New School Year 2018

The new school year is off to a good start, with 7 new students, making a total of 52 in GSD, with another 3 in Gospel High School with sign language interpreters, and several others out in vocational programs, or recently placed in jobs.
Here are three of our new students: (left to right) Manasa, Aliti, and Iliesa (Aren’t they the cutest?) 

The word is spreading about a school that is just for deaf children. We are happy to report that we are now enrolling students at much younger ages, which gives them an advantage in receiving a better education. 

CFD (adult Christian Fellowship for the Deaf) is growing as well, under the leadership of Tuliana. Over 30 adults are coming to the hostel on Thursday evenings for Bible study, led by Mesake. Mesake was the first deaf boy found by Vivian Harland when she began the ministry in 1999. Mesake is now a respected leader, with his own fellowship group in the West. He works in Suva during the week, and helps out with the ministry here. 

And growth is not just in numbers. Donna Carkeet, an audiologist from Australia with EARS Inc., has been working with Hilton Special School. She has been testing hearing throughout Fiji and the South Pacific. She began testing our kids last year, and most students now have hearing aids. We’ve had hearing aids donated over the years, but there were no audiologists in Fiji to calibrate them, or to make ear molds in recent years. Donna is an answer to our prayers. Donna provides training for both staff and students in caring for the aids, and checks on the students each term. What a gift Donna has been to our program! 

Our volunteer program continues to grow as well. Hannah Whaley and her mother Kathy, both deaf, are volunteers from England, helping out in both school and hostels. Here, Hannah is helping Class 1 students with an art project, as part of their unit of study. Class 1 will study children and families around the world this year. More volunteers are scheduled to come throughout the year. 

Housing volunteers becomes a challenge, as we get more and more students. But the good news is that plans for the new hostel are now complete, thanks to trustee Russell Neate, who has worked tirelessly on this project. We hope to begin building in the near future. 

We have also received money this year from the Japanese Embassy, for a badly needed new school bus. The Embassy requires that we build a garage or bus port for protection, and we are looking into that now.
Due to some health issues, Jim and I were not able to return to Fiji for the start of the new school year in January, but Mrs. Mudaliar, our Head Teacher, graciously agreed to hold the fort until we get back. Jim just received the doctor’s okay to travel, so we’ll be leaving for Fiji this coming Wednesday, going by way of California, for a visit with Erin, Garth, and Lucy. Many thanks to all who have been praying for Jim’s health. And also many thanks for all of your support. The students are growing and learning daily, because of your generosity.
In His Love, Jim and Marilyn