Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Dear All....
Merry Christmas & a blessed New Year !!
We are so THANKFUL for you  for being our strength, our courage and especially guiding us for another successful year!
In this Christmas we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and may it leave its richest blessing in the hearts of you and yours.



The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.
Thank you!!

American Christmas Candles Flame
From Smyrna Family in Sri Lanka

English classes

English Classes Conducted in 2010 at Smyrna Mission School

English classes for school students and sponsor students started in January 2010.  They were conducted every weekday afternoon.  Students come for classes after their normal school hours are over.  Classes were conducted at Smyrna Mission School.  These classes were for students from grade 6 to Advanced Level classes.
Mrs. Anusuya Philips was the teacher in the beginning and she left in May and Mrs.Jayshri and I (Ruth) started teaching the classes.  Mrs.Jayshri was teaching from grade 6-8 and I was teaching grade 9 up. 
From my experience, students were very shy when I first started.  They were not willing to answer in the class or ask any questions for the fear of what others might think and it was a challenge to get them to feel comfortable with each other.  We instructed in English and when necessary, explained in their mother language.  It worked quite well. 
They learned basic grammar, reading and writing and to speak in English.  Many believe that in order to speak in English, one must learn everything (theory) first and then start to speak.  But in our classes students were encouraged to speak whatever they already knew and it worked out quite well.  Role plays and dramas helped them to enjoy the lessons and put what they learned in the classroom into practical use.
In school curriculums English was a forgotten subject in the past but now becoming a main subject.  The Sri Lankan government also has taken measures to promote English as an important subject which will help Sri Lankan students to be global citizens.  So there is a great demand for English classes and we are happy we were able to reach a number of students who were unable to attend English classes that are quite expensive. 
Though there were quite a lot of students present in the beginning, only about 38 stuck till the end and got a certificate.  Though education opportunities are made available, only those who are serious about their studies would continue and make use of what is available to them and it was the same with these classes. 
Students in the advanced classes got good results for the English subject in their A/L exam and one girl went on to do a higher diploma in English and Computers.  For others the classes have helped them to grasp a language that has been foreign for a very long time.  They have learned to adopt what is foreign into their own lives and realized the value of English as a bridge to a technologically advanced and globally connected future with ample opportunities. 
So we sincerely thank you for your part in making their dreams a reality and we hope that you would consider helping us in the future also knowing that your investment in these young lives will never be wasted. May God richly bless you.






Monday, December 13, 2010

Preschool Graduation and Concert 2010

Smyrna Preschool kids had their graduation and concert on the 2nd of December at the school hall.  The event started around 10.30 am with the lighting of candles representing the traditional oil lamp.  After the welcome speeches by two teachers, the welcome dance was done by the kids from the day care centre. Kids looked really smart in their white shirts, shorts and caps. After the welcome dance was awarding of certificates for preschoolers.  It was nice to see them in their graduation robe and the hat.  The parents were so proud of their kids-they were all over the place trying to take photograph of their kid.

The concert continued with about 10 acts.  The mission school kids also participated by doing a drama (The Prodigal Son) two dances and singing a carol(O Christmas Tree).  The preschoolers did a Vedda(Native Sri Lankan) dance which was the highlight of the concert. It was quite interesting to see a Canadian kid doing the vedda dance.  He was the only white guy in a sea of brown kids :)

Parents and guests were given refreshments and coffee while the concert continued. The final act was the fancy dress parade and it was really wonderful the way the little ones were dressed up.  There was a tiny bride, a priest in white robe and a big bible, a farmer etc.  But the best was a bunch of grapes that walked clumsily around the stage :)

The teachers were appreciated for their hard work by giving them a bouquet of flowers and the concert ended around 1.30 p.m. with the singing of the national anthem.



















Posted by Ruth Herath

Thursday, November 25, 2010

23rd November 2010 - Help for the Aged

 Today the old poor, people gathered at Smyrna for their monthly support. People who came early helped us with some weeding around the buildings while they were waiting for their midday meal.

Most of them come from far away - from hills - some walk and some come by bus. They were served a plate of rice & curry. They were so grateful to Smyrna for providing them with food items, etc.








Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Smyrna - Christmas Card - November 2010



Smyrna came up with a special Christmas card for this year's Christmas season and this is for sale. 

The profit from the sales of these cards will be used to support and encourage underprivileged little children, families and elderly people in the hills of Sri Lanka, during the Christmas season. Please check the 'For Sale' heading in the menu for further information.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

16th November 2010. Ragala Christmas carols

My first outing to visit a school under Smyrna!
We started around 9.30 a.m and after quite a bumpy ride arrived at Smyrna Church/School in Ragala at about 10.10 a.m.

We were warmly greeted at the gate by Sister Sujatha who took us to her home and a few minutes later to see their pre-school.  Tiny tots in red checked shirts were all over the place and all sang out in unison, "Good morning, aunty!".  They looked me up and down trying to figure out who I was.  I stood in the middle like an alien(a happy one) while every one had a good look at me.  It was the first time I was surrounded by so many kids at once and what a pleasant surprise it was!

They were very sweet and they sang a song for us-it was a very special treat for not many would go to the extent of singing for me :) The song went something like:

My  little dolly has gotten angry with me
and thrown all the coconut shells I play with,  into the fire
So much school work I must to and my hand aches
from having to write so much
and on top of that I have to do my maths
mummy is not happy no matter how much I do
she always says, "It's not enough" and  I don't know what to do
"Please mummy remember I am just a small kid,
tell me only things that I can do,
and when I grow up I will try to do all that you want me to do,
but for now please let me be me.

What an appropriate song, eh?

Next we were taken down stairs where we were once again welcomed by the teachers of the social work school.  We sat in the front row in the chairs that were assigned to us.  Little girls and boys were ready in their blue uniforms to sing carols.

After the lighting of the traditional oil lamp (candles, in this case) we sat down to watch the carols.  It was very encouraging to see these kids singing in all three languages(there were about 15 kids) and I was more amazed to find out that only 3-4 of them actually could read and write properly.  Majority had memorized the songs just by listening to them.

While they sang,  Mary and Joseph walked in with their new born doll. The 3 wise men would go down in history for being so young!  Gabriel was a bit too shy and Joseph had a bit of a hard time figuring out which side of Mary should he stand and  keeping his staff(stick) away from poking someone in the eye.

Overall it was beautiful and it was so nice to see all of them taking part.  I had to give a speech which was a bit nerve racking but I managed without major catastrophe. 

We sang silent night and finished the programme with cake, patties, banana and a hot cup of  tea which was very much  welcomed by everyone :)








The teachers, workers, pastor and sister are doing a wonderful job and I felt God's love pouring over those children.  It is God's love that makes miracles possible and Ragala school is a living example of it. I am humbled by what God is doing in this place and feel so blessed that I am to be a part of this work.   All glory to Him.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

11th November 2010

In the last few days we have been busy with various things. So many changes have taken place in Smyrna.
We are so happy that we can have an extension telephone connection system at Smyrna.

 Our office building

This week we were busy doing changes in the buildings at Smyrna. The manager has shifted to a  house close to the office building. The youth team from the Smyrna Church came forward to help with transport.

Two families, living in Smyrna, have been helped. Their cottages were in bad condition and now they have been renovated. They are so happy and thankful.

Also we have made changes with the rooms for visitors from local and foreign countries. We have two special cottages for visitors. Larger groups of people can be accommodated in our dorms. Whenever groups come from different parts of the island (mainly school children), then they are accommodated in the dorms  for a cheaper rate. School children from the North and East that have never been in the Central province have been provided  with accommodation in Smyrna.
Our School Building

Monday, November 1, 2010

1st November 2010 Sponsor Groups

Last week, our sponsor team was busy visitting sponsor children's houses and finding out the needs in their homes. They could provide the houses with rice cookers, irons, mattresses, study tables, gas cylinders and a Melodica.Four children were given extra money to pay for special English and Maths courses.
We are happy that we could issue different things to 39 needy families so far.

Here are some of the photographs from when the team issued different items to the sponsor children!






This sponsor boy's family had a gas cooker but did not have a gas cylinder. The family is very happy to receive a gas cylinder. Now the mother finds it easier to cook as she doesn't need to look for fire wood.

Carrying his mattress to his home


Now she can do her home work seated at a study table 
that she has received instead of on the floor or the bed.

He is happy to receive a Melodica.
He is telling us that now he can join the school band and learn to play the Melodica.