thepromise Orphan’s Promise newsletter | October 2018
Orphan’s Promise newsletter | October 2018
Life at Macha International Christian School by Luyando, Beneficiary, Orphan’s Promise
giving hope. promising love.
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The testimonial below is from Luyando, who is a boarding student at Macha International Christian School (MICS) in rural Zambia thanks to a scholarship provided by Orphan’s Promise. Luyando is an orphan who lived with her grandmother and her brother and sister. They were very vulnerable, for they had no means of support and were living in a simple village hut. Luyando arrived malnourished, shy, and very serious for her age. As the oldest grandchild, she was responsible for her family. At MICS, Luyando immediately began to thrive. She learned quickly and was able to move up a grade in school after only a short time. She is a good, responsible, caring girl who will do well in the future thanks to all the encouragement she has received from her teachers and especially the boarding staff. This is Luyando’s story in her own words.
Hi, my name is Luyando. I am 15 years old, and I am in grade 7, my last year at MICS.
I came here in 2013, so I have been here for five years. I am very proud of my school because I have learned a lot. I have learned about God and how to respect elders, my friends, and myself. Before I came to school, I didn’t know how to speak English very well, or how to respect elders, my friends, and myself. But ever since I came to MICS, I have learned those things. And I am so thankful to the school because they are sponsoring me. When I was at the government school, I used to be chastised because of money, so I didn’t learn very well even though I was with my friends. In government schools, we always learned in Tonga, not English, and they didn’t teach us about the Bible. They just taught us how to respect them (the teachers), not ourselves or our friends. There were 50 students and one teacher in each class. It was hard to learn because students would misbehave, and the teacher couldn’t control everyone at the same time.
We used to go back to school in the afternoons and work for the teachers … fetching water, washing their plates, and sometimes working in the fields. If we refused or said we didn’t want to, the teacher might beat us. Sometimes if we didn’t go to school in the afternoon, the teachers would write down our names, and the next day during class we would work for them instead of learning. I didn’t enjoy school because I was one of the youngest in class, so the big ones would bully us or take away our food. Sometimes the teachers were sick or out of town, so it was a difficult place to learn. My grandmother heard about MICS and asked if my brother, sister and I could come to learn here. My grandmother didn’t have money to pay for us at the government schools and was hopeful that MICS could sponsor us.
When my grandmother told me that I was going to learn at MICS, I was so happy! When I came here, I didn’t know how to speak English. Friends and teachers would come and say “Hi,” and I would just look at them. I started learning in first grade, where they would teach us how to read and speak English. When my grandmother told me that I was going to learn at MICS, I was so happy! Then we went to church and gave a testimony of what God had done in our family. Most of my friends began as day
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students, but when my siblings and I joined, we were boarders right away. This meant that we didn’t have to walk a long distance and arrive late at school. We would come to school on Monday mornings and then go back home after school on Fridays.
One of the best parts of coming to MICS was that they gave us new uniforms, shoes, bags, books and play clothes.
When I first arrived, I was surprised to work with computers. Using computers was new for me, so it was hard at first, but my teachers and friends helped me. Also, I was amazed to learn by watching educational movies in the morning before starting class. One of the best parts of coming to school was that they gave us new uniforms, shoes, bags, books and play clothes. I was scared at first when I became a boarder, as I was not used to being with a lot of people. I was just used to being with our small family. As boarders, we occasionally got treats that we didn’t have at home, like cake and drinks like Coke. On holidays we would sometimes get gifts or even do treasure hunts. I wasn’t used to having fun like this! In other boarding schools, they don’t get those special
things. At other schools, they don’t give out mattresses, blankets, and other things like that … you have to bring them for yourself. It was good to be boarding because I had more time to concentrate on my homework. The housemothers did the cooking for us, and tutors helped us with our homework. It felt like being a part of a very large family. Today I am in grade 7, and we are learning eight subjects. My best subjects are Math, Bible, and CTS (Creative Technology Studies), where we learn about cooking. I also enjoy English. I hope to be a nurse someday so that I can help other people the way I have been supported by Orphan’s Promise. My teachers have taught me how to use a gentle voice and how to be patient and kind to others so that they feel safe and loved. This will help me be a kind and caring nurse. My goal after I finish 7th grade is to go on to a secondary boarding school to complete my schooling. After secondary school, I will need to work and save money to pay for medical school. I am very thankful to God for Orphan’s Promise and that I have been able to attend MICS. I have learned more about how to thank Him and how to thank the people who have helped me with my school fees. If I hadn’t been given this opportunity, I wouldn’t have learned about gratitude. I wouldn’t have learned English. I wouldn’t have learned how important God is in my life. Thank you, Orphan’s Promise!”
Thank you for helping us bring dreams to life!
give us a call: 1-800-818-4016 orphanspromise.org Orphan’s Promise, a children’s ministry of The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., serves orphans and other vulnerable children around the world, taking them from at-risk to thriving through the transforming power of God’s love. CBN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization and your contributions to our ministry are tax-deductible.