Students Head for Home

As another school year draws to a close, students are preparing to head home for the holidays. We’re now in the throes of end of the year activities, and planning for next year. School will begin again on January 18th.

Four of our Kiribati students have completed their programs in Fiji and will be leaving us for good. They leave with mixed feelings, having been part of the family here for 8 to 10 years. But they are also excited about reuniting with their families. Because of the high costs of travel, most students were unable to travel home for school holidays over the years, and had to stay with our hostel staff here in Suva. Their families have made huge sacrifices to send them to GSD. Please join with us and their families to get them home.

We recently purchased their plane tickets. The best price we found was for December 24th---- just in time for Christmas with their families! However, there are no funds to cover this added expense. If anyone would like to make a contribution toward these students’ airfare, donations would be greatly appreciated. The total cost to get everyone home is about $2500 US dollars. Donations (tax deductible) can be mailed to CMML, PO Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ 07762-0013, from the USA, or GCIM, NZI House Main St, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand from Australia or New Zealand. Checks can be made out to either CMML or GCIM, with a notation that the donation is for the Fiji Deaf Ministry.

​Please keep these students in your prayers, for safe travels back to their homes, and for job opportunities in Kiribati. Arieta and Raken return, having completed their child care program and are now certified preschool and kindergarten teachers. Temoua returns with a high school education. She is the first deaf girl from Kiribati to finish high school, and would also be qualified to teach in Kiribati. Bira returns with many skills learned both in vocational school and as an intern at grafix design. He has been given equipment to set up his own business in Kiribati. Many thanks to all of our supporters for making this possible, and for changing the lives of the deaf in the South Pacific. They are blessed because of you! 

The students (top to bottom) below are Arieta, Raken with volunteer Libby, Bira, at his internship with grafix design owner Mr. Rao, and Temoua at Gospel High School prize giving day.