Asaroka Lutheran High School News.
The main focus for the initial trip to Asaroka Lutheran High School in 2006 was to get to know them and start building up relationships with the people in and around the school. Our motto became "we're not here as tourists, but as friends". They warmed up to this and appreciated it. The other aim was by the time we returned home, that we all had a clear focus on where the most important needs were in relation to helping the school back o
n the path to "self sufficiency".
We identified the school farm and help in providing IT resources as our main tasks to pursue on our return.
The High School has about 25 acres of farm plots that had been used to grow food crops (including dry land rice) to feed the students for lunch as well as providing meals for all the boarding students. The irrigation equipment, tractor and other farm machinery had mostly worn out or was in disrepair, so little food could be grown and was being purchased instead at a great cost to the school. We fund raised and purchased new irrigation equipment that arrived while we were there in 2007 and were able to help them set this up and witnessed life giving water flowing to the farm for the first time in many years. Many tears of joy were shared by all here. We also managed to repair the tractor and slasher which could get to work to reclaim the farm plots back from the tall kunai grass that had taken over. There are also now various other machine parts on their way which should then make all the farm machinery serviceable again. Money saved from growing food again will then go back into infrastructure and school programmes.
The other goal the school has been working towards for a number of years is to achieve Secondary School status. To be approved for this, they needed to have infrastructure in place such as Computers, appropriate Science Centre, text books etc. We had already sent a number of needed books, and have more on the way currently. But the big miracle here was the story on how we managed to get over 50 complete computers, rebuilt with appropriate free software, all provided and delivered to the school for free! God was definitely in control here. They had also built a new computer suite in time for the arrival of the computers. The great news is that they now have their Secondary School status and introduced Year 11 in 2009 with Year 12 to begin in 2010.
These projects have been amazing both to witness and to be part of, as well as other smaller projects as well. They have been so grateful and the spirits of the people have been lifted, which has flowed through all parts of the school community. But as important to them is to know that other people care for them, are encouraging them and praying for them. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ after all. We have also received much from them in being reminded on what is important in life, as well as their friendship. This is why we have called it a "Partnership"