Setback to a comeback
As we were training and getting ready for this trip in the Spring of 2019, despite the shorter runway (read the story here) we managed to get almost everything in place: a trip planned, a team formed, and several local churches partnering with us, except for one thing... we had no idea where to host the basketball & art/crafts camp. If you remember me mentioning some logistical challenges, that was one of the main issue.
So, there's this school that seems to be the perfect facility and location. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, the school hasn't been operating for over 2 years and was in a dire condition.
A new school management recently took over the facility, and mobilized an army of volunteers (mostly local adults in the community — many of them, including the manager grew up in that school) renovated and cleaned things up hoping to re-open the school in Fall of 2019. It was not ready for a fully operated school just yet, but it's certainly a more than good enough for us to open a week of camp over there for the kids.
However, since we don't have government agency providing food for the kids like we usually do in other sites, we had to figure out a way to provide lunch for the kids. There were several possibilities we considered, although feasible none of those seems to be the best solution.
Things were in limbo for a little while. The school is our best option, but without a way to provide lunch for the kids, it was not going to work out.
Then, in the middle of this uncertainty.... the school's manager mentioned that a friend he grew up with is managing supplies for hotels, restaurants and groceries in the area and he can help us supplying the foods. Also, some adult members in the community with Hopi Nation food-handlers permit that can legally manage food serving decided to step up to volunteer and help during camp.
This, is where the power of prayer came through.
Shout out to all of you who's been praying with and for us throughout the whole journey. Thank you for you relentless prayers and partnering with us in this breakthrough mission. Countless (previously closed) doors were opened one after another!
Still one last problem: the school's kitchen isn't up to Fire Department's standard yet.
To meet the Fire Department requirements, the kitchen has to be equipped with kitchen-grade fire extinguishers (I think it's called “Class K”). Thanks to the generosity of our financial partners, their generous financial contribution allow us to purchase those Class K fire extinguishers as part of our trip expenses. We thought that it's our best option for the week-long camp.
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Little did we know, one of the main hurdles for the new management to re-open the school was that they didn't have a functioning kitchen — and kitchen-grade fire extinguishers is one of the primary reason.
It's not until we get there, the school's manager told us that since we got the kitchen-grade fire extinguishers, the school is considered to have a fully functioning kitchen, and they can pass the Fire Department inspection, and the fact that we did a “test run” for a week would certainly help the case. He wouldn't stop thanking us for being —in his own word, jokingly of course — the “guinea pig” and the school is now on-track to re-open this Fall semester.
Yeah, this is a story about Class K fire extinguisher in K-Town.... turning a setback to a comeback
‘K then!
Talking about feeding the kids... this reminds me the story of 2 fish and 5 loaves, although we didn't bake bread nor grilled any fish in that kitchen.... uh, I think tuna sandwich was on the menu in one of those days....
The 5 loaves and 2 fish story was also one of the story we share with the kids on one of the story time in camp before lunch time. A redemption story, a comeback story, turning a problem into a story of God's providence. We may not see the multiplication just yet during the short week we were there, but we certainly won't underestimate how many kids (and their parents/relatives) life that may be touched and changed forever because of the camp. And not just that, but also from the school that was going to re-open in the fall of 2019.
Shout out to all of our partners for joining us in this journey and taking part in this story of God's providence.
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This story is dedicated in celebrating all of our prayer and financial partners. Thanks for being there for the mission work, and for being with us throughout the entire journey. Whether praying, giving, or going, no role is too small to play, thanks again for fulfilling your part of this mission.
As we say it in Hopi Language:
Kwakha!
(it means “thank you” for male speakers — “Askwali” is thank you in Hopi Language if the speaker is female)
