack of rainfall means little or no harvest.  Without a harvest there is no food to care for their families.  Without that food, the children are the first that are affected, becoming malnourished and dying.  This was the problem that occured in 2001.  Many relief organizations came to hand out emergency assistance.  Although necessary, it was a bandaid measure because it was short term and didn't make any lasting changes.

 

Servant Ministries has worked since 2001 to bring lasting changes.  Experts say that we need 10 million trees planted in this area to really bring it to a healthy environment.  We are at almost one million trees to date.  We work in a number of ways to run tree nurseries with the assistance of the local people.  We also look for trees that will provide something for the people to use, to add to their food supplies above just working toward changes the environmental status.  It is a long term plan but we continue to look for ways to improve this area. 

 

Nu Fed - Lantiquin

Seeds were given to this school’s nursery in the following form:  100 Cazuarina,  100 Cedar,  100 Cypress,  100 Madre Cacao,  100 Moringa, 100 Paraiso,  100 Pine, 100 Zapoton, 800 in all.  They all will be planted in the nursery at the school for their reforestation training.

 

Nu Fed – Sesesmilito

We gave the director of this school vegetable seeds for a vegetable project that they wanted to do.  Our two co-op students, Santos and Amabilia, went to give a training session and to assist them in the planting.  They were given the following: 4 oz. of radishes (approx. 4,400 seeds), 1 oz. of cucumber (approx. 1,050 seeds), 4 oz. of cilantro (approx. 3,100 seeds), 4 oz. of beets (approx. 1,260 seeds),  4 oz. of carrots (approx. 20,000 seeds), 2 oz. of cabbage (approx. 11,000 seeds).  This will go a long way to give the school a strong project to oversee.

 

 

Nu Fed – Guior 

The Moringa Limbs were planted around the school.  Most are doing well and we calculate that the new limbs will be ready to cut in January for another project that we have.

 

Nu Fed – Guareruche, Suchiquer and Pelillo Negro

There was not much follow up on our part for the planting of the Moringa limbs at these 3 schools.  David had to leave, due to the death of his dad, and won’t be back until December.  The teachers didn’t plant the limbs as soon as they should have, so lost many.

 

Nursery in Volcan

More seed were given to the overseer of this nursery.  The following seed was turned over to them; 400 Zapotan, 200 Moringa, 600 Cazuarina, 600 Pine, 600 Cedar, 600 Cypress, a total of 3000 seeds that will be planted into bags to grow in the nursery.

 

     

 

 

 TABLE FOR AUGUST 2008

A	B	C	D
TYPES OF TREES	PREVIOUS TOTAL	MONTHS OF JAN-JULY	TOTAL TO DATE
Aripín	27,305	0	27,305
Avocado	10,623	0	10,623
Bamboo	1,000	0	1,000
Black Olive	92	0	92
Black Pepper	4,589	0	4,589
Cashew	12,020	0	12,020
Causaurina	150	0	150
Cedar	146,975	0	146,975
Cinnamon	2,250	0	2,250
Cocoa	39,067	0	39,067
Cortes	5,000	0	5,000
Ciprés	17,947	0	17,947
Coffee	5,915	2,085	8,000
Eucalyptus	958	0	958
Indigo	94	0	94
Madre Cacao	40,358	0	40,358
Mahogany	109,543	0	109,543
Mamey	0	0	0
Matilisguate	53,845	0	53,845
Moringa	82,956	645	83,601
Orange Valencia	13,709	0	13,709
Papaya	2,000	0	2,000
Paraíso	3,811	0	3,811
Paterna	863	0	863
Pepeto	4,130	0	4,130
Persian Lemon	3,174	0	3,174
Pine	62,280	0	62,280
Ramon (Ujuxte)	283,446	96	283,542
Zapoton	245	0	245
TOTALS	934,345	2,826	937,171

 

 

 

 

Chicken Projects:

 

Two schools have been raising chickens.  The schools are:  Plan Del Morro and Los Mineras Abajo.  They were selling the chickens to the Embrace program to generate funds for the schools.  Plus, it was a help to Embrace families who were given chickens by their sponsor.

 

However, due to several factors, the raising of chickens is going to be discontinued. The climate is too cold in one area, and they were not being cared for as they should.  We will be working with them in other areas in the future.

 

 

Reforestation

 

Nu Fed - Lantiquin

Seeds were given to this school’s nursery in the following form:  100 Cazuarina,  100 Cedar,  100 Cypress,  100 Madre Cacao,  100 Moringa, 100 Paraiso,  100 Pine, 100 Zapoton, 800 in all.  They all will be planted in the nursery at the school for their reforestation training.

 

Nu Fed – Sesesmilito

We gave the director of this school vegetable seeds for a vegetable project that they wanted to do.  Our two co-op students, Santos and Amabilia, went to give a training session and to assist them in the planting.  They were given the following: 4 oz. of radishes (approx. 4,400 seeds), 1 oz. of cucumber (approx. 1,050 seeds), 4 oz. of cilantro (approx. 3,100 seeds), 4 oz. of beets (approx. 1,260 seeds),  4 oz. of carrots (approx. 20,000 seeds), 2 oz. of cabbage (approx. 11,000 seeds).  This will go a long way to give the school a strong project to oversee.

 

 

Nu Fed – Guior 

The Moringa Limbs were planted around the school.  Most are doing well and we calculate that the new limbs will be ready to cut in January for another project that we have.

 

Nu Fed – Guareruche, Suchiquer and Pelillo Negro

There was not much follow up on our part for the planting of the Moringa limbs at these 3 schools.  David had to leave, due to the death of his dad, and won’t be back until December.  The teachers didn’t plant the limbs as soon as they should have, so lost many.

 

 

 

 

Water Cisterns

 

Seven people dug their holes in preparation to install cisterns.  Through the leadership of Don Fabian Mejia, the cisterns are being accomplished.  The cisterns being close to their homes will be a great asset especially to the women and girls.  They are the ones who have to walk an hour or two or more to bring water to their homes.  Here are two pictures:  one of the start of the hole, and the other one after the cistern was completed. 

At one of the homes, I asked if I could pray for the Lord to fill the water cisterns.  Fabian Mejia and the entire family prayed for the Lord to bring rain and bless each family involved with the cistern project.