from George Couperus

NEW LIFE SCHOOL:

Upon returning home from India I wander through our house several times. I really enjoy the space, quietness and comfort, and want to soak it up all at once. Our house is small, it is the minimum square footage Trenton bylaws stipulate. But coming back from the 2/3 world it can seem obscenely excessive for just two people. In the 2/3 world the majority of people are packed in small two or three room houses or apartments.

Recently I came to know about "The New Life School" in the state of Orissa. Orissa was in the news last August, when extremists murdered many Christians and burned their homes. New Life staff and students had to flee into the woods and live like wild animals for several weeks. Their crime being that they are Christians. They have now returned, but it would not surprise me if they are still nervous. If their homes are small by our standards, schools are functional but much smaller. Classrooms half the size of ours here accomodate twice the number of children there.

Fortunately the needs of the people are much smaller too. A teacher makes the equivalent of $62.50 per month. The principal makes $125.00.
Total cost to run a school with 8 teachers, 2 teacher assistants and the principal is $1050.00 per month. This includes rent, utilities, phone and maintenance.

The school is presently in a rental facility but New Life is in the process of building a new school. It is up to the roof. The cost of the roof is estimated at $11000.00.
New Life School is trusting God to provide for their needs.
George Couperus.