9 April 2013 by Donna Uning CM-
Kuching – The Children Ministry team from St. Faith’s Church called on Milestone Early Intervention school for a goodwill visit for the first time here on Saturday. The team of seven from the English session was headed by Superintendent Anna Richard.
In the past 13 years, Milestone has cared for many special needs children with the vision from Ps John Chin, Transnation Centre and a few church members. “Thirteen years ago, our pastor asked to open the school,” said Evelyn Perol, head teacher of Milestone.
It was break time for the children and the team got to hang out, eat and play with the children. The children had been expecting the guests, and the team had been looking forward to the visit for weeks.
“We do writing and homework on weekends,” she said. There are usually 11 children coming to the school on weekends. “At music time, we just worship,” she said.
Starting with one child with cerebral palsy, the school eventually took on other children with special needs including autism and Down syndrome. “God open doors and God provides,” said Evelyn. The school also teaches living skills and manners.
Evelyn and her staff go for training regularly, adding that though the special skills training can be expensive, some parents do help out with materials. “I believe my God can do miracles,” she said.
The Christian based school, which went private three years ago, has seen many children impacting parents. “Some Buddhist children already go to Sunday school,” she said. The parents saw how happy their children were, and they too go to Sunday school with their children.
The teachers also sing praise and worship songs with the children. The children would ask their parents to sing the songs at home and parents would ask the school for the lyrics. “We see parents come to the Lord through this,” she told.
“We make sure the teachers love these children. When the heart is right, the salary issue will come later,” she said. God provides. “There was a time when I was alone with three people,” she remembered. The school also does not take volunteers because they are not constant. The children need rapport with the teachers, they need to trust them, she added.
Most students come from different schools. Some children are rejected from their school. At Milestone, the children would take time to learn and are not forced to learn from a set curriculum. “There you see progress,” she said. Parents trust the school as the children see it as their second home.
“We spend time with them and expose them to the environment,” she said. “God give us the strength and God provides.” She would ask God, “To have the eyes, hands and heart to love them the way You love them.”
The church initially helped out with the funding. But since the school went on its own, parents are willing to pay. The school charges by the hour. “Different churches come in, we have no boundaries,” she said.
“When a former student continues to call to say thank you, it’s the best reward,” she said. Milestone believes “To impact the society for God’s glory” and “To arrest the decline and the decay of the society.”
By noon, parents started to come and fetch their children from the center. After handing some gifts and spending time with the children, it was time to leave. “I want to come back again next Saturday,” said 7 year old Michelle after her visit. It was a joyful experience for all.
With four teachers along with Evelyn and her husband, the school runs from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on Mondays to Fridays, and half day on Saturdays. “We don’t advertise. Parents are the one advertising for us,” said Evelyn. The children in the school are below thirteen years old. There are currently 42 children in the school.
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