We visited Stokes Hall Basic School (kindergarten) shortly after Hurricane Dean. Both the basic school and the church were in serious trouble. They are concrete block structures built without reinforcing steel. They are on swampy ground in an active hurricane and earthquake area, Over the years both structures have started to sink with the blocks cracking, walls and floors leaning and experiencing major structural problems. The basic school prior to Hurricane Dean functioned in two 10 ft. x 10 ft. rooms. There were 30 children in the school. Hurricane Dean destroyed the roof and windows of one of the rooms (photo 3) and only a plastic sheet kept the rain out of the other. The school had to reduce enrollment to 20 children all in a single 10 x 10 room (photos 4 and 5). We saw great danger in the school with a concrete wall leaning at an approximately 15 degree angle toward the children. We knew that it was only a matter of time before the wall would fall.
We pledged to help them build a new school if they would find the land and build the foundation. Before we started our work, we were invited to be special honored guests at the Basic School Graduation (photo 1). There was great community support as we started the project. Many men, women, and children from the community helped us with the work (photos 6 and 7). As a matter of fact, many of the men literally took over the project and were very eager to work. While we were working there, a few hundred feet away, some of our young ladies were conducting an impromptu Vacation Bible School (photo 2).
Stokes Hall is a wonderful and needy community. Unlike many areas, the community was greatly supportive of our efforts. God is there also. While we were working one day, the church's ladies group was fasting, singing and praying. We had devotions with the men at the work site - some who were smoking marijuana, some cursing, etc. We talked about the importance of being a good example and how others imitate us. We believe our discussions/devotion had an impact and the men had a new respect for us as Christians.
The following weekend, we were invited to a dedication of the building, yet it was not complete. There was a great appreciation from the community and we were seeing non-Christian men beginning to be touched.
We feel God is telling us that we need to go back to that community and minister to those men and work with that church. The church is in dire need of help. Their church building has so many structural problems that repair is out of the question. We pray that donations will allow us to partner with that church and the community to build them a new building. We hope also to add a computer lab to the building for the benefit of the community.
