Mariama School Project
Papua New Guinea
Educational opportunities in remote areas of developing countries are understandably hit and miss. Teachers do not necessarily enjoy the rustic living conditions away from the big cities. School buildings are devoid of power, computers, and other technology platforms. And typically there is no biblical training integrated into the curriculum. Seeing a huge need for a Christian primary school in the Mariama area where they had planted a church, Mark and Holly Woodard set out to provide one. Here is an abbreviated report on the school, which is supported in part by PCC.
I wish that I could take you to Mariama and allow you to see for yourself the impact that you are having on this village and on the surrounding villages, as so many send their children to the school. The school just finished up their third year a few days ago. The Lord led us to start this endeavor on faith, and it has been running that way since. He blessed us with two teachers the first year, four teachers the second year, and 5 teachers last year. These five teachers love the Lord and have been pouring not only math, reading and writing into these kiddos, but they have been pouring in the Bible as well…every day! Praise the Lord; He is so faithful! Psalm 78:3 comes to mind as I write. “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his wonders.”
Please pray with us as we look to hire four or five teachers this coming January, replacing four who have completed their two-year commitment to the school. We ask you to please be praying with us as we look to replace them. We also hope to hire a new headmaster. (A local PNG pastor on that side of the globe that will help in that process.) We are praising the Lord that we currently have enough funding to pay for half of the upcoming school year. Thanks again for your part in the education of our 250 students spanning six grade levels!