NOVEMBER 2005
The
Queens and Kings School, Port Harcourt
Operating at the permanent site on Airport Road
 The school started this term on the 19SEP05 at the new permanent
site opposite the new road junction on Airport Road. The weekend
before we had painted the hall, comprising the two school rooms – Primary
four and Primary five, and so the school moved into these two
rooms joined together, which make up our hall, where we have
morning assembly. The hall is painted in a “rainbow” of
colours comprising, aquamarine, pink, mushroom, dove grey, cream,
light green, beige, sky blue. The first day we had 30 children,
before the end of the first week we had 47 children. Later we
had 55 children.
We sing two hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal first thing
each morning. We were short of hymnals but one day had a wonderful
surprise. The Post Office rang to say a parcel had arrived, so
we travelled into the city to pick it up and found it contained
six hymnals donated by 1st Church of Christ, Scientist, Woking,
near London, England. A big thank you for this gift, each hymnbook
being presented in a quality plastic book protective cover. After
the first hymn we have Bible Readings taken from the weeks lesson
followed by silent prayer and prayers relevant to the needs of
the day, then we have our second hymn.
Stella (the school Headmistress) has also commenced closing each
day with devotion, a Bible reading, hymn and prayers. This is
nice
as
it brings
everyone
together before they go home, and establishes in thought a sense
of dwelling in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the everlasting arms
of Love, being protected and guided home.
 All
the classrooms have now been painted. Each classroom uses one
of the “rainbow” colours and the children
are being taught in their individual classrooms.
The
five toilets, three wash hand basins and three showers have
been installed
and are currently being tiled. Two of the Kings
toilets have been finished and are in use by the children.
(Some of whom have never used a flush toilet before, and none
of them
have used a shower.) Now, by the end of October all the toilet
walls have been tiled and so have the floors and the passage.
Our small generator is now pumping water from our 130 foot
deep borehole into our big GeePee tank on the roof which is
piped
to our toilet block and two outside taps. It is wonderful to
have running water, (cold of course!)
We have a big Lister diesel 7.5 KVA generator in the Isle of
Man, which we will later use to supply electric light and power
to the school. We are hoping to ship the generator to Port
Harcourt late in 2005.
The road just outside the school is in good condition, but
further down the access road it needs more attention. The contractors
for the main Airport Rd are helping us but their scraper has
broken down and we have been waiting for over ten days for
the
final work to be done. Today 4th November we have heard from
Stella that they are working the road for us today and tomorrow,
what a joy it will be when the road is properly passable to
cars.
We have placed the order for The Queens and Kings School signboard,
which is being made of reflective material with the dimensions
of 8 feet by 8 feet and will be erected 15 feet above the Airport
road at the new road junction. We are expecting to have the
sign erected by the end of the week, which will be very good.
There
was a delay but the sign is now erected and looks very good.
The final corrections to the aluminium windows and doors are
due to be carried out today and they make the school look very
modern and efficient. It is marvellous for the school to have
such good quality premises after operating in one room with
no windows or flush toilet for some three years.
We still have to have new desks manufactured. The joiner keeps
promising to deliver a sample desk made to our latest design
but it still has not arrived. Subsequent to writing this we
went to the timber market and bought sufficient wood for 35
double
desks. We found a furniture joiner to do the work and he has
made 25 desks already! Praise the Lord. Today the wood has
been collected to finish the last 10 desks.
 I
did a lot of teaching at the school this six-week trip and I
am very pleased at the progress being made. We have had some
wonderful breakthroughs and the quality of teaching has improved.
Our own Maths Workbooks have been well received by the children
and teachers and our Nature Study classes based on the material
from the Wild Life Park in the IOM (Isle of Man) where a big
success. IT IS WELL
However we still have to demonstrate a school bus and this
is likely to cost some £4,000 ($7,000).
A very big thank you from Stella, the teachers, minder, Ros
and myself to all the individuals, churches and schools who
have
made it possible for The Queens and Kings School, Port Harcourt,
to make such a difference to the lives of all these lovely
children in Nigeria. God bless you all and fill your hearts
with happiness
at a job well done. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Love
Trevor Leach
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