June Edition
Hello Friends,
How are you? I hope this letter finds you well. It is hard
to believe that it is June already! Seems like just yesterday it was New
Year’s! This will be a short letter, as most of my summer letters will be.
-Seniors: It’s that time of year again! On Thursday, the 6th,
the seniors will be graduating. It is a crazy thought because I remember some
of them from when they were born, and others from when they were in pre-school.
It has been fun to watch them grow into being the “big dogs on campus,” into
their role as leaders and role models. Between now and graduation, the big
things for the seniors are receptions and JSB (our prom type thing)(and
actually, as I send this, JSB just ended). Over the past year I have been
toying with the idea that DA is almost a sender of missionaries in and of
itself – at least for the students who have a relationship with Jesus. Because
we try to teach them about God and the Bible, and how to establish good
disciplines, and provide a place for fellowship. I realize this analogy can easily
crumble, but that is okay. For those who know Christ we send them out with the
hope that they will spread their love of Jesus to whomever they meet. This
summer and the coming year will be difficult for them as they figure out how to
live in the States – without a parent around to do all the “parent things”
(i.e. taking care of them) – in other words, they now have to do everything
themselves. Pray for their
transition and for their faith to be strengthened in the coming months, and
however God leads you to pray.
-Recruiting: I have mentioned a few times that we are in the
process of finding staff to fulfill our needs for next year. There is a page on
the website: http://dakar-academy.org/staff/employment_opportunities/employment_opportunities.htm.
When I wrote you last, we were searching especially for a 1st grade
teacher. I am happy to say that as of last week, that position has been filled.
Now we have one position left (yay!): a high school math teacher. If you know anyone interested in working
overseas, tell them about DA – I may be biased, but it is a great school! There
are several people who have applied for the positions, but sometimes
discernment is difficult. Please pray
that my bosses and I will have wisdom in knowing who is the right person for a
position. Pray also for the people
we have hired as they prepare to move overseas and leave the familiar. Pray that their first year here will be
filled with joys and that they will be able to be examples of Christ while they
serve here. Pray that God will lead
qualified people to our doors. Praise God
that we have 5 positions filled!
Well, that is all for now. I am looking forward to this
summer. As of a week ago I thought it would be rather boring because not a lot
of people in the community will be around and I will only have to go into work
once a week. But then four (maybe five) things came up. So now I will be house
sitting (which includes taking care of two dogs – not my favorite part!), unlocking
someone’s house so their maid can get in over the summer, feeding a fish, and
helping out in the library from time to time. I realize that that as only four
items, that is because the 5th is still very tentative. I would also
like to do some baby sitting. So that is something you can pray for me, that opportunities for babysitting will come up. Have
a great day.
Ruthanne
