God’s Got Us on the Move
Word from Wiese
28 June 2023
This summer, God’s got COS folks on the move!
Locally, God is sending COS drivers all throughout Fayette County to hundreds of under-resourced families, bearing home-made lunches. And kids from all over the community are traveling to COS this week for Lutheroad, led by five super dynamic Lutheran college kids.
Regionally, God sent some of our younger families to western Georgia to Lutheranch and our middle and high schoolers to North Carolina to Lutheridge.
Globally, God sent some of us to the Holy Land for eye and heart opening experiences. Although we can’t be in Haiti personally, we rejoice kids there also experience a high-energy and high-hope faith camp, undergirded by funds we raised in our Hoops for Haiti effort! And, in addition to all the global ministry we accomplish through our resourcing of ELCA and Lutheran World Federation ministries, we are so proud of our own Mark and Juliet Cutler who are serving Jesus in Tanzania this month. Here is their report:
Dear COS Friends,
We are always overwhelmed by the amazing work and impact that we are able to see when we visit Tanzania. Our primary purposes on this trip were to (1) capture stories of approximately 20 graduates from the Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) and, (2) observe Safe Schools training at Irkisongo Secondary School in Monduli. But, as is typical when traveling here, we have already experienced so much more.
Almost immediately, Mark had the opportunity to spend two days observing Safe Schools training delivered by Mwangaza Education for Partnership, a Tanzanian-based NGO that focuses on teachers’ education and issues of safety in both schools and the local communities. In that time, he watched the transformation of 20 teachers and five staff members from passive observers to active, engaged learners. They discussed and challenged each other on issues of school culture and alternatives for discipline. The last day of training, they broke into four groups who took on the challenge of simplifying and translating a five-page Child Protection Policy document into a one-page vision shaped and owned by the school community, representing an amazing shift of spirit and mindset. And it meets a great need where children often do not feel safe attending school.
Juliet has so far interviewed approximately 10 graduates from MGLSS. The stories have been incredibly inspirational from multiple teachers, a school administrator, an occupational therapist, a nurse, and several leaders of NGOs focused on issues that uplift women and their communities.
Thursday found us on a long, dusty drive to Engaruka English Medium School in one of the remote places in the Great Rift Valley. Historically, this area has had limited access to resources and education, but an MGLSS graduate saw an opportunity to return to her childhood community and open a school with priority given to those in extreme poverty and those with only a single parent. This co-educational school now has 233 students in primary grades, Standards 1 through 6, and each year another level is added. Over half of the students are girls and, in addition to the mandatory national curriculum, cultural games, stories around the evening fire, and weekend participation in herding and other traditional Maasai activities are included to help retain the culture while providing students with the tools to be successful in a changing world.
We are so excited to be able to share more detailed stories of what we have seen and experienced when we return to the US. Thank you to all of the COS community for your support and prayers.
Tutaonana baadaye, kama Mungo akipenda. [We will see you soon, as God is willing]
Blessings,
Mark and Juliet
