| LitNet! December 2011 News in the News Blog |
| posted by Daily Interlake Kalispell, MT on 2012-01-02 20:54:39 |
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Read a recent article about LitNet! in our local newspaper.
Here's the link:
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_7279c802-3365-11e1-a4cc-001871e3ce6c.html |
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| LitNet! 2011 Annual Report |
| posted by David and Sharyn Curtis on 2011-12-18 16:37:47 |
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2011 REPORT
In Uganda:
• By the end of October, 2011, LitNet! Uganda teams had trained nearly 400 teachers from over 90 schools, and distributed the School in a Briefcase reading program throughout Uganda, and in Nairobi, Kenya. That translates to around 20,000 students impacted THIS YEAR.
• LitNet! Uganda became an officially recognized, registered, NGO (Non-Government Organization—non profit status).
• LitNet! printed another 100 School in a Briefcase reading program packages, and 100 East African Alphabet Animal Stories for distribution in Uganda and Kenya.
• World Vision sponsored a SIAB training seminar in Mbale that was hosted by the Uganda Child Development Centre (a national government department). Teachers from 13 districts attended. Juliet Wakoli, Mbale LitNet! team leader, organized the event.
• Annet Mugisha, LitNet! Uganda Project Manager opened Rainbow House Day Care Preschool.
• Eugene Nsamba and his wife Florence saw a dream fulfilled as a new school was built on their property near Maya.
In the Czech Republic:
Ivana Juras has agreed to act as leader/coordinator of a group of 10 people David and Sharyn Curtis met with in Znojmo, CZ, last July. This group shares an interest in producing a book of Czech children’s stories patterned after LitNet! East African Alphabet Animal Stories. The volume will be called Stories From the Shepherd.
The team has selected European animals for the book, and they have assigned Christian character traits for these animals to portray in fable form; volunteers have been designated to write, edit, and translate stories. Others will write songs, and two artists have accepted the task of illustrating. Two stories have already been completed.
The group has requested permission to translate LitNet! Alphabet Animal Stories into the Czech language. Work has already begun, and the first lesson was presented to children at Znojmo Christian Fellowship for the Christmas season!
This church's hope is to open a kindergarten in September of 2012 that will make use of these books.
In the U.S.
• Alphabet Animals Stories (our Sunday School and Children's ministry curriculum) is available for purchase online through our website .
• David and Sharyn began working with the LitNet! Board of Trustees to rework the LitNet! Mission Statement and strategic plan, in view of opportunities presented in the Czech Republic and other developed nations.
2012 VISION
• Sixth printing of School in a Briefcase teaching packages. Materials are printed in Kampala; briefcases are sewn by Annet and others.
• Fifth printing of LitNet! Alphabet Animal Stories Sunday School and Children's ministry curriculum.
• David and Sharyn plan to retire from their teaching jobs, and return to Czech Republic for several months. Their main objectives will be to strengthen relationship ties, and to help local people facilitate production of Stories from the Shepherd and the Czech version of Alphabet Animal Stories.
• David and Sharyn hope to explore ways to broaden the base of LitNet! financial support, once they have retired. They are beginning to consider the possibilities offered by using Alphabet Animal Stories as a template for children's ministry materials development internationally.
• For the year 2012 the majority of LitNet! financial resources will be directed toward Uganda LitNet! staff funding and operational expenses. Due to budgetary constraints, remote travel in Uganda is being cut back, and one staff position may have to be eliminated. Local teams are exploring avenues for the move toward financial independence.
Respectfully submitted,
David and Sharyn Curtis
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| LitNet! December 2011 Newsletter Blog |
| posted by David and Sharyn Curtis on 2011-12-18 16:35:31 |
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LitNet!News December 2011
Dear Friends and Family,
Our Christmas tree is an eight-foot shimmering beauty this year. As you can imagine, we had to do some re-arranging in our living room to prepare for it.
Our son Adam was here for Thanksgiving, and he helped chop and mix for the Christmas fruitcake that's mellowing in the garage (our Montana walk-in cooler) right now. Three weeks after preparation, it's just about ready to be enjoyed.
I always read the Bible Christmas story about now, too, looking for something fresh I may have missed over the years. I decided on Luke's version—the familiar one with angels and shepherds and the baby in the manger. As I read Chapter 1 (before the angel even visits Mary with the news), these words to Zachariah stood out:
"Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John…. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
All this came from the same angel messenger who later spoke to Mary; different set of parents, but news of preparation nonetheless; this was a familiar passage. It was the part about "…to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children…" that made me stop and think. My conclusion was confirmed by the footnotes in my study Bible: parents will be reminded by John (the promised son) to teach their children what's right, in order to prepare them for good lives.
John would come "…in the spirit and power of Elijah" (the old-time prophet-messenger). If the Christmas cards we receive are any indication, people seek the "spirit" of the season's message: "May love, peace, and joy be yours…etc." whether they seek the person of Jesus or not.
All this affirms LitNet!'s ultimate mission: to teach, train, and prepare the next generation to live lives pleasing to God. The Bible's principle message is one of preparation—hearts and minds made ready for great and lasting truth. We are passionate about building strong foundations in the lives of children and their families.
Thank you for the part you played this year in helping us to make a difference in children's lives. Please make note of the enclosed brief overview of LitNet! highlights for 2011, and know that you helped to make it all possible.
May the God who loves you bless and guide all your preparations this season, and in the New Year ahead.
David and Sharyn
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| LitNet! October-November 2011 Newsletter Blog |
| posted by David and Sharyn Curtis on 2011-11-05 22:17:08 |
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Dear Family and Friends,
We marked the one year anniversary of my brother Steve’s memorial service this month (October), so he’s been on my mind. I was remembering the many questions he always asked about our travel, experiences, and work in Uganda. He was really interested in what we were DOING out there. It was refreshing and encouraging.
This brings to mind one of my favorite Bible Proverbs: “Like a cool drink of water when you’re worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend” (that’s the Message Bible’s translation).
Another version reads, “Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far [home] country.” It’s a good thing when we know that someone out there cares about what we do.
The NET in LITNET! stands for network. We are connected with each other in an ever-widening circle. Many of you send little notes with your checks, many of you hit REPLY and send an email of encouragement when you receive the Litnet! News. Thank you so much. That’s not why we (and our team of workers) do what we do, but it refreshes us, and makes the load lighter.
Through David and Sharyn here in the U.S., you are connected to Annie, Eugene & Flo, Bibian, Cliff, Juliet, and Cathy in Uganda, East Africa. The same goes for the many new friends who are partnering with LitNet! in the Czech Republic.
The holidays of thankfulness are approaching. Everyone is busy. I don’t want to add to anyone’s growing list of obligations, BUT…
You might consider dropping a note of encouragement to any or all of the above-mentioned names. It would be like cool water to weary travelers, believe me.
Annie and her team are being forced to deal with financial constraints greater than any we have known in the past 10 years of LitNet! work in Uganda. Economic pressure is world-wide. Our experience has been that pressure forces us to re-prioritize and be creative. It’s not always a bad thing, but it is challenging and stressful.
The LitNet! Uganda team has an email address:
Annet Mugisha has a personal email address:
Eugene & Flo (Hidden Treasure school at Maya) can be reached at:
Our friends in Znojmo, CZ, would love to know that someone here knows, cares, and supports what they are attempting to do there. It would blow them away. These people are busy, too, with young families and jobs and life pressures; they are attempting to write and publish a book to use in a kindergarten they hope to open in September, 2012.
Iva (short for Ivana) is coordinating the project. Her email is:
Are there any cool water-cup bearers out there?
And here’s the first paragraph of the first (rough draft) story written for the Czech book for children, Stories from the Shepherd, which is patterned after LitNet! Alphabet Animal Stories :
HORSE (helpful)
Teamates for the Bad Days
It was an autumn morning, and the land was hidden in a silent fog. But there was some noise coming from the cutover by the forest. It was a horse coming. His name was Běloušek (White) and it was a beautiful white horse. He was looking around and very sad, because he didn´t have any friends to share beauty of the nature or someone who can take care of him. He felt so lonely....
Thank you all again and again for your interest in LitNet!, and your many ways of supporting our vision of bringing literacy and hope to children and their families.
May your eyes and hearts be opened wide as you experience thanks-giving!
Love and blessings,
David and Sharyn
David and Sharyn Curtis
LitNet!
P.O. Box 913
Kalispell MT 59903
LitNet! is a registered nonprofit organization.
Donations are tax-deductible.
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