Petals of Hope 2019 Outlook
Looking back on the many places we’ve visited in 2018, the congregations we’ve spoken to, the wonderful people we’ve met, and the projects we’ve completed, we cannot help but praise God and give Him the glory for His work in our lives! We are counting our blessings as we meditate on Isaiah 45:2-3, we anticipate the upcoming year of ministry.
THE NEED
“Today’s generation of girls is preparing to enter a world which is being transformed by innovation and automation—but they face adversity to getting the educational training needed to enter into the workforce,” Ritah Muyambo, the senior consultant for youth at the U.N. Women’s civil society division, told Moneyish (www.marketwatch.com). “Girls between five and fourteen spend more than 160 hours on homework and chores than boys do…. So, it’s quite important for us to focus on how we can prepare those girls for the workplace. We need to focus on girls getting the same education as boys, as well” Muyambo states. To develop a “skilled girl force”, the U.N. is calling on the global community to make moves such as creating initiatives to support girls’ school-to-work transition, such as career guidance, apprenticeships, internships, etc. At Petals of Hope International, this is our goal.
OUR VISION
How should we respond to this enormous task for the generations of girls to come? We need to make girls’ education a priority. Education for girls needs to be readily available and affordable. This is why the Petals of Hope International team will be taking on even more projects this year. We want to ensure our students will receive higher level education that will prepare them to enter a competitive workforce.
PROJECT UPDATE
In July, two members of Faith Community Church of O’Neil, Nebraska, came with me to Liberia for our first kindergarten graduation. While there, they saw some of our needs and felt a call to help. Thanks to their tremendous fundraising efforts, we have been able to purchase a fifteen-seater school bus for our students and two motorcycles for our campus maintenance staff. In addition to the help from these two ladies, supporters who are also on PHI team have supplied an entire mini-library along with other school supplies, books, towels, bedding, and personal clothing for our students.
In November, a team of eleven people from The Point Church and ANM in Charlottesville, Virginia undertook a major water project for our learning center/guesthouse and elementary school. We now have running water in both buildings for our students, staff, and administration. The team also installed two water filters that provide safe drinking water in the school and the learning center. A teacher’s training seminar was also conducted for our teachers by the team. In addition to these projects, The Point Team brought a significant supply of medicine for medical missions and provided a one-day medical camp for people in the community. Witnessing this medical camp opened my eyes to the growing need of efficient and reliable medical care Liberia so desperately needs.
THANK YOU!
An African Proverb says: “One hand cannot wash itself, it takes another to do so”. We are so thankful for God’s provisions and for all of you who so generously prayed, donated, and contributed to making Petals of Hope a reality for girls throughout Liberia. Your contributions/partnership enable us to provide the tools we need to empower these girls through education. Thank you for your support! We could not have done any of these accomplishments without you!
PRAYER REQUESTS
PRAY FOR THE EXTENSION OF OUR SCHOOL. WE NEED TO BUILD A MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRAY FOR ANOTHER MEDICAL CAMP TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR AS THIS IS A HUGE NEED.
PRAY FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
PRAY THAT THE GOSPEL WILL BE PROCLAIMED TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS.
PRAY FOR THE PROVISION OF SOLAR PANELS FOR OUR SCHOOL BUILDING AS A MAJORITY OF THE CITY (OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDED) IS STILL WITHOUT ELECTRICITY
