SO WHAT “How does it really help to give to Terra Nova?†Well, we’ve been crunching a few of the numbers from this year, and we’re already amazed by what our partners helped to do in just three years. When you give to Terra Nova you’re directly helping 104 students from 82 families afford school fees. When you give to Terra Nova you’re making education a reality for 62 girls and 42 boys. When you give to Terra Nova you’re helping support the 7 students in our school who are living in foster care or with adoptive families. You’re strengthening the 33 single parents who are raising children alone. Then, there’s the team members. When you give to Terra Nova you support a school that employs 12 people in an economy with over 50% unemployment. Thank you for giving to the work of Terra Nova Academy. You are strengthening and supporting the development of this community in such powerful ways! In 2017 we’ll add 3 rd grade, and we’re already excited about what is in store!
WHEN TERRA NOVA MOMMAS TALK… “We wrestle with our other kids to go to school, but our younger children who go to Terra Nova are awake at 5:30 AM just so they don’t miss anything. What are you doing here?†–Momma Lincoln “My son used to cry each morning he had to go to his old school—every day! Now that he is in 2 nd grade at Terra Nova, he is up before the sun demanding we get going because he doesn’t want to be late.†–Momma Kelton “Parents are usually the ones rushing children to get ready in the morning, but at my house Ronnie is up rushing me to get going so he doesn’t miss the van ride to school. He loves each day at school!†–Momma Ronnie HELP WANTED Last week a planned visit was cancelled. This week we keep asking God for provision in a specific area. We need teacher training. In the coming months we have plans to tour other schools and glean inspiration, but our team needs more. We have primary 7 students who are still struggling to read. Our teachers have no exposure to literacy training, inquiry-based learning techniques, or just ideas to help bring variety to content delivery. WE NEED HELP! Are you a teacher with literacy expertise who has a couple weeks to give next summer? Would you donate your time to help develop educators in Uganda? Email our executive director at tnauganda@gmail.com if you might be interested in a short term trip to Terra Nova. FOR THOSE WHO PRAY… 1. On Sunday August 31 st we’re doing something we’ve never done before. We’re asking you to pray about it. We’re hosting our first parent training course in partnership with the Stoplight Approach. We’ve prayerfully hand-picked a panel of 10 parents to join us in learning about safe parenting practices. Then, as a team we’re going to plan and invite all of our parents to join us in learning how to improve our relationships and effectiveness as parents. Please pray for each of us involved in this training—Cherilyn, Immaculate, Sarah, Mr. and Mrs. Buyondo, Abdul and Alisha, Noah, Becky, James, Liz, Betty, and Rosette. We’re asking for God to inspire one of our own parents to lead us all in the development of a program to educate, equip, and encourage the parents in our community. 2. It seems to be the year of uncharted territory for us. This term we welcomed our first student with special needs. In the last two weeks we have introduced our teachers and our students at the preschool campus to inclusion in the classroom. We have so much to learn about how to do this well. Needless to say this is NOT something typically found in local schools. It is new for everyone involved. Pray for Ms. Juliet, Ms. Harriett, our new student, and the whole class adjusting to this beautiful new addition to the life of our school. May we walk courageously toward the unknown when we feel God directing. 3. Last month we came within days of not being able to pay rent at the preschool campus. Yes, this has happened before. We began to wait and pray. Two days before the rent was due one of our partners sent an unexpected $1,000—the exact amount needed to cover our debt! God keeps reminding us of such incredible care and provision. We give thanks that we get to live like this—invited so very often to trust completely in the One who has called us. (Confession Alert: There’s a significant part of me that cannot believe I’m listing this as a note of thanks. It’s the tiny, hardly noticeable control freak who has taken up residence somewhere within. no. big. deal.)
