What does it truly mean to ‘adopt’ someone? Is it just a legal contract or an obligation to give a child a new name? Our personal experience, having built our family through international adoption, gives us a very different perspective. From the day we signed the contract with La Casa de la Madre y El Nino in Bogota, Colombia, we knew that the baby that would become ours was truly OURS. And God worked in amazing ways! Another couple in the adoption process led us step by step through the legal and documentation steps and provided such reassurance and confidence that very soon we would become parents! In fact, the very day that we went to meet their baby John, just entering the US with his parents, we rejoiced with them and returned to our home in Maryland. Within a few hours, the phone rang and it was La Casa calling us to inform us that our baby had been born! Hallelujah! We knew that this baby was OUR baby and we were just days away from holding baby Matthew in our arms. After our long travel to Bogota with suitcases filled with diapers and baby formula, baby Matthew was placed in our arms and the 12 day old infant smiled at us. He was OURS!! Because he was having a little difficulty adjusting to a new infant formula and was not feeling 100%, the orphanage suggested they swap out Matthew for another baby who was healthier. Oh, my goodness, No! Matthew was indeed our son and there could be no substitution. We would care for him, provide food and lodging and even a good education. God had called us to become parents, we had no doubt. Now, Lord, give us direction to perform our duties with diligence and uprightness and love.
This next example postulates a very different example. But, the underlying premise remains consistent. God calls us, in our lives, to loving behavior, action, deeds, promises, achievements and accomplishments, all in His name. In Galatians 6:2, Jesus states, “Bear one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When a family in Congo has 5 or 12 children and an average monthly income of $40 and secondary (junior/senior high school) is not free, how can the children become educated? Every family must pay tuition fees and, because of poverty, many children can only attend one semester and then miss several until the family has saved the money to pay the tuition.
The village of Diengenga was founded in 1946 as a mission station by United Methodist missionaries. A church, a school and a medical clinic were built at that time to nurture and care for the people there who live their lives for Christ! And your missionaries feel called to continue this mission and vision.
And so, a local church, supported by the Congo Partnersh
ip has initiated a new project that we call “class adoption.” Rather than supporting one or two children in a developing country for a fee that includes administrative costs (like World Vision), the Partnership invites individuals or churches to join the project of adopting an entire class at the Mama Tola Secondary School in Diengenga. The Partnership contributes one hundred percent of any donation to the Mama Tola School and those donations provide scholarships, as well as, funds to improve the facility, purchase classroom supplies and other needs. Another premise clearly embraced, eliminates the perception that some children in a village are loved and cared for, while others are excluded. And that becomes the sensitivity when single students receive funding for their care.
There are 2 primary focuses for this project: #1. Relationships between a class and a local church can be established student to student. Recently a video was created for the local church supporting the project at the Mama Tola School. Each student introduced themselves and songs of praise and thanks portrayed the appreciation the students felt because a church in the United States cared for them. And then, the local church provided a similar video for the school as each student introduced themselves.
Focus #2 relates to Funds for the school. When a family approaches the director because they have sufficient money to pay tuition, but not the student uniform or school supplies, the director can apply funds from the project to allow that student to not miss a semester or even a year of school. Also, when the school needs fuel for the generator or repairs made to a building or classroom, funds can benefit and source this necessity.
These are the details related to expenses for a student:
Student Expenses
Tuition
$25 per trimester or $75 per school year
Additional Expenses
Materials (pens, paper) $19
Uniform $15
Fabric for sewing class $21
Boarding
$95.60 per trimester
Total per School Year
For Boarding School Student $529.80
For Non-Boarding School Student $243
We will provide letters, photos and videos of the students receiving support so that you may be in prayer for them in their course of study and donors can send notes of encouragement and support. The blessings will flow abundantly!
If the Lord is nudging you to consider such a project, please contact us at:
Prayers are free! But powerful! So, please add the Mama Tola Secondary School to your prayer list.
Thanks and blessings!
LusakaJesus 