Loving is Caring

Africa Cries Out Report 2023 No. 014

Jun Xu, June 30, 2023

After nine months of intensive full-time study, the 52 students of the fourth class of the Africa Cries Out Technical School celebrated their graduation in June 2023. The fourth-class students entered the school in the second half of 2022 and chose, according to their own wishes, among the programs it offers: English, French, electrical work, masonry and carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and sheet metal, dyeing, sewing and cooking. All of these programs are accredited by Senegal’s Ministry of National Education, and students who complete their studies receive a technical school diploma from the Africa Cries Out Technical School. After graduating, students must also find themselves a six-month internship; once they complete it, they can obtain a license and practice independently.

A major breakthrough: our first female boarding students

Since it opened, the Africa Cries Out Technical School has received strong financial and other support from kind-hearted people around the world, and we are deeply grateful that their love and enthusiasm have let us carry on without worry. All student costs – tuition, room and board – are covered by the Africa Cries Out foundation; this year the cost per student was $2,200. In total, the fourth class of the technical school cost about $114,400, including the cost of the local teachers we hired.

This year brought a major breakthrough in the makeup of our student body: for the first time, we welcomed female boarding students. In this country, where 96% of the population is Muslim, persuading a family to let their daughter leave home and live at school is very difficult. Even though all costs are waived for female students, it is still hard to win families’ support. Thanks to God’s wonderful work – and a great deal of conversation – we are delighted that 12 female boarding students joined the fourth class this year. Like seeds planted in the technical school, as their lives grow they will one day influence and lead more girls to come to the Africa Cries Out Technical School.

We sincerely thank everyone for your love and enthusiasm. Over the years of running the technical school, we have learned deeply that without the steady stream of donations from kind people moved by this work, the school could never have come this far. Although the school is still young, with four classes now graduated and growing, we believe our students will carry the school’s blessing and teaching and help it become better and better. We even dream that one day the technical school can grow into an excellent, mature university in the region.

A report from the field by Pastor Anna:

Nine months of companionship and sharing life

We have entered the last week of the technical school year. Our hearts are full of gratitude for all the Lord has done so far. We have many feelings about saying goodbye to these children of our hearts. We are very proud to see how they have grown and how their lives have been changed.

Yesterday we held our last worship service. We visited Bethel Church in Dakar and saw their final performance, which was a great blessing for our students.

On Saturday we went out to lunch with the students. Many of them are Muslim; after nine months of sharing life and hearing the gospel message, most of them chose that good portion.

This was our last outing with the boarding students. Through nine months of close fellowship, we gave ourselves completely and opened our hearts to the children, devoting ourselves to serving these young people as we love our own children.

And now we are about to celebrate tomorrow’s graduation ceremony.

A graduation full of blessings

We are all so excited!!!! We rejoice for our children, who have learned their skills and are about to set out on a new journey – yet we are also very sad, because graduation means we will be parting from them.

Everything with the children of the fourth class of the Africa Cries Out Technical School seems to have only just begun, and yet it is about to end – and with hope in our hearts, everything will begin again!

This is a very special day: our students’ graduation!

Rich, surging emotions filled everyone’s hearts. The whole experience was so beautiful! They loved this day, and everyone – they, their families and their pastors – was proud to have reached the goal of graduating. We have fought another good fight; every volunteer feels a deep sense of accomplishment, and God is glorified in all things. Thanks be to God, our Emmanuel, who has walked with us all the way until now, who through prayer put words of encouragement in our hearts and helped lead us through challenge after challenge to complete this demanding task together.

The change and hope God brings

Thank you, Dr. Xu and the Africa Cries Out team – this school exists only because you believed in the vision God gave. The investment in these children’s lives is enormous and will surely be rewarded in heaven. This year we had 52 students. Besides training them in technical skills, we have seen their lives transformed. Look at these photos of some of the students before and after they enrolled: in their eyes you can see God’s blessing. Thank you, too, for your trust in us.

Pastor Anna’s report shows us how all the effort and dedication, like trickles of water, have come together into a stream that waters parched hearts, nourishes empty minds and brings life-changing transformation to the people of Africa. The joy in our hearts is beyond compare.

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We are looking for skilled people to help edit our website, Chinese and English text, short videos, our WeChat official account and more. If you have these talents and would like to contribute to Africa Cries Out, please get in touch.

If you are moved and would like to support our work in Africa, please write a check to Africa Cries Out and mail it to Jun Xu, MD, 1171 E Putnam Avenue, Riverside, CT 06878, USA.

Zelle: Africacriesout@gmail.com

Online credit card donations: https://africacriesout.net/ (the card company charges a processing fee).

You will receive an IRS-recognized tax-deductible receipt. Our team solemnly pledges that 100% of your donation goes to the people of Africa – we spend not a cent on administration.

Jun Xu’s WeChat: jun9174343767 · Email: Africacriesout@gmail.com · WeChat official account: LifeExploring (Heavenly Road of Life) · Website: https://africacriesout.net

Editors of this issue: Juanjuan Cao, Bei Zhang

Editorial team: Yuanchun Guo, Hui Liu, Xiaohong Duan, Hao Wu, Juanjuan Cao, Bei Zhang, Grace Huang, Daniel Xu, Zhifeng Yang

Read more: visit the Africa Cries Out project at africacriesout.net