Graduation

students marching in for graduation ceremony

One of the biggest events on the school schedule is the annual graduation ceremony for the Form IV students. Many of these students will return to their villages to pick up where they left off, but with an education that should equip them to better both themselves and their villages. They will have greater skills for work opportunities and a grasp of the importance of health and well-being. Others will continue their education in Advanced Secondary School, trade schools, colleges and universities. Our greatest hope is that they will be faithful workers in their churches and glorify God in whatever they do.

prepping the grounds

The past week has been a blur. Teacher meetings have focused on the agenda for the ceremony, food arrangements, environment preparations and the printing of certificates and awards. Students have been hauling in fire wood for the planned dinner that will feed the student body, the graduates and their families, the school staff and dignitaries. In the evenings, students have been gathering in groups around the campus to practice songs, dances and speeches.

cleaning the campus

collecting firewood

This graduation class is a bit special to us, personally, as this was the first Pre-Form One class we encountered when we came in 2009. We’ve seen these students grow physically, scholastically and spiritually. From little, insecure boys and girls, they’ve grown into the mature leaders of the student body . . . bigger than life to the current little boys and girls we have in Pre-Form today.

headmaster speech

guest speaker speech

karate demonstration

student speech

student skit

serving cake

serving cake

The big day went very smoothly. Speakers weren’t too windy, and there was a good variety of music, dance, skits, and displays of talent. There was also the traditional serving of the cake by the graduates to their parents or someone special, showing them honor and respect.

prepping cook pots

cooking

serving beans

serving rice

Following the ceremony, graduates, their families and school staff enjoyed a meal of goat, rice, beans and greens. (Students had spent most of the night tending fires under huge cooking pots of beans and goat meat.) At another location, students at large were served also. After the meal, the students enjoyed a dance. Joanne was happy to chaperone.

Returning to our home exhausted, we should have guessed that the day was not over. Many of the graduates drifted down to the teacher houses for final farewells and advice for the future. We tell them, “Glorify God in all you do. Save a little of all you earn. Look for the opportunities God puts before you. Lean on Jesus.”

Please join us in praying for the futures of these graduates. It will be April before they will hear the results of their national exams. Their performance will determine their ability, or inability, to continue with higher education.

In His grace and service,

Gary and Joanne Grenell