Dear friends

SPRING 2003

Dear friends,
We are looking forward to the coming of spring and to warmer weather. God has given us a beautiful world, if only we could learn to appreciate it and not seek to destroy it. The marvelous sight of hills, valleys, land and seas, the colourful spring flowers and trees, the incredible wealth of mines and animals are all God's gift to man. Sadly we take them so much for granted. Around the school premises, the gorgeous spring flowers have already blossomed and the smell is overwhelming.

Ever since last December, we have been living in tremendous fear and anxiety with the prospect of a war against Iraq and its outcome on our people. Our sufferings in the recent months have increased and should a war actually break out, the outcome would be quite severe. May the Lord have mercy on us all and especially on the innocent people and children of Iraq.

Al-Shurooq School
Despite the gloomy atmosphere, our children have not been highly affected. Classes continue as usual and everyone is well and happy. We have had quite a harsh winter, with lots of rain and cold. We had snow in February and for two days most of the staff were unable to come to work. We managed to keep the children warm, happy, and certainly most occupied. As soon as the sun came out, they rushed outdoors to play in the snow and made a lovely snowman.

Our German music teacher Johannes, whom the children loved very much, had to be evacuated as a precautionary measure due to the upcoming war. Therefore, we have replaced him with a new local music teacher called Reem Handal. She starts next Monday and we shall see how things will turn up. However, we showed her the keyboard we have, but decided she could not use it and we shall have to get a bigger one instead. What I am really looking for and what I would like to have for use in the school, is a piano. We have some talented children and I would very much like them to start piano lessons.

The children enjoying the snow

God answers prayers
It is absolutely amazing how the Lord answers our every prayer. The money for a gas cooker and oven is now available. We only need to make the right choice. Many thanks to the friends who made it possible.

The fact that, for the last three and a half years, we have been paying a colossal rent has always bothered me. Therefore this year, we decided to focus on fund raising for the purchase of a plot of land. My vision is that once we have the land, it will be easier to find donors who will help us construct a school building for blind children in Bethlehem. I sought the Lord's guidance on this. Then quite unexpectedly, out of nowhere and in a miraculous way, we received a substantial sum of money that will pay for almost half the cost of the land. Thank God for this, He does move in mysterious ways.
Once the building is constructed, we will name our Kindergarten section in the benefactor's name.

Outreach
Unfortunately, there is not much change in our outreach programme, which remains limited due to the increasing travel restrictions. A good example of the importance of this programme is one of our former pupil Rihab Mubarak. She came to school when she was five and was integrated at the age of nine. She got married during her last year of high school and now has a beautiful baby girl Nisreen. Rihab will be nineteen in May and says that when conditions improve and as soon as she is well adjusted to her new mode of life, she plans to go to university for further studies. She is contemplating doing physiotherapy.

Rihab and little Nisreen,
when they visited us over Christmas

Dunia, Muhannad and Ezedeen at our library, doing some reading

Library and Braille Book Production Unit
This section of our project has to continue incessantly despite the many hindrances. For instance, our main Braille printer at some point failed to produce perfect dots. So we were obliged to order a set of new pins from Germany. The pins arrived but it took some time for the expert to come and fix it. However, during the last three months 21 new titles have been produced, 41 copies made and 151 books have been given out on loan.

Before closing, I need to mention that I have been privileged and honoured to be invited to attend the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, held in Edinburgh between the 17th and the 24th of May. After which I am planning to go to England for ten days. If I could be of any use to any of you, during or after the assembly, please let me know, as I shall be most willing to oblige.

Thank you friends for all your love, prayers and generous support.

May God bless you all and keep you safe.