Who we are
Pastor Lody with baby Nadine, our newest and youngest member
The City of Praise Tiberias World Outreach has been working amongst the poorest of the poor since 1992. We educate orphans and the children of the destitute in West Kalimantan Indonesia in the area so remote that there has been no proper road since we have settled there. The good news is that the local west Kalimantan government has approved as of April 2014 for the construction of a road reaching into our jungle facility. As of January 2017 the road and bridges are in progress and almost finished. We are all waiting for the grand opening of the new road today, held up by the construction of the last two bridges for a total of six new bridges. The road in and out of the project should be fully functioning in 2017. Electricity will finally be connected all the way into the far end of the 136 acres owned by the city of praise education facility.
We have already built and completed a Church, Dormitory and an Elementary, Kindergarten school. Under construction is a Middle school that is almost completed. The construction of the Middle school will support an additional 125 students. However, in order to complete the construction we are still short of $12,500.
A 500 hundred student 2 story high school building project is now under development. We do still need additional funding to complete the High School. The progress today is quite significant. By having the High School completed, students can continue with their education for a better future.
Below: left is a rendering of the two story High School building and to the right is the building foundation under construction
We have and educational 42 room Dormitory that has been in service since 2006. Our High School students are temporarily being taught at the Dormitory since 2012. We currently have around 80 students until the High School project is completed.
A team of highly dedicated faculty staff members
Our Grammar School building has around 227 students that includes 100 Middle School students. Upon completion of the Middle school building, the 100 Middle school student will then be transferred to the new Middle school building that is almost finished. With the addition of the Middle school building, the Grammar school is then relieved from the student congestion.
Despite poverty there is a great deal of joy and the students are eager and will to learn and improve their lot in life. The City of Praise helps everybody it can regardless of their race, gender, or religion, services are provided free of charge to the community in the area, for those students not having any financial means but have passed the entry exams. Students are taught the usual Indonesian curriculum plus the English language skill starting at the 3rd class level. So they can become true global citizens.
help the children
Some students come from terrible situations where they are literally slaves and they must be bought from their owners! Most are so poor that the meals provided at school are major source of their nutrition requirements. We believe that with love and good education these students will reach maturity as capable citizens able to stand on their own and to help their families.
The building location for the 14 room mini hospital and the City of Praise Cancer Research Foundation is today on standby awaiting funds to begin construction of the hospital. The hospital will serve the children and local community as well as the cancer research clinical trials.
Kindergarten class
The Light and Life Indonesian Mission Team
Six missionaries have just visited the City of Praise facility on August 2015.
“For everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.” “But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him?” “And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him?” “And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?” “And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?” “This is why the scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers that bring good news?’” -Romans 10:13 - 15
Our missionaries receiving their going away present. A job well done!
Above from left to right: Pastor Kristy Hinds, Pastor Eli Fournier, Donicia Brown, Sara Gallina, Karen Ortiz, Hector Navarro.
Our Indonesian Mission Team during a visit in 2015 having a wonderful breakfast at the balcony of the dormitory overlooking the green jungle.
Our usual elementary school classes have a 21 student count. Karen Ortiz is teaching the children a special paint technique.
Below: Blowing paint on paper with a straw.
Art class in progress