Pictures of Mitcha School(what it used to be)

This is what the school looked like before I left in 2004. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!

Mitcha School

Mitcha School was the one-room school house that I attended from 1st grade until I graduated from High School. It was a school primarily for missionary kids but the church and the mission opened it up to children whose parents were working with NGO's and some local children too whose parents wanted them to study in English so as to have more opportunities later on in life
. The first day of school there were five us, my two siblings and I, Seregi, a Ukrainian boy whose parents were working in town at the local hospital and Natasha, whose parents were business people in town. Our teacher was Welsh and she used an American curriculum and supplemented in extra activities and class projects that we worked on together. Seregi had his own Ukrainian program to work on as well as learning English with us. Natasha, who was the same age as my younger brother,  had never been to school before and knew no English but by the end of the year she was speaking almost fluently and doing very well in her school studies as well.
The school grew as the years went by and at one point we had 15 students, a mix of missionary kids, local children and children of expates in town. We always had a great mix of students from all around the world and it was an easy way to learn about other cultures and how to adapt and relate to each other. The biggest benefit was the wonderful witness of Christ's love and acceptance it was to the students as well as their parents. We also had class devotions and a worship/prayer time at the beginning of each day and it was a great way for the students to ask questions and learn about Him. Our class put on a Christmas play that told the Gospel story for the parents and the local community.The school was a great way to build relationships with the people that might never have had the opportunity to really see and understand His love. Over the years several parents and students have come to Christ as a result of the relationships that they built through the school and the example of Christ's love and family that the school was to everyone.

After I graduated from High School in 2004, I worked as the teacher/supervisor of the school. I had two new kindergarten students that did not know any English so I was teaching them English as well as a kindergarten curriculum. I also had 8 other students from 1st grade to 11th. It was not easy all the time but it was very rewarding. That was when God really laid the vision of the school on my heart and it has been my dream to be able to go back reopen it. It is a huge undertaking, and I have to admit that I feel slightly overwhelmed but I know that He has it all in His hands.  I can't begin to tell you how exciting it is to see how the Lord is moving and bringing this together. 

If you have any questions about the school, what I will be doing, or any suggestions or if you feel that this is a project that God is calling you to participate in, please feel free to contact me. (336-508-7856 or hffabiano@gmail.com) I am looking forward to seeing the team that God is putting around me.

These are some pictures of when I  was in Angola during the Summer of 2008.

a picture of the classroom from when I was in Lubango in 2008. My cousin and I did school here for a couple of weeks.

Our library. We have a container full of books that missionaries have brought out. It is a wonderful resource.

Our classroom when my cousin, Meghan, and I were at the ranch that her parents run for the church.

Meghan working on a project.

Prayer Card

Prayer Letter

Dear Friends,

I hope and pray that this letter finds you all in good health. As many of you know, I graduated from University of North Carolina at Greensboro last May with a degree in elementary education. I have spent the months since graduation working at home helping my mother take care of my grandparents. This has been a huge blessing in my life and I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. However teaching is my passion, especially teaching students in an international setting. Before I left Angola in January of 2005 the Lord gave me a heart and a vision for an international school that would service missionary children as well as local children whose parents would like them to be educated in English. At the beginning of the summer the Lord told me to “WAIT” which is what I have been doing.

In December my aunt in Angola asked me if I would be willing to come and do the children’s program for the Spiritual Life Conference for the missionary children in July 2010. Two weeks after I received her request I received two more emails from people that I either have not met or had not contacted in several years asking when I was coming back to open a school because their children need some more options. So I have taken this as the Lord telling me that it is time to go. I will be working in Lubango, with an Angolan denomination, UIEA, in partnership with AGA (Advancing the Gospel in Angola), a USA based charitable organization. I have just been officially accepted as a fulltime missionary with AGA.

This adventure is much too big for me to do on my own. I am asking God to raise up a team who will partner with me through prayer and finances. I am estimating a monthly budget of $1700 and I will need about $5500 for out-going expenses. This covers my airfare, household equipment, and school supplies. Please pray with me for God’s provision as I prepare to set off at the end of May. You may be wondering what the rush is, because of the Soccer World Cup, that is taking place in South Africa this summer, airfares have risen dramatically if your departure date is after the second week of June. So I am planning to leave before that and avoid the price hike.

I would love to share more with you individually or at your church, Sunday School, small-group, or just with friends over a casual meal. Would you please call me at (336) 508-7856 or e-mail me at hffabiano@gmail.com if you would like having me share more with you. If you already know that God is calling you to participate in my ministry, please fill out the enclosed response card. I will only continue sending updates to you if you indicate that you want me to.

A letter hardly does justice to my passion and my excitement about this new chapter in my life. Teaching in an international setting and demonstrating God’s love for the nations this way is a tremendous privilege and I am so excited about this opportunity. Psalm 25:4-5 says “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” At the beginning of the year the Lord put these verses on my heart and I can’t wait to see how the Lord is going to bring all this together.

In Him,

Helena Foster Fabiano

First Post

Hi Everyone,

I will just give you a quick update about what has been happening the last couple of weeks.

I was officially accepted by Advancing the Gospel in Angola on February 19th. I am now truly beginning to get things together. I am mailing letters and prayer cards out this week. I will also be working on general paperwork. I am planning on taking my dog, Tiko, with me so I am also working to set that up as well. My sister Sara is going to Angola this summer for a missions trip so we will be going out together.We fly out of Greensboro May 31st and get to Windhoek, Namibia on June 2nd where my aunt and uncle will be there to me us to drive us to Angola so that my dog won't have to fly in another plane.

Please pray that I can get everything together and not forget that He is my strength and that I am to rely on Him.

Thanks.

I will do my best to keep everyone posted on what is going on!