We can hardly believe that we are nearing the end of the first year of the Esther School! Our last day of school is scheduled for May 31st and we are already actively preparing for next year’s Preschool class. We have faced many challenges – some expected and some unexpected – but God has been so good to us and we are overwhelmed with our many blessings as those difficulties become minor distractions.
We are working hard with our paid employees and parent volunteers to clear, develop and maintain the campus, as well as to run the school, community programs and sustainability components of the school. While difficult at times, it only takes a few minutes of seeing our students’ faces, hearing their laughter and, especially, hearing them sing praises to God to remember why we are here.
We humbly request your continued prayer support with these few new areas of need:
– That God would have his hand in the recruitment, selection and preparation of the next 25 students and their families who will constitute the next Preschool Class. We have a Pre-Registration Community Meeting on Friday April 19th and will be holding an Assessment Day on Friday April 26 to determine which children are most ready for school.
– That God would raise up and work in the hearts of a few local people who could serve in key leadership roles among our work and volunteer forces. That he would identify them to us and set them apart as disciples and servant leaders.
– That God would also identify and prepare the 2 new 1st Grade teachers needed for next year (one from Zambia and one from North America) as well as begin to cultivate those needed to replace those whose terms are up in 2014. We also pray for God’s Spirit of peace and unity as we all become acquainted and adjusted to each other and to life in rural Zambia.
– For blessings as we prepare to travel. Tina’s father will be arriving here on the 22nd for a few weeks, then we will all travel together on May 11 to visit with Tina’s brother and family who are serving in Tel Aviv. Kevin will then return here for the last few weeks of school while the rest return to the US for the summer. Kevin will be in the US from June 4 to July 13. Needless to say, that is a significant amount of travel and we pray for safety and blessings on our time with family.
The DeKam Family in Zambia 
Thank you so much for your specfic prayer requests. We do continue to pray for all of you, but are sometimes at a loss to know what you need. We are praying for you. I must say every time that I put creamer in my coffee I think of Tina and was gong to send you some, but you will be home before it gets there – so I will wait for now. You can know though Tina that you will be getting some creamer from me.
Thanks for the update that helps us know how to pray for you. We continue to pray for the children whose lives are being changed through the work all of you are doing in God’s name.
I continue to pray for The Esther School on a daily basis.
I will pray for safety with the many travels that are taking place in the near future!
Blessings from Moline Christian School.
Kevin Sall
MCS Administrator
Boy, for rural Zambia, its a busy place – lots happening! Thank you for sharing and keeping us informed with specifics to pray for.
Lost power last week for 30 hrs due to an ice storm – oh…memories of Africa.
Thinking of you all often,
Henrietta & Harry
Hope you will come visit us at Fountain HIll Center on your visit home. We all miss you and appreciate all your efforts at The Esther School. Blessings. Rosalyn and your friends at FHC
Thanks so much for letting us know what to pray for…we will for sure pray for all of these things! And that God’s peace will be with all of you as all of these changes happen! Really looking forward to seeing you guys again!!!