September26 Newsletter

Primary Pride

We celebrate the accomplishment of Upendo Mbise and Jenifa Kaaya. They successfully completed their Grade 7 national exams, formally completing their Primary Schooling. The two will officially begin Secondary School (High School) in January 2027. Until then, it is rest, relaxation, and helping their Sonshine siblings (Grades One through Six) for the remainder of the school year which runs through early December. Tanzania places great emphasis on academic achievement and advancement, and Sonshine strives to help each Sonshine scholar earn excellent results in their schooling and exams. Upendo and Jenifa, in the above photo wearing the national primary school uniform of Tanzania attended Malula Primary School with 12 other Sonshine siblings. It is the closest primary school to the Sonshine property - 4km away and a 7-minute drive if the dirt roads aren't too muddy or bumpy.

Poverty surrounds the primary school in Malula andf Sonshine has been helping the school operate as best as possible over the years. Recently, Sonshine started a food program to help needy children at the school so they can have more than one meal while they are at school. Many students come from homes that are unable to provide a daily meal. Can you imagine what it would be like to try to concentrate, learn and work under significant malnutrition? Thanks to supporters and donors, Sonshine has been able to provide additional meals at the school. The ministry has also been working on providing the required school uniform to needy students. Some supporters may also recall that Sonshine helped repair and provide student desks in the past. A big, future goal is to help build a better bathroom for the girls to improve hygiene and safety. The school currently has 600 children trying to share only 10 pit toilets. In Sonshine's heart is Proverbs 11:25 - "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." (NIV)

Congratulations Upendo and Jenifa! Thank you for being such great role models to all staff and students at Malula and among the entire Sonshine family. We are excited for your continued success and blessed future. Enjoy your time off.

Photo above of painters painting the ceiling in September from interior painting funds raised. (The pavilion interior ground appears in the photo. So far, $2125 in funds have been raised which helps cover the sand expense. Now, we only need to raise $532 for the cement + $368 for the labor = $900 to finish the base floor.)

The progress on the pavilion has been exciting with the interior work almost being completed. The children and staff are praying earnestly and praising enthusiastically for the great potential of the new pavilion. Neighbors and highway passerbys have taken note of the project. When Steve tells the curious the purpose of the pavilion as a place to meet, learn, grow, praise God, and receive the Lord's goodness, people often ask, "When it is ready, may we come?" The answer is "Yes. This is why it is being built."

Sonshine Ministries is more than a children's home. The vision has always been to create and operate a ministry center that can be a standard of excellence and a model for many focused on rescuing children and helping the disadvantaged grow in faith and capability to become Godly, world changing leaders in the communities they serve.

The new pavilion will allow for the rescuing of 16 more children because equipment in a current chapel room will be moved opening up critical space. The completed pavilion will be available for use by groups for meetings, events, trainings, workshops, and worship services. A short pathway from the mission team building (Shiloh house) to the pavilion will make it an ideal event space for visiting mission teams.

Exterior Next Steps

After the interior painting and base, flooring is completed, if fund raising allows work with move quickly to painting the exterior and preparing the grounds for formal, full-event usage of the building. Critical, remaining exterior actions and estimated costs include:

* Painting exterior ($3,350)

* Grounds improvement ($5,777)

* Exterior pavers ($11,695)

* Washroom building ($11,695)

The next steps are big steps. So, big funding support is needed ($32,500). If you are interested in discussing or have ideas, please contact me.

to connect with Sonshine while the children were enjoying a September break from school. Through the kind hospitality of Sonshine supporter Bonnie, the impromptu gathering turned into a fun, pancake party. Due to the good time had by all, a more formal event will be scheduled in the future with "proper", advanced notice.😊 Let us know if your group would like to arrange for a "pancake party". Seeing and talking with the Sonshine children and staff made for a very fun, Saturday morning (PST) / Saturday evening (EAT = East Aftrica Time).