School with Laura Billingham at Language school

The kids didn’t start school till mid-September after arriving in Iringa for Language School. They were taught by our friend Laura Billingham through mid-December when she had to return home. Then they were taught by me (Chris) until our training started in January. They had a 4 week break while we were at training and traveled to Musoma. Mid-February they started school in Musoma with other missionary kids.

Luke and Nikki's school in PA

Up until this year the kids went to a public school and had 20+ kids in their class. To say this year has been an adjustment is an understatement. For the most part they have done really well. The roughest time was probably when I was teaching them. J

Luke and Nikki's desks

They are in a class of three, Luke, Nikki and another gal that is also Nikki’s age. There is also a class of younger kids that meets in another room with the second teacher. The like art and the Africa study they are doing every afternoon.

Friday's class

They have school from 8:30-3:00 every day except Friday. On Friday school is over at 12:30. Friday is also a special day because other missionary kids in the area that are homeschooled join our kids for a Bible class, art class and Phys. Ed. They have Chai 10:30-11 every day and lunch from 1-2. Chai is a snack break and the adults have tea (chai).

The school building

One thing we were pleasantly surprised about is that they both are taking piano lessons. The one teacher knows piano and is borrowing a keyboard from another family. The last year we were in PA Nikki kept asking to play the piano. Both Luke and Nikki are doing well and liking it.

Miss Lyndy teaches Science, Social Studies and Preschool

Miss Shelley teaches Math, Reading, Spelling, Grammar and piano

Luke has been able to meet other boys his age on Fridays when the other kids join. We are looking forward to another boy returning from the states this summer and then in December we are excited about two families coming that have older kids as well. We are excited to see that the school is really going to grow over the next year.