Ukunda Missions School: Temporary Facilities for Ukunda Missions School

As we plan to start the missions school, we are faced with a number of challenges. We are planning to build a nice facility, with classrooms, dormitories, apartment, office and kitchen. However, this project will take time. If it is possible, we would like to start the school very soon, possibly even this year. Therefore we need to find temporary facilities that can be used to begin the school with a small number of students.

As we were coming to inspect the building plot, we found a group of young men sitting outside this house that borders our property, playing cards and smoking dope. Actually, it is likely that harder drugs were involved, because the young man who owned the house was gradually tearing it apart to sell piece by piece. As you can see, he has started tearing iron sheets from the roof to sell. Windows and doors have also been torn out and sold.

As we talked with the neighbors, we discovered that the young man wished to sell his house. The price he was asking was very, very reasonable.

The neighbors and village elders also seemed happy to help the sale take place. The young man has another property somewhere in town where he will live.

So, last week I bought a house, together with another building plot. I know it looks awful, but it will help us in several ways. The house has electricity and a septic tank, which will make it easy to get electricity in the new school. The building plot has a hand-dug well which will save us money in providing water for the school. Most importantly, we can fix up the house to provide lodging for up to 15 students, which enable us to start the school much earlier. The house obviously needs a new roof, windows, doors, and kitchen.

I am buying this house as a personal investment, not using any money that was raised for the school. We can use it for the school until the new facility is constructed. Then, when it is no longer needed, I will rent it out.