First Impressions.

Written August 22, 2024

As I sit here thinking about what to write for this post, many different thoughts go through my mind… here are just a handful:

“The building is small, simple, outdated, but will have to work”.

“What will it look like, feel like, sound like, smell like, having school in this one room concrete school house”?

“Wow, this is certainly different than I have ever experienced”.

“I wonder how hot it gets in here, with no air conditioning”?

“I wonder how cold it gets in here, with no heating”?

“Only one electrical outlet for the entire school”?

“No running water, but at least there is an outhouse”.

“IT IS TIME FOR A BUILDING PROJECT”!!!

They say a picture speaks 1000 words… Here are a few pictures of my first visit to the main school building for Oaks of Righteousness.

The front of the school building. This building is a shared space. A family lives in the other half of the building (not in the picture).

The back of the school building.

The School yard and outhouse!

This building is where all of the students came last school year. This year, due to increased enrollment and lack of space, the school will be split into two different locations. At this point, the plan is to have the youngest students at a different location, about five minutes away. The other building is even smaller, and in comparison, makes this main school building look amazing! However, this smaller building is only available come the end of September or early October. So, in the mean time we are hoping and praying that an alternate location nearby might be made available for use. If not, we may start to look like, and smell like, sardines in a can here.

The need for a building is real!

A building that can accommodate the current number of students and of course the increasing enrollment of students.

A building that allows all the staff, students, and families to be at one location.

A building that can have running water and electricity beyond one electrical outlet.

A building that can have several classrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen space.

A building that can be used for the various facets of the ministry; school, youth ministry, women’s ministry…etc.

I am amazed at how much this ministry has accomplished; with how little it has been given. God is truly at work, in and through the staff at Oaks of Righteousness. I can only imagine how much more this ministry could accomplish with a suitable building to operate out of.

I will try to share some more pictures of the school buildings, someday in the near future, including some interior pictures.

In the meantime, please pray that we are able to find a second building for the month of September. Also, pray that God will provide us with clear direction regarding a possible building project.

Written by: Nathan