Author name: Lois Gillespie

Praise the Lord, we are still healthy. However, this flu bug is still going round. Pretty soon it will run out of victims; we pray it won’t start again. Malaria is affecting some, especially students. One boy was on an IV this past Monday to combat dehydration due to the high fevers – something that is not uncommon with extended colds/malaria.

Our next major deadline is Penny Fair, a freshman class ‘fundraiser’ scheduled for Feb. 16th. As freshmen class sponsors, we oversee the students as they put on a mini-carnival for the staff, students and visiting parents and friends. Just like in almost every school in the states, these students are raising money for the Jr./Sr. Banquet and their senior trip. And just like always, some of the freshmen work while others don’t. Our biggest challenge with this project has been in motivating ‘all’ the freshmen to be a part of this fun time.

We ask that you pray for teachers for ICA for the coming year. Those who come to serve as houseparents are usually ‘career’ missionaries who stay around for awhile, but a lot of the teachers come for only a short one-year term. Not only does this make for difficult relationships with the students, but the administration is always looking for ways to fill the vacancies left when these teachers say good-bye. Our website, www.ica-ed.org, is a good place to look for more information. 

Thank you for your prayers.

Well, we’ve survived the first 24 hours of our stint as relief dorm parents in the Jr. High boys dorm, although the boys and Bob are having an ongoing rubber band and paperwad battle. If that’s the worst of what they do to us, I think we’ll make it…(especially since they aren’t targeting me!) 

We are a sick campus. Some of those involved in the recent Mali outreach came home with a nasty 3-4 day virus/flu – who knows what it is out here. But it has swept the campus, leaving people with chest-cold symptoms including high fevers. Each dorm has 4-5 kids daily missing classes; dormparents have made little hospitals in their living rooms. Five out of eight of our dorm mothers are nurses, so the sickies are getting the best of care. So far, Bob and I haven’t caught this one, but our time in the dorms may take care of that! 

This week is African culture week. We have local artisans on campus, displaying and selling their wares. These goods include beautiful wood carvings, gold and silver jewelry as well as other beaded work, woven clothes and robes, batiks (waxed cloth), pottery, musical instruments, and artwork. Some of the artisans are also demonstrating their work. They are fascinating to watch, and the product some of them turn out is amazing. They can also duplicate anything you show them, either from a sample or a picture. Each product is an original; they use no patterns, even for their clothing, some of which is truly beautiful. On Friday, we will be treated to a food court where we will be sampling all kinds of local foods while listening to a concert from some local musicians, complete with their bongo drums and other African instruments. 

We ask that you remember the sick staff and students in your prayers. When our systems get down with other illnesses or even simple fatigue, malaria often sets in. We all appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

I’m not sure how many of you followed the progress of our team to Mali and the African Cup by checking out our website at www.ica-ed.org, but we rejoice in a safe and fruitful trip. The only mishap was a flat tire on the bus on the way, which, on these roads, is cause for rejoicing. Sixty-four staff and students returned to campus last night, tired and desperately wanting ‘real’ showers, but praising the Lord for his protection. This is their wish, as expressed by one of the staff in his e-mail from Mali: “Please pray for the seeds that we have been planting. The dry dusty soil that does not take seed quickly is somewhat of a picture of the conditions that exist in many lives. We want to remain faithful though to the charge of proclaiming Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. The sowers are sowing, the seed is being spread. Pray that it will take root.” 

Now, even though all are very tired, it’s back to school as usual. Just as in the states, this trimester seems to be the longest and hardest. The hot, dry, dusty weather seems to cause more parched sinuses and therefore more sickness. It also makes for sick computers, since the dust seems to seep in everywhere. My office has again filled up with broken and dying computers, and my hours are filled with computer triage on one hand and user consolation on the other. 

Next week we will be writing to you from the boys middle-school dorm, where we will be spending 2 days as relief houseparents while the regular houseparents take some time off. I’m not sure we are in our right minds, agreeing to do this, so please pray for us and for the 21 junior high boys who will be in our charge. These are some of the same students Bob teaches, which could be a good thing or could be a bad thing. We’ll let you know in our next update. 

As always, we thank you for your prayers. As we met with our director this week regarding our future plans, we realized again how ‘right’ this is for us, and we praise God for what He has done, is doing, and is going to do in the future in our lives and through your prayers.