History and Future Vision
This 104-student Kenya Accredited residential Christian school serves impoverished teens. Some have lost one or both parents due to AIDS or desertion, and others through disease. Some have both parents, but live in abject poverty. Almost 95% of these undergraduate high school students are sponsored by members of many denominations that attribute to a miraculous outpouring of love and the Holy Spirit. GOD IS AT WORK!
The Lord has drawn many into this wonderful project. He has put a personal concern on our hearts for the physical and spiritual nurturing of these Christ believing young people. Marilyn Uhl, retired from teaching in West Virginia and went to Kenya (unsponsored by any church) in 2009 to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead and to begin this mission project. Seven brick buildings being used as classrooms, a brick assembly hall, a newly wired computer lab, and a sparkling new kitchen now make up our campus. Some of these improvements, along with a new tile floor in the kitchen, was upgraded by one of the 3 mission teams this year. Eight donated cottage dormitories are completed and occupied. A new deep well, 10,000 liter holding tank, faucets throughout the campus, and a beautiful tiled hand washing station has improved our sanitation considerably. Our “AGAPE” brick science building is in use for lectures and labs daily. The new “Healing Hut” (small dispensary hospital) is complete and is staffed by a registered nurse two hours every morning. Electricity has been installed in the office, in the computer lab, the dining hall, science building, and the Healing hut. The school has expanded to almost eleven acres, including a soccer field, a volleyball court, and a permanent cow pasture and barn. A new chicken coup, housing 60 laying hens is providing students with a boiled egg 2 days per week. We praise the Lord for those who have donated! God is at Work!
The students tend their own garden, milk cows, chickens, and banana grove while competing inter-scholastically in girls and boys volleyball, soccer, and track. A track team has been formed because the Lord has sent us some outstanding runners. 100% of the students obtain a B- grade on their country’s achievement tests and report cards in order to remain enrolled. Five seniors received government scholarships this past year to universities. The students and faculty members feel God’s benevolent hand on each of them. The students pray and worship with an intensity and dedication that inspires each of the sponsors to increase their own prayer life and their dedication to follow Jesus Christ’s example to feed the hungry and clothe the naked!
The faculty at the high school has expanded from its original 2 to 14 college educated teachers. Nine local people are employed as full-time service staff, cutting wood, cooking, etc. The wages of these permanent employees has definitely affected the economy in the local area. The number of construction workers who have been hired, and the supplies that have been purchased and used, have helped hundreds of families live at a higher standard. The school always uses local markets and suppliers for food, maintenance, construction, and supplies. We praise God for this opportunity.
Mission teams come every year, they use their gifts and talents to do many things at the school. Team members come from all over the United States. One even from Nigeria. Kitchens have been remodeled, classrooms built and bridges built. Medical teams have taught Red Cross First Aid to all the sophomore students as well as administered vaccinations and medical tests. There have been arts and crafts classes, crocheting and cooking classes as well as Evangelism and Agriculture. We are so thankful for all the VIM participants. You have made a huge difference at Living Hope!!!
We now have a new easy to use website: livinghopehighschool.org. Additional information can be found there plus our monthly newsletters. We are being blessed and drawn closer to our Lord as God uses us to bless others. If your church would like to join in this journey of sponsoring a student, or have a Living Hope speaker come to your church and give you further updates on new happenings call, Sandy Binotto, 304-839-1505. Join us in praying that the Spirit continues to lead us and provide for us at Living Hope High School. We keep Jesus FIRST!
