Lake Union—With the aim of advancing the Church’s mission, the North American Division has paired each union with an island in the Guam-Micronesia Mission and the Lake Union Conference was selected to adopt the island of Kosrae, home to the Kosrae Seventh-day Adventist School.
With a population of about 6,600 people and 42 miles of land, the Kosrae School, grades K-8 with about 60 students, is the only private school on the island.
“We are very excited that the Lake Union Conference adopted us to be a part of their Union,” expressed the school’s principal, Kamran Masih. “We look forward to working together.” He further added, “There’s a lot of work on the island that needs to be done. We are helping kids through education to bring them closer to Jesus.”
A special luncheon took place during this year’s North America Division Teachers’ Convention, where Linda Fuchs, director of Education for the Lake Union Conference, brought together individuals from the Lake Union and the Guam-Micronesia Mission of Seventh-day Adventists, to introduce the new partnership.
As part of this new initiative, a small team will visit Kosrae in January 2019 to assess the needs of the school and provide support. This special team includes Patricia Williams, principal/teacher of Downers Grove, Ill., who will be an important part of the mentor/mentee program connecting Lake Union teachers with teachers in Kosrae.
“Linda, build your team!” encouraged Valentine as he spoke at the luncheon. “There is no price tag that can be placed on building camaraderie and giving an opportunity for people to feel embraced knowing that they are a part of something grand,” Valentine concluded.
Leonard Quaile, education director of the Guam-Micronesia Mission said this pairing of the Lake Union and Kosrae is a big boost to the educational opportunities for their students. “We are hoping that this partnership with the unions, will raise awareness of the needs our schools have and that students will be able to expand their world and receive a complete education.”
Lake Union schools are already pledging their support. “I am grateful for the positive response that Lake Union superintendents, academy principals, teachers, and school boards, and students have had when they have heard about our upcoming connection to Kosrae,” said Fuchs. “Already many have committed to help in any way possible, including sending quarterly care packages to the student missionaries who will be teaching during the 2018-2019 school year at the Adventist elementary school in Kosrae.”
The Guam-Micronesia Mission is comprised of the islands in the western Pacific Ocean. The region is home to 4,500 Adventist Church members. The Adventist Church there operates numerous elementary and secondary schools, which are staffed largely by student missionaries.
The Lake Union Conference Education Department oversees 81 schools with 593 teachers and principals, with its mission to prepare students for a useful and joy-filled life fostering friendship with God . . . and selfless service in accordance with the Seventh-day Adventist mission to the world.
PC: Sherrie Davis
Photo caption: The team assembled to support the Lake Union-Kosrae Adventist Education partnership include: Nicole Mattson, Indiana Conference Education director; Patricia Williams, Downers Grove principal and head teacher; Saima Talib, wife of the Kosrae principal, with their daughter; Leonard Quaile, Guam-Micronesia Mission Education director; Kamran Masih, principal of the Kosrae School; Janna Quaile, administrative assistant to the Guam-Micronesia Mission Education director; Linda Fuchs, Lake Union Education director; Maurice Valentine, president, Lake Union Conference; Steve Poenitz, executive secretary, Lake Union Conference; Glynn Scott, treasurer, Lake Union Conference.
