HELLO 2024!!!

“Wait for the Lord! Be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord!”

Psalm 27:14

Welcome to 2024!!! I don’t know about you, but I want to start planning my year, making travel plans, when and where do I want to go this year. Then I was having my prayer time a few days ago, telling God all the things I planned to do this year, when I heard Him say WAIT!!! Have you checked with me about these plans or are they just your ideas? WOW! BACK UP CAROL! Let's start this conversation again. I had so many ideas, (good ones) but I need to wait for Him and His plans not mine. So, I am taking time to wait on the Lord for His leading this year. I know he already has this year planned for me and as I wait for Him and His timing, I know this year will be better than I could even imagine.

We have some exciting things happening at Grace English School. Our children finished their Quarterly exams just before Christmas vacation. I am happy to report that our staff were thrilled with the impressive results the children achieved.

We have an exciting announcement to make! We have started another building project! Yes, I know we just completed one! We asked them to send us a wish list regarding the school property. As the staff reviewed the building and it various uses it realized a few of our classroom are to small for the amount of students. It’s a great problem which has arisen with the increase in students wishing to attend our school. It has been decided, we will be taking some two of our smaller rooms and converting them into a new office for our Headmaster and a staff room/library. We are building two larger rooms to accommodate the larger classes.

We will also be painting the entire campus inside and out. It has been a few years since the last time we did this, so some areas need to be cleaned up and painted.

In April when our new school year starts, we will be adding 8th grade. Our students and parents are so pleased their children can stay through 8th grade without having to change schools.

I am praying the Lord opens the door for me to return to India in the fall. India is going through some challenging times right now. They are getting ready for a big election this spring, which causes much upheaval and tension. Also, life for the Christians is continuing to get more and more difficult. Sadly, there is a lot of persecution going on in many parts of the country. I know God is in control and He is with us even challenging times. I will be strong and wait for His timing. If it was up to me alone, I would be on a plane today, but He has said wait!

A few weeks ago, Raju, our Headmaster, and Princy his daughter, was on his way to school and had an accident with his motorcycle. Thankfully, Raju was wearing a helmet. They both are doing good now and only had bruises and lots of soreness in their arms and chest. Sadly, he totaled his bike. (picture of bike here)

Good news! Sanu can have the car that he had his accident in last year fixed and he will soon be on the road again.

Sanu has also started adding extra rooms to his home, so we can accommodate more teams coming to minister at the school. Slowly but surely God has been providing the funds to build the addition. I look forward to the day more people can see the amazing things God is doing at Grace English School.

Our Brewed coffee bar at church in Lodi has been a great outreach and provider for this ministry. If you live in Lodi and come to First Baptist Church, stop by on a Sunday morning a grab a cup of your favorite coffee and a donut! Everything is by donation only and all proceeds go to support the school.

PRAISES:

1. For God’s amazing provisions for Grace English School.

2. For our wonderful staff of teachers who are doing such a wonderful job teaching our students.

3. Thank you for your continued support both in prayer and giving. We could not do this ministry without each of you.

4. Thankful that Raju and Princy are doing good with no serious injuries and are back to school.

5. Thankful for the progress we see in our students each time they take their exam.

6. I am thankful for the opportunities God gave me last year to share about our school. Both in Georgia and Rhode Island.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. For God’s provisions for me this year, as I look at returning to India and the expenses involved with that.

2. Raju needs a new motorcycle. A new one will cost him about $2,500.00 US dollars. That may not seem much to us, but for him that is a lot of money. If any of you feel God is leading to help him out, you can let me know. I can help get any money forwarded to him. I know he would be grateful for any help.

3. For me as I make plans to return to India in the fall, that I will be allowed back in after being stopped at Immigration in 2022.

4. For our staff as they share Jesus with our students and families.

5. For the people of our village the school is. May God continue to soften their hearts to this ministry.

I want to thank each of you for your support with prayers and financial help. You are a blessing to me and Grace English School!!

To Contribute to Carol Alexander's ministry support

Go Online to: https://www.carolalexander.net/donate

Designate in the drop down box:

Choose Designation: INDIA / CAROL ALEXANDER

Or mail a check to:

First Baptist Church

267 N Mills Ave, Lodi, CA 95242

Memo: (include this account number) #40-108