THIRD TERM BEGINS ON 2ND SEPTEMBER 2008

Dear collaborators in mission,
We thank God for each day that we are able to live and always ask God that with our gift of life he may be able to give us strength and a loving heart to serve him.
His assurance to us in the book of psalms 23-your rod and staff they comfort me(paraphrased) even though i walk through the valley of death i fear not.It is this assurance that propels us to work even harder in God's vineyard.(Mercy Care Centre)

In one weeks time,the school will be resuming.We believe the children will come back rested enough to embark on the last term of the year.Teachers too will be looking forward to the new term that culminates into the end of the year.

Three meetings have been organised to try and put things in perspective.

1.STAFF MEETING.
All members of staff will be meeting on 30th september2008 to deliberate and pray for the following;
a)The Kenya certificate of primary education examination that will take place in November.We will be praying as a staff and also asking God to put it in the hearts of many to continue praying for the candidates.

b)The peace in the valley and Mercy Care Centre.At the begging of the year,we suffered a lot of psychological stress due to the post election skirmishes.We know that volatile situations are prone in the slums.But at the same time pray that the lord will give us the much needed peace.
On the other hand we pray that we shall live together as a united family.Many teachers were very much affected by what happened at the death of The late Rev.Gilbert.They will be praying for unity and deeper understanding that the work in Mercy care is to uplift the plight of needy children and not in any way to exalt an individual.

c)Collaboarators.We will be praying for our collaborators that the lord will continue to touch their hearts to pray for us and give us the much needed resources without which we cannot effectively carry out the the work of God.

d) We will be committing the children to the lord so that the lord may give them peace of Mind as they continue to work hard for their future.The lord has given them a hard task by being in Mercy Care Centre.They are looked as a role model in the larger mathare and a reflection of our work here in M CC.

e)We will pray for any future development of Mercy care Centre.Bearing in mind the Secondary school.More space is needed for them.

f) we will pray for the Principals trip to the USA from 5th of October 2008.That his journey may be an enlightenment to many that have helped and would want to help.

2.PARENTS TEACHERS MEETING 31ST AUGUST 2008
The parents and teachers meeting will aim at bringing a good working relationship between the two adults in order for them to effectively manage the child.

3.BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This will meet on 1st Sept.2008.
They will all look at the areas the Principal will zero in while in the states and the legal frame work of Mercy care Centre.

MATTRESSES FROM THE POLY.PART OF THE DANCE GROUP

The mattresses used were from the polytechnic.At the moment they are not being used.We all pray that the poly.vision shall not fade.
The happy students represents part of the students that participated in the Ameican folk dance.At the back of the minds are the two buses packed.When is Mercy care going to have one of that?their innocent minds would ask.Is any one listening to them?!

ACCOMODATION IN KISUMU

Our students had good lessons in life that it does not matter where you sleep.The lord always watches over you in all areas.

LIBRARY IS GAINING FAME

MANY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO VISIT THE LIBRARY TO BORROW BOOKS EVEN DURING THE HOLIDAYS.THE LIBRARY RECORDS ARE ALMOST FULL.THIS WILL BE TRANSFERED TO THE COMPUTER FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT

MAKING OF WINNERS

This is the place we stayed in Kisumu town during the Music festival.We are so glad that you facilitated this and pray that the lord shall continue to touch you to extend your kind heart to the needy children.

END OF SECOND TERM REPORT 2008

Over the years many people have asked me of how I run Mercy care centre. Some of them have even accused me of running the show alone,

I must say that I have a dedicated staff and a group of students that have a purpose in life. these groups of individuals are themselves enough ingredients to be able to offer the best management style that has ever been in the world.

In the many schools of thought, management is defined as the art of being able to run the activities of an organization using the ability of individuals. In this case the people concerned feel that they are being used to achieve the laid down objectives of the organization and that is it, As such they are left with a feeling that they are not part of the organization except when they are being able to carry out their mandate. This kind of management style has its own limits and indeed it has created two organizations in one. The result of which antagonism has been rife and many productive hours spent on solving differences and even staff turn over becomes higher and with it the low reputation of the organization.

The management has since taken on a different form that advocates for total quality management. In this form of management they advocate that people should feel they are part of the organization in order for them to dedicate their abilities towards that organization. Their ideas are the once that run that organization. This has changed the form of management so that irrespective of what rank one has, they feel that they are valued and in turn add value to the running of the organization.

I wish to submit management the Jesus way that was even advocated in the new Old Testament as Moses was with the people of Israel in the desert.

In this form of management we put God first in every thing that we do then set out the objectives of the day, week, month or year. We then do our duties to the best of our abilities. More often than not we take time to remind ourselves of the set objectives and pray for them in our morning worship and Wednesday afternoon meetings. We have seen the hand of the lord work with us in his vineyard.

This year we set five objectives or prayer items that we wanted to see the will of God in them.

a)We prayed that the lord may be able to give us strength so that we may be able to put behind what we had experienced during the skirmishes. The lord gave us wisdom to be able to put things in place so that we can go through this. We also received overwhelming support from our collaborators abroad financially and encouraging messages. We are now through this.

b) We also prayed that we may be able to receive many visitors from abroad so that they may be able to give us more hope and inspiration and through their presence. This has become real. We had two visitors from the United States in the early months of the year who really gave us a lot of encouragement and motivation.

In July we also received other visitors from the states and Australia who were very much inspirational to us. They gave us a lot of social support, financial and material support .They also took time to visit the classes and teach the children something that was very encouraging. Even when they left we continue to receive visitors from other countries who read our webpage and take interest to come and visit us.

Early next year 2009 we will receive visitors from Britain that will be coming to visit us.

We pray for more visitors as time progresses. We have a saying in Kiswahili “If the owner of the house receives visitors then healing comes”

c) We prayed that we may be able to make a mark at the National Music festival and asked the lord to at least give us one trouphy.The lord gave us two trophies and seven certificates out of the eleven items that we presented at the National level

d)We prayed that the lord may give us more space to carry out our activities and more so more toilet facilities. The lord has given us more space and we are still trusting for toilet facilities. We have word that toilet problem will be a thing of the past.

e) We prayed that the lord will help the class eight who are going to sit for the National examination to perform well in mock and the final examination. Their average score in mocks in Nairobi stands at an average of 58.6%.We are still trusting the lord for an average of 60% and above in the final examination.

We have learned to live by faith each day and trust that the lord will be able to always come through for us. What we need on our part is to lead a holy life that is acceptable to the lord for us to be able to benefit from the many resources that the lord has.

Pray with us always that the lord may find us worthy to work in his vineyard with him.

PATRICK LUMUMBA OTIMA

PRINCIPAL MERCY CARE CENTRE-AUGUST 2008

MERCY CARE CENTRE August 14, 2008

COMMENTATIONS

We thank all those that took time to come and visit us this year (2008) you touched many hearts with your love and presence.

We would like to thank all those that have put us in prayer and continue to do so. Prayer has been an inspiration to us and we love to have more prayers as we know that that is where our strength lies.

Our commendation also goes to those who have supported us in kind, prayer and those who have been led by the lord to support us financially. We pray that the spirit of the lord will continue to lead you.

That we commend those who have been able to continue to tell others about Mercy care centre and pray that many will come to hear about the centre

That we commend many that have put it in their heats to visit Mercy Care Centre in the near future. May the lord open the doors for you/

RECOMMENDATIONS

v That all the efforts needs to be put to ensure that we have scholarships for all the children and particularly the secondary school children.

v That we still need as many visitors as possible to come and visit us in Mercy Care centre because we still need healing.

v That efforts should be made to ensure that the Library is well equipped with the relevant text books.

v That we should do what is possible to ensure that the secondary school has a laboratory to carry out the much needed experiments.

v That as much as possible the teachers and pupils should have excursions at least once a year. And where possible the teachers should have visiting speakers from other Christian schools to come and exchange views on how to teach as a Christian teacher. This will be both locally and abroad

FUTURE PLANS

The Principal will be visiting the United states from 5^th-31^st 2008.

He will attend the African dinner an annual event and speak in many areas apart from visiting schools.

MERCY CARE CENTRE August 14, 2008

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The report will cover the period 5^th may – 29^th July 2009.In this report we will continue to show how the departments have continued to contribute towards the success of Mercy care centre.

Highlights will be in the three schools namely Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary. We believe strongly that unless there is proper foundation for the child in the word of God and knowledge then the future of the school is not guaranteed.Not to mention the positive impact that we want the community of Mathare slum to have. We work among these needy children to bring a positive change in their life that will empower them to reach out and change the life style in the community.

As the report will show, we not only inculcate the word of God and knowledge in them but also give them a chance to compare themselves with the rest of the children in the country through national Music competition, National examinations and even exposing them to international visitors where they are able to learn different cultures and appreciating one another. That way they become part of the global village devoid of the squalor. (Slum feeling) and in addition they learn to know that the world cares about their plight just as Christ cared about the plight of the needy.

We believe that this report is a testimony of the many wonders that the lord is doing here in Mercy care centre that is situated in the slum of mathare valley. And indeed an answer to the prayers you say on our behalf. His name is praised for ever.

SCOPE OF WORK

1. CHAPLAINS REPORT

Emphasis in our school is put on the need to trust the lord in all that we do. It is this trust in the lord that when the children go back to the community they pass it to the others and the valley of mathare slum acquires another name-“The Valley of Hope.”

1. The term has been very busy and the lord has remained faithful to us in all areas of life. We honor him more.
2. Children continue to pray and read the bible every Wednesday and Friday in the morning. The peer preaching has really uplifted the faith of many.
3. In the middle of the term we received visitors from America and Australia who fellowshipped with us on Wednesday. We thank the lord for the servants that he brought us and they taught us that Christianity is a family irrespective of distance.
4. We pronounce a word of blessings to our visitors who taught the children the word of God and Christian songs.

B.REPORT FROM THE PRE-SCHOOL TERM TWO 2008

The Pre-school hosts a total of 90 kids from baby class to nursery.This is a testimony that the parents are beginning to take the education of their children seriously. It is also a good opportunity for us to start inculcating the word of God in them

1. The majority of them are able to read and write simple words.

2. Most pupils are well dressed in full school uniform due to the effort of the tailoring school.

3. The section has a lot of discipline due to the teachers’ efforts.

4. The section participated in the Music festival and was able to reach the provincial level.

5. During the term the pre-school received visitors who blessed them with

A) Playing material

B) Class materials

C) Shoes and Clothes

E) Visit to the animal orphanage

F) Treatment that has left most of them healthy

f) Managed to see a Seven year old read stories to them fluently.

6. The porridge (breakfast) and lunch is served in good time

REQUESTS

1. They need their classes to be well partitioned. In addition they are requesting for the roof to be repaired.
2. The surrounding to the school needs to be improved in order to avoid infectious diseases.
3. They would like the graduation gowns for pre- school.
4. They need bookshelves in the classes

C.PRIMARY SECTION

This section covers class one to eight. In class eight the children normally sit for the national examination that qualifies them to join secondary schools. The class eight has five subjects and the total marks one can get are 500.

The following are the mean scored by various classes throughout the second term;

CLASS MID-TERM 2 2008 END-TERM 2008

STD 1 341.7 277.15 PASS

STD 11 306.8 313.4 PASS

STD 111 358.9 341.4 PASS

STD IV 320.3 311.8 PASS

STD V 300.02 306.4 PASS

STD VI 273.9 260.03 PASS

STD VII 220.5 215.9 FAIL

STD VIII 263.0 293.0 PASS

5. Each class is to score a mean of 250 marks to be considered to have passed.

In this case, most of the classes passed except class seven. They will need special remedial classes given that they will be sitting for their national examination next year.(2009)

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Most classes are aiming at getting a mean score of 300 marks or 60% which is recommended by the school. A few have surpassed this target.

2. We received text books that were brought by the Australians and Americans and set up a libray.This will go ahead and improve the reading skills.

3. The school is widely respected in the valley for instilling discipline in pupils without corporal punishment but through guidance and counseling and the word of God.

NEEDS

The school is in urgent need of an extra teacher and teaching facilities like set squres, compasses and protractors for the teachers use.

D.SECONDARY SECTION

INTRODUCTION

The term has been such a busy one for this department. With the preparations for the 2008 Kenya Music festival, the arrival of visitors from USA and Australia and the normal learning activities, coordination has been such a daunting task. But then the members of this department have been up to the task ,working in close liaison with other departments.

ACHIEVEMENTS

“STARS ALWAYS SHINE BUT WE ONLY RECOGNIZE THEM WHEN DARKNESS COMES.”

1. Mercy care centre secondary school made a maiden appearance at the Nairobi Music festival in style. They presented three items at the zonal and they all sailed through to the provincial competition. This was held at Moi Forces Academy a few kilometers from where we were.

At MFA our girls and had a chance to share the platform with seasoned schools that are well known in the city and country. Three items sailed through to the nationals and one item was given a direct entry to the Nationals. In Kisumu town where the nationals were held they put up a good fight and lost honorably.We congratulate them for this.

2. The term also saw the initiation of Drama and debating club. This club will razor-sharpen the listening and speaking abilities in English and Kiswahili as well us nurture and promote various inhibited talents.

3. As a department we also celebrate the installation of a library facility in the school. This will no doubt go an extra mile in initiating good and sustainable reading habits among the staff and students.

We also thank Betsy and Paddy who exposed the learners to one of the Shakespearean classics ‘ROMEO AND JULIET’, an abridged version and also donated DVD for the same text

CHALLENGES

‘WE ARE MADE STRONGER BY THE DIFFICULTIES WE FACE, NOT THOSE WE EVADE”

In the course of the term, the department has had to wrestle with the following setbacks;

a) In the middle of the term, we lost a host of handy text books when a thief broke into the staffroom. We thus face a shortage of books for teachers.

b) Some of the learners are yet to respect the schools property and the need to preserve the books.

c) The science department was really affected by lack of equipment to carry out experiments as required by the syllabus.

WAY FORWARD

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUMBLING BLOCKS AND STEPPING STONES IS THE WAY A MAN USES THEM.

1. We do hope to get more books soon to facilitate the teaching and learning process

2. We hope to facilitate the setting up of the laboratory facilities to bring learners up to speed with the syllabus.

3. We hope to get scholarships to the learners to improve on the cash flow of the sections

4. We hope to have more academic trips and symposiums in future to built the learners confidence.

E.FEEDING PROGRAMME

We have three cooks in the school and the students have been fed twice a day-breakfast (porridge at 10.00am)and lunch. A few students continue to be fed three meals.

.The following is a summary of the number of children fed per month and the amount of food and oil used.

SUMMARY OF THE FOOD TAKEN FOR THE WHOLE SECOND TERM 2008

MONTH	TOTAL NUMBER OF PUPILS FOR THE MONTH(KG)	RICE/ MAIZE KG	BEANS USED KG	OIL LITRES	PORRIDGE FLOUR KG
MAY	6184	928	248	30.8	248
JUNE	6900	1035	278	34.7	278
JULY	8288	1187	336	41.3	336
TOTAL	21,372	3150	862	106.8	862

F.INFIRMARY

The school is happy to announce that we now have a full pledged Infirmary at the school and students receive various medicines.

The main sets back are the cupboards

G.MUSIC DEPARTMENT

The department managed to get two trophies at the national level and seven certificates out of the eleven items they presented.

The accommodation was very minimal in the entire two weeks. But we are grateful to the lord for sustaining us.

FUTURE PLANS

1. The music department would appreciate to have tents in future. This will solve accommodation problem.

2. The Music department would appreciate if we could have a school bus to solve the problem of transport that we keep on experiencing.

H.SPORTS DEPARTMENT (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

Pupils continue to enjoy the sports on Wednesday for primary and Friday for Secondary.

-The motivation has been very high.

-Each of the students received a new games kit.

-The Primary school presented some athletics for Zonal and provincial competition.

The Mercy Care Sports Day was held at Stima Club. The occasion was graced by the visitors from Australia and the United States.

SPORTS AND GAMES EQUIPMENT RECEIVED THIS TERM

1. Tennis net 1

2. Tennis rackets 10

3. Tennis balls 100

4. Volleyball 3

5. Soccer 5

6. Rugby balls 3

7. Pump 1

8. Whistles 10

9. Skipping ropes 2

ITEMS IN THE STORE BEFORE RECEIVING OTHERS

1. Bsketballs 2

2. football 1

3. Volleyball net 1

4. Soccer uniforms 10 pairs

5. Skipping ropes 2

REQUIREMENTS

1. Request for playing shorts for pupils

2. Request for teachers truck suits

3. Aditional Tennis rackets, volleyball and soccer ball

5. Request for proper playing fields

ACHIEVEMENTS

We have now introduced tennis in school and are learning how to play it.

I GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

The school was visited by people from AfriAfya an organization that aims to reach out at the girl child and educate them about their bodies. They left booklets and a CD which the girls viewed.

-Counseling continued among the peer groups and some continued to receive special counseling.

-The Americans and Australians bought enough pads for the girls.

- 10 kids received scholarships from Hope world wide and also beddings.

J SCOUTING

The scouts continue instill character building in secondary and Primary

The Primary scouts host the flag on Monday while the secondary host the flag on Friday

The main challenge is that all of them do not have proper scouts uniform.

K. SANITARY DEPARTMENT

The department has continued to ensure that the school is very clean

The main set back is lack of Gumboots to enable them clean effectively

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This is the second trophy that was earned at the national level.the piece that brought us this trophy is on "Conservation of water"The festival found this team so relevant that we received commendation for it.

SECONDARY SCHOOL MAIDEN DAY ON NATIONAL STAGE

The secondary school made their maiden appearance on the national stage today.They had three items to perform for the day and the result was as follows;

Kipsigis folk song class 373B marks 81 number 12 out of 12

Negro spiritual Down by the river Side class 305B marks 84 number 11 out of 16

Sacred own choice-King Of kings class 302 87 marks 10 out of 16

We thank the lord for giving them chance to participate and also learn that it costs a lot of patience and practice to win.This result will be the motivation factor for them to work even harder.

MORE ABOUT THE TROPHIES

SATURDAY 9TH AUGUST 2008

It is a resting day for the primary section after one grueling week.We have woken up in the morning to pray together and have to take lemon water every morning.The enthusiasm has been very high.It is no wonder that through the grace of the lord,we were very successful.
The Primary school has now made a mark in the nation by winning two trophies and now they have handed over the batton to the secondary school.A great friend put it to me that no matter the result,we will still be with them.

Kisumu is a town that was at the middle of destruction,many building testifies to what had happened in this part of the town.Destruction!!Yet today we see signs of normacy.But there is still bitterness among the people.
Another very odd things in kisumu is that there is no fresh drinking water.Yet we have the presence of the fresh water Lake in the town.This is due to the treaty that was signed long time ago forbidding diversion of water from the lake for any other purpose.Ventors have a field day as they supply the water at a very high price to Nairobians that we are.I realised that the cost of water is four times what we use in a day in the slums.

I am also encouraged by the fact that so far no child has been able to be sick.In town there are two scarring diseases-malaria and Cholera.

The Pastor of the church where we reside has asked us to sing six of the songs that we presented in the National stage.So our children will be having another opportunity to sing before another audience.Praise be to God.

The secondary school will be on stage early in the morning on Sunday.They will present two items.These children are fun to be with.

The primary wound up their time in the Kenya music festival on a very high note.They had three items today and the result read as follows;

1.Own composition -Conservation of Trees -95 marks -First Position

2.Duet- 87 marks 2nd position

3.Small choir 86 marks 4th position

Once again we are all great full to the lord for this result.The prayers that you said have been answered .We remain humbled by this.The school in the valley is winning all because out trust come from the lord.

SECOND DAY THURSDAY 6TH 2008

On this day we presented four items and the result are as follors;

1.Trio- 86 marks third position

2.Solo-82 marks fourth position

3.American folk dance- 84 marks( could not be ranked as we had no write up but was described as the best dance.

4.virginity is power-97 marks-First position.(Won a trouphy)

Once again we are humbled by what God is doing to all of us.Thank you for your prayers.

The news from the late is that the temperature is very high during the day and gets more warmer during the night.
Children continue to be delighted in what they are doing.
Today we had three items
1.Girls set piece- 87 marks- second position

2.Negro spiritual - 87 marks- Second position(Mary had a Child)

3. sacred song---- 84 marks-Fourth position(King Of kings)

Tomorrow we have four pieces-solo song,trio,American folk dance,own composition-virginity is power.Continue praying for better result.

IT WAS A THIRTEEN HOUR JOURNEY

The Mercy Care centre Choir is finally in the Lake town-Kisumu.This is a town famed as the nerve town to Preferential trade area.Thus its potential is being realised as things begin to look better for East Africa.In addition it is one of the town on the second largest fresh water lake in the world.This in essence means that we will be eating lots and lots of fish for the duration we are here.Mainly the Tilapia species(McDonald should have been here)
However it MUST be born in mind that the town has a lot of mosquitoes which will make us easy prey for malaria.
At this point will must thank Dr.Wynne and his team for leaving a lot of Malaria tablets.They will play an important role.

We started off at 11.00 am in school and were expecting to have a slow but sure journey to the lake.Our vehicles(two) between them they had five punctures and three mechanical problems.This delayed us significantly.What is encouraging is that the lord granted us traveling Mercies and we are here to sing.
We must comment the Kitchen staff who had traveled earlier for the warm food we found and a cup of tea.It gave us hope.
We are all residing in a church next to the music venue.The accommodation is very minimal.We use mattress and a blanket or sheet.No special preferences for any body even the principal.

The two buses were very expensive to hire and we will have to adjust a lot of things for the budget to work.
We all send our love to you all an promise to do our best.
(Reporting from Kisumu)

KISUMU HERE WE COME

DISPLAY OF ART WORK

FRENCH JOURNALIST IN CLASS AND INTERVIEWING THE CHOIR MASTER.


The school went on recess on Wednesday and Thursday 30 and 31 respectively.Wednesday was preserved for secondary school and Thursday was preserved for primary school.This was to give the Principal ample time to address both assemblies and also get to meet the parents from both schools.Of late they seem very much to want to sake the Principal's hand and inquire about one or two things and if you keenly listen you will realise that it is the same thing they are talking of -wanting help from the school.
I must say that both assemblies were well organised and attended to. As the students walked away,you could see a sense of fulfillment in them.
The closing time for both the schools was not consistent with the time the government had set.We did this to have enough time to prepare to go to Kisumu for the National Music festival.
At the same time we received a French journalist who came to visit and found the school very interesting.He is a Free lance journalist and promised to try and run an article in the paper about Mercy Care centre.
Some boys had the opportunity of showing their Art work based on what they had learned in their science lessons.This was very good show bearing in mind that they were reinforcing what they had learned in class.
We all look forward to the Music festival and another fresh term.

My heart melts when i see the children embrace the different cultural background.The American folk dance currently being practiced in MCC is one such great example of the world being a global village.One will stop to ask ,what more would one need if a person can travel many miles to come to MCC and teach about their culture.That according to me is the height of saying that there should be universality in life irrespective of boundary,culture or station in life.
This was demonstrated very well with a high school student Axi,she let her culture be understood for her to understand others.Is this not what St.Paul says from known to unknown?
Boys and girls are dancing to the American folk dance as if it was their own.The UN should be able to find much reasoning in this act as they strive to bring human beings together.