Recently, I spoke to an acquaintance in passing. "Are you excited about your upcoming trip?", he asked. "Actually, I'm apprehensive, a little scared", I replied. Trying to be well-meaning he said, "Well, that's good. You wouldn't want to be without challenges. Then God would have no room to act". Now there's nothing wrong with being spiritual, but love-work(my new word for mission) has a way of moving a person beyond simple platitudes. "I don't think we will have to worry about a lack of challenges", I said.

The picture above is of a classroom at Stema school, where I am supposed to teach English. I want you put yourself in my (Howard's) shoes for a minute. Imagine you are the teacher. There is no electricity. There may not be a blackboard. If there is, there may not be chalk. There is no chart paper, no overhead projector. There are few books. There are no toys, colored posters and pictures on the walls to encourage the kids, no aids to help illustrate or demonstrate a teaching point. There is no photocopy machine. There are few pencils or pens, no crayonsor felt pens. There is almost nothing of those things we take for granted in North America. Then consider that many of the kids have probably slept on the ground the night before and may not have started off with a much of a breakfast or supper the night before. Yes, I think there will be challenges!

Now this is not meant to be about "poor me". I hope it challenges you to see the issues that this part of the world faces and gives you some idea of how important your help is. We need your prayers, encouragement and practical help if we are going to make much of a difference at Stema. We want you to understand the nature of the task. We covet your partnership and your real involvement. Perhaps these thoughts will help you think how you can continue to be involved. Bless you for your help.