Visiting churches was an absolute DELIGHT!
Phyllis and Team SFA visited many churches in January. It is always so special to reconnect with church families, seeing LOTS of familiar faces and old friends. Thank you all for joining us, greeting us, and saying hello! Phyllis shared a powerful testimony about what God has been doing in Nigeria. If you were not able to join us, you can watch Shoreline FMC's recording HERE! OR watch Northlake Christian Church's recording HERE! :)
Phyllis is home safe in Nigeria, with LOTS of plans for 2025!
Secure land for Mogodi and family in Port Harcourt, rebuild school and settle family
Hire teachers and open the Leaders Of Tomorrow High School near Bobi
BUILD Idako School and Healthcare Clinic, where the villagers bought land, and a donor is funding the school!
BUILD Enugu High School in Enugu State - build on existing foundation, drain soggy land for play yard, and hopefully build an admin/student exam building!
BUILD Bauchi State School and Healthcare Clinic
SFA Secretary Carisa Haven supported Phyllis at churches we visited, setting up a table w/ books, DVDs, and sign-up sheets!
Friend Carol Schaper, Shoreline FMC, brought baby hats, knitted by a friend, for Phyllis to take home to Nigeria!
Look what happened in Nigeria while Phyllis was here in the US! Leaders Of Tomorrow High School near Bobi Grazing Reserve is almost complete, thanks to our experienced and competent building team! Phyllis will go there soon to hire teachers and they will open immediately! Thank you, God!
Introducing a sweet friend of Phyllis's, Doris Heritage! Phyllis and Doris both went to Seattle Pacific University! Doris and husband Ralph live in Stanwood, and we were able to squeeze in a quick hug with these beloved friends on our way out of town!
Andy Yardy (pictured above with Doris) is the same friend who made Phyllis's BEAUTIFUL film, Kidnapped Redemption, has completed an incredible film about Doris, called Last Lap! These two beautiful women sat on the couch together and argued about who was MORE FAMOUS! LOL! I (Carisa) was absolutely HUMBLED to sit on the couch with these two 'Pillars Of Faith'. I hope I can be like them when I grow up! Thank you Lord, for friendship and shared faith!
Our SFA Board of Directors met last week for a board meeting. It was very nice to be together! We celebrated all that was accomplished last year, and looked ahead to our hopes and dreams for this year. We approved the budget for projects this year. We have a strong board, and we are working on getting even stronger! We are building board health through culture and prayer. We built a Salary Committee to investigate teacher salaries, to ensure we are paying our teachers well. We enjoyed lunch together, and the whole board was in attendance, either in person or on Zoom. I WISH we would have taken pictures! We are SO THANKFUL to have such a supportive board to work with!
MANY THANKS to retiring SFA Board Member Betty Buzitis!
Betty did SO much to help Phyllis - she was instrumental in helping Phyllis build a new NGO called Schools For Africa! Her support here in the states, her work writing grants, and her service on the board has meant A LOT both to Phyllis and our US team, AND to the Fulani people in Nigeria.
Thank you, Betty!
WELCOME to a new SFA board member, Phil Aronson!
Phil Aronson retired as the Vice President of Industry Relations at ADT Commercial in January 2022. Phil was President and CEO of Aronson Security Group (ASG) for 30 years before the company was acquired by ADT in 2018. During his time at ASG, Phil grew ASG from a small local integrator to one of the largest and most influential Security Risk Management Services (SRMS) companies in North America. Phil has been married over 40 years and the father of two daughters. He resides in the small community of Stanwood North of Seattle, WA. When he is not boating, fishing, hunting or playing with his grandchildren he is advising, coaching and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Pictured above, from left to right: SFA Board Chair Larry Nyland, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven, Newest SFA Board Member Phil Aronson, long-time friends Martha Smelser, Brian Smelser, Art Smelser, SFA Director Phyllis Sortor, and SFA Board Member Steve King. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Aronson's home - many thanks to Phil and Susan Aronson!
PROJECT UPDATE onEnugu SCHOOL!
All great news! Phyllis and Carisa met with a team of builders in Arlington to talk about the current foundation. We shared blueprint plans and pictures, and the concensus was that if we build a ground floor and second floor only, we would be safe to use the current foundation! This is wonderful news, and does not waste the initial investment already in the ground. Our first priority is of course safety for the children and teachers. This plan will only cost about $20,000!
To register the high school with the government, the school will also need an admin building / student exam hall. This will cost an additional $20,000. If the Lord provides the funds, as He usually does, we will build it! Please pray that the funds will indeed come in, and we can help and support this wonderful Reverend/Principal and his school.
Rev. Mathias is very pleased with this plan, our help, and your prayers. They will be SO BLESSED to facilitate the further education of their primary students! Praise God!
As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?