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As an extension of Nairobi Great Commission School, Uzima offers Advanced and Basic Certificates in Bible and Mission. Advanced classes are for leaders who have completed secondary school and choose to do the training. The basic level is for leaders who were not able to finish their secondary education but later in life develop an interest in seriously pursuing Bible courses. These classes are normally held in Malindi at Uzima during the school holidays--April, August and December--in two-week intensive courses. In order to receive the certificate, the student must complete twenty lessons, including the core courses of Old and New Testament Surveys, the Life and Teachings of Christ, Hermeneutics, the book of Acts, and Homiletics.

Three area leaders, Harrison Gona Kigunda, Francis Bajila Baris and Eric Ruwa Hare, recently finished their course work. They travelled to Nairobi Great Commission School for their graduation ceremony in November 2018. In January, one of these men, Eric, together with another, Kheri Mramba Mweni, enrolled onsite at Nairobi Great Commission School for a broader and deeper two-year full-time diploma course in Bible and Mission. The knowledge received by all of these trainings allows men and women to better lead in area churches and the opportunity to share what they learn with Christians in their home areas.

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Moses Otieni Rawago teaches a block course for Uzima's NGCS extension school.

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Jim Beck and Matthias Charo lead a class in August at Uzima.

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Christine Hadija, who completed the course of study in Bible and Mission, teaches some of the women at Uzima. Learning is thus passed on to the broader community.

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Uzima Mission School Opens for 2019

Uzima Mission School has made some changes in recent days. The name of the school has been changed from Malindi Church of Christ Junior School as it is now on its way to being a full primary school when class eight is added next year. Along with this change come new school colors as indicated by the new uniforms shown in the photos. Optimism is in the air as the school includes the seventh grade for the first time. A few months ago, 2 permanent classrooms were added to the string of temporary classrooms they had been adding to each year. As a further benefit to Uzima Mission School, Uzima Christian Training Centre's computer trade school was recently supplied with new computers and will provide classes to students from the primary school, who are eagerly anticipating this opportunity.

In November, the 2018 school year closed with 221 students finishing up their classes and going home for the break. January saw a significant increase in the student body with 298 students enrolling for classes from day-care (3-year olds) through grade 7. The pre-primary 1 class through grade three are full and cannot accomodate more students for lack of space. These nearly 300 students are led by 17 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff.

Plans are in hand for permanent classrooms to replace the temporary ones in use today. They wait patiently for funding to become available. They seek to raise $80,000 for this building project. $8,000 has already been given by generous friends of the school. This school serves the community and its families in positive ways, directing the steps of children into opportunities for growth and learning in an environment of God's love.

Students at Uzima in the new purple uniforms adopted by the school this year.

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Uzima students go through the voting process as they choose a student president for 2019.

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Teachers observe as students mark their ballots.

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Uzima Sends Three to the U.S.

Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas, was the church that organized to send missionaries in 1985 to begin the work that has now become Uzima and the other Hamwenga ministries. Broadway remains involved with Uzima's work today. In September of 2018, they invited three representatives of Uzima to visit them in Lubbock. Titus Ziro, Duncan Ziro and Daniel Chengo were chosen by Uzima to represent them on this trip. Daniel had been to the U.S. on two previous occasions, but this was the first overseas travel for Duncan and Titus.

The three Kenyans found themselves warmly welcomed. They were hosted by Tim and Rebecca Talley, who had been sent to Malindi by Broadway in 1985 and spent 30 years in East Africa. While in Lubbock, the three met with the mission committee, various individuals, and the congregation as a whole to share details of the work of Uzima. They also made visits to Lubbock Christian University and to Monterey Church of Christ, across town, to meet with sponsors of Mahenzo Mission. Daniel also made a brief trip to Kentucky to visit with the Rolling Hills Church of Christ.

The travelers returned to Uzima to report on their trip. They were tired but encouraged by the love they received in Texas. They brought warm greetings from the their Texas friends and news that Broadway had offered to replace sewing machines and computers for the trade schools of Uzima Christian Training Centre. Many will benefit from these needed updates. Uzima is grateful and better prepared to train willing students in trades.

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The visitors were hosted by Tim and Rebecca Talley. Here they pose with Tim after breakfast as they prepare for the day.

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Duncan and Titus are welcomed to Lubbock Christian University by its president, Tim Perrin.

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Charles Lindsey introduces Duncan, Titus and Daniel to a group at Monterey Church of Christ as they prepare to share information on their works at Uzima and Mahenzo.

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At Legacy Elementary, principal Cheryl Booher introduces the three Kenyans she met in Malindi on education trips as they discuss education in the 21st century with a group of Texas teachers.

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Daniel, Duncan and Titus visit Lubbock's Ranching Heritage Center for a glimpse of West Texas' history.

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Uzima appreciates new machines used in their dressmaking and tailoring classes.

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A Visit to Christian Relief Fund Offices in Amarillo, Texas

Christian Relief Fund's Vice-President Bobby Moore visited Mahenzo Mission Educational Centre (MMEC) this summer and suggested that it become a designated CRF school. In order to discuss that possibility and understand more of what that would involve, Jim and Phyllis Beck took a trip from Lubbock to Amarillo, Texas, in December to present Wavizi's and Mahenzo's questions. They met with Milton Jones, the President/CEO of CRF as well as Emily Bell, who is in charge of Child Placement for Kenya.

The main detail that Milton and Emily explained was concerning secondary students. CRF will offer any of Wavizi's students who successfully complete the KCPE (Kenya Ceritificate of Primary Education) Examination the opportunity to take CRF sponsorship to MMEC. Wavizi's students are spread out among various schools in the Malindi subcounty area. Combining more Wavizi secondary students at one location will allow them to work with these students more closely. This arrangement shows CRF's shared values with MMEC as well as confidence in their competence in education.

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In front of CRF's model structure representing the type of home many of their sponsored students live in across the globe is Kenya's sponsorship child-placement administrator Emily Bell.

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Information for potential CRF sponsors who would like to sponsor a student at MMEC:

Emily works with students all over Kenya. She coordinates sponsorships through local Kenyan directors. She has come up with a system on CRF's website, https://christianrelieffund.org/location/africa, to help a potential sponsor recognize students from Malindi and even, specifically, MMEC (Mahenzo Mission Educational Centre). Pictures and a few details for each child are available on this site.

Note these letters at the beginning of their CRF identification number ("K" represents Kenya.):

KMZ indicates a primary student who is at Mahenzo.

‍ KMZS indicates a secondary student at Mahenzo.

KMD currently indicates a child in Malindi in any other school.

All of the new students appearing with these letters in their identification number are to be under the administration of Wavizi in Malindi once a sponsor is in place.

Sponsoring students' education is said to be one of the most effective ways to contribute to their potential success in overcoming poverty. Its effects reach beyond the individuals to their families and into their communities in the present and into future generations.

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Spiritually-Focused Workshops Held during Visits

With a visit from Monterey Church of Christ's Senior Minister, an elder and their wives, different groups gathered to learn and share time in Bible study and discussions. Barry and Debbie Stephens and Gary and Lori House came to share love and wisdom as they, in turn, received love and wisdom from the various groups that came together for spiritual leadership trainings.

The first was a group of church leaders and preachers who met at Mahenzo Mission Educational Centre's (MMEC's) conference centre for two days of study and mutual encouragement. The focus of this meeting was on the kind of leadership that Jesus demonstrated and how it contrasts to the kind of leadership more commonly recognized in our world today. Preachers and others who serve in different ways in churches from throughout Malindi's region and beyond attended and shared ideas and experiences.

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Small groups of leaders spend time together in applying principles and scriptures.

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Because of the number of young leaders associated with Uzima and Mahenzo's work, another day was set aside to meet specifically with this group. A few other interested individuals joined them. Most had also attended the meeting at MMEC.

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Barry leads discussions with young leaders.

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Over the last six years, a group of couples has been meeting each year to discuss godly marriages so this group came together again, hosted by the American visitors. This year's discussions focused on mutual love and respect and communication.

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Those who met together for the day at the marriage conference at Sea View Lodge.

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Daniel Chengo closes up the marriage conference.

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