Summer '18 Update

Greetings from Lake Providence!

The summer has sped by here in the Delta. On July 28, we celebrated our sixteenth year of Bags of Hope, distributing book bags and raising funds for additional supplies to support Southside Elementary. It was a festive morning with face painting, music, a bounce house, hot dogs and snow cones. We're deeply appreciative to all of the volunteers who made the day possible, from CBF Louisiana folks to the Southside teachers and administrators. Please keep our teachers, families, and students in your prayers as they begin a new school year on August 8. 

We were also grateful to have Woodland Baptist from Louisville, KY, to return for their sixth year of partnering with with us in Lake Providence. We ran our second annual Reading Skills Camp at Southside Elementary in the mornings, and then braved the heat and humidity in the afternoon to complete other work projects around town. Students were able to work one-on-one with volunteer tutors to practice their reading skills and comprehension abilities, as well as making arts and crafts and enjoying outdoor recreation. The volunteers from Woodland enjoyed kayaking on the lake, eating at the Dream Eatery, and taking a drive through the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge (complete with many alligator sightings).  

Though the adult education programs slowed down during July, one student finished her final test and is now our eighteenth graduate. This student worked tremendously hard in the night program, putting in long hours of learning algebra, geometry, etc., as she tackled the five tests. Several GED students have moved into nursing programs through Louisiana Delta Community College. Please keep in your prayers the new students who will begin their GED this fall, along with our graduates, as they continue building their careers and finding work. 

Thank you all, again, for helping in the many ways that you did with Bags of Hope. Please also remember that one GED student can be sponsored for $100, which helps provide a workbook and the cost of the battery of tests necessary for the GED. Please contact Marc if you, your congregation, or your Sunday School class is interested in sponsoring a student. 

Blessings,

Marc