Learning Center Finished!

November 25, 2015 by Isak Westraad 2 Comments

Dear Friends & Family in Christ,

In October 2013, we opened the first Learning Center here in Xai-Xai, Mozambique.  We had 30 students, ranging from ages 7 to 17, none of which were able to read.  In this Learning Center, we took these precious children and over the past 2 years have been teaching them to to read and write and basic English.  Most importantly, we also taught them about the Lord Jesus, His glorious Gospel, and His Word.  Every weekday for 2-3 hours we had a chance to greatly influence their lives!

Now, in November of 2015, two years later, we have finished with this group of children!  What a blessing it has been for us to be able to work with each one of them, to see them grow, to see them learn, and to see them gain a deeper understanding of the Gospel.  In the last few weeks of teaching, we especially focused on evangelical Bible lessons.  Two of the children with great joy on their faces told us, “Yes, Jesus has saved me, and I am following Him!”  There are others who may be saved, but do not have assurance of salvation yet.  Others are not saved yet, but they all have a clear understanding of the Gospel and we continue to pray for them that the seed planted in their hearts will be watered by the Lord, and that they would sprout and bear much fruit one day!

Except for two mentally handicapped children, all of our students are now able to read and write!  Several of them received Bibles for their farewell gifts, and they are now able to read them well.  Seeing these children who never could read before take the Word of God and read it, definitely makes the teaching worth it!

We are so grateful for this Learning Center the Lord allowed us to do, and He has taught us so much through it. He is the One who opened the door for us to start the Learning Center in the first place, He carried and helped us through it, He saved two of those precious children, and we pray He will save each one of them!  Please praise and thank the Lord with us for what He has done in the lives of each of these children, and also for what He has done in our lives as teachers too.  I think we all, students and teachers alike, walk away from this Learning Center changed people, with lessons learned that would not have been learned anywhere else.  Our God is so good and faithful!

On our last day, we had a special ‘party day’ for the children, which they greatly enjoyed.  It was a blast! We had a Bible lesson, then a treasure hunt, then some snacks, and then played some more different games.  We took some pictures, and they are below.  Enjoy! 🙂

Thank you for your prayers for these children, and we ask that as you read this, that you would take a moment to pray for them.  Pray for those who are saved to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and pray for the lost ones to trust in Christ and be saved!