Worship and community amidst a pandemic!

Mountain Mission School (MMS) in Grundy, VA is where more than thirty of our children from Tanzania are receiving an excellent education in a loving, family atmosphere.

The first case of coronavirus was diagnosed at MMS in early April. MMS had to isolate students and cut off all guests. Out of this atmosphere, there was great rejoicing when the entire school tested negative at the end of May – after the students had been quarantined on campus for many weeks!

With the good news of the clearance, it was immediately obvious the children needed a change of scenery after the lengthy lock-down. Generously, a City of Hope board member was able to donate the use of his lake house at Claytor Lake (near Radford, VA) for the students to use in late June. 

The students and school staff had a wonderful time canoeing, kayaking, and swimming in the lake. Other activities included volleyball, card games and, of course, cooking! Regina Chacha, our President, explains: “We kept an African theme in our cooking and the chapati meal was the most special! Every evening we had a precious time singing and sharing in devotions – sometimes around the campfire – with s’mores following. The staff and students prayed and shared, encouraging one another that God is able to see us through whatever trials come our way – even when we don’t understand, we trust that God is enough.”

Enjoying time together around the fire!

Some of our boys with Regina Chacha

In the words of one of our students at the lake, the week “was unexplainable,…games, fun walks, fire and s’mores, made memories, lots of other fun things, but most importantly worship and prayer to the God who made it all possible. It was so good to worship in Swahili together. Even through a pandemic, God has been keeping us safe and leading us. Let’s keep trusting Him even when we don’t understand because He knows what’s best for all of us and He is never late.”

Please pray for our MMS students as they prepare for the start of a new academic year in September, that they would remain focused on their studies and reach their full potential. Pray also for our first two graduates, John and Joyce, that they would settle into their new college programs and flourish. Above all, pray that each of these young people would look to Jesus and become all that He intends for them!