A God Size Opportunity — Open Hearts and Minds
“Welcome, Mr. Joe” is the reception I received by Maltiti, the owner and headmistress of Rabiconic Primary & Junior Secondary School. After we exchanged greetings, Maltiti talked about the school. It sits on her mother’s property, where they both still live. About nine years ago, there was no public school within their area to serve the community, she decided to serve the community by establish a private school. Private just implies that it is not run by the government. The facilities are the standard block house with zinc covered roofs.
The school serves lunch each day for those that can afford to pay (the government only supplements the purchase of textbooks). Tuition is 3 GHC per month, or about $2.15. The school needs a new roof over one section, and the Junior High School block house has not been finished. Maltiti has done well getting the school operating, and has a great group of teachers for every grade (it is not uncommon for teachers to be used for multiple grades, rotating around each hour to different classes).
Maltiti took me to each class, where I was greeted very formally and in unison by the children. I caused quite a commotion, but that is a typical experience for this white man in Northern Ghana, no matter where I go. After meeting all the teachers and their helpers – a couple of University students are volunteering their time – Maltiti and I sat down to discuss opportunities of involvement.
To my surprise, Maltiti first invited me to instruct the primary school, grades 1 to 6, on Religious Studies and Ethics. She does not have a teacher who can teach the Bible, so she would like me to. We talked about curriculum: she is very open to teaching precepts with application, and also talking specifically about Jesus. My role would not be to do comparative religious studies – which I would not want to or feel qualified to do – but to actually teach the Bible and Christianity.
After discussing the opportunity with Rev., my role is to work myself out of a job in all ministries (the same of any good foriegn missionary): to start (yes I will be teaching; please pray), nurture, and stabilize ministries, while at the same time ensuring that Ghanaians are available to carry them on. So please pray for Ghanaians to come and commit to the work. Pray that the lessons we prepare honor God and are of good use to turn the hearts of many children to him.
This entry was posted on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 5:26 pm and is filed under Ministry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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