First Work and Witness Teams to Nazarene Schools

Two work and witness teams visited Jordan in April 2009 to do maintenance projects at our two Nazarene Schools...one in Amman and one in Zarqa.

Amman: A team from the Chicago area led by Ken Silvers was the first team to do a project at the Ashrafiya Nazarene School in Amman, Jordan. The team was big (25 people) and were big-hearted as well. In a nutshell, here's what they did:

• Gave 14 heating units to be installed in classrooms so children no more have to freeze during the winter months.
• Painted classrooms and hallways.
• Installed and painted an outside safety rail, keeping children out of the traffic in front of the school.
• Painted a long stairwell down to the playground.
• Installed false ceilings in 4 classrooms.
• Made curtains for 4 classrooms.
  

Zarqa: A team consisting of regional leaders and their families hosted by Lindell and Kay Browning (about 35 people) worked three-days at the Zarqa Nazarene School. Here's what they did:

• Painted hallways and about 9 classrooms.
• Installed a partition wall between the KG and higher grades.
• Installed a new window to provide light in the stairwell.

The added benefit teams bring is a breath of fresh air to the community. Many Jordanians have commented to me that they were inspired to see people having so much fun and getting a lot of satisfaction out of volunteering. Nadia Malkawi, the Amman School Director, said that the best thing the team provided was challenging our way of thinking ... that when people work together they can accomplish great things and build good friendships.

Twenty students from the Amman school joined the team for two days of work. One of the parents said that they had to cancel a picnic because their son insisted on working at the school with the "foreigners". Many people in the community have asked me when the next group is coming (as if we have them lining up). We hope another team will sign up to come soon. There is so much to do.

I was so busy I did not take any pictures...so if people have them, please send them to me and I will try and post them.