Moon Lok's Story

In 1965 the mission was given a brand new building in the middle of a new housing estate.  The building was to be used to run a kindergarten and community center.  For the past almost 40 years we have been running this center.  Over the 40 years we have had a kindergarten the entire time.  For much of the time we have also been serving the community through a community center.  In the early nineties Tsuen Wan Swatow Baptist Church was birthed and moved out into its own building.  The kindergarten has been the focus of much work over the past 40 years.

Missionaries said this about Moon Lok's beginning:  "Three hundred and twenty children have been enrolled in kindergarten classes. (More than eight hundred applied.) Only a handful of these children come from Christian homes, but all of the teachers are Christian, quietly witnessing to the joy and fulness of the Christian life. The name, Moon Lok, or Full of Happiness, is a descriptive one as well as a promise for the future."  (The Peak - October 1965)

Our situation today is very different.  This year we have 180 students enrolled and our enrollment has declined over the past few years.  This is due to a low birthrate in Hong Kong and an aging population around Moon Lok.  Also the community around Moon Lok is made up of many new immigrants from China.  They have many different needs and often struggle in Hong Kong.  This year all of our children come from new immigrant families. 

As our student number have decline we have been faced with the reality that our resources have declined as well.  But it has also challenged us to dream about the future and creative possibilities.  Our board has a commitment to continuing to serve in this community.  Therefore we must find programs we can run in addition to the kindergarten.  In fact we have found that we need to return to our roots as a Community Center.  We can survive financially with 180 students and we can start offering social services to the community.

The real issue we faced had to do with our facility.  Over the past few years we had not invested any money in making improvements.  It looked tired and old.  Should we invest in the future?  Our future is uncertain.  Should we invest for children? 

We made the decision that we should invest.  Even if our future is uncertain we could no longer serve our community in such a tired facility.  By doing most of the work ourselves we have managed to keep the cost of updating very low.  Another kindergarten gave us some second hand computers and used desks and chairs.  A friend donated some computer network equipment.  Another friend gave some money for paint.  We hope this work will once again help Moon Lok be a place "Full of God's love and Happiness."

You can help!  For US$2000 you can completely redecorate a classroom.  Here is what you can provide:

1.   New Paint - walls, ceiling fans, window trim, desks and chairs.

2.   Wallpaper border around the room.

3.   New teacher table.

4.   New cabinets and bookshelves.

5.   New mini blinds.

6.   New aprons for each teacher in the room.

7.   New casual uniform for teachers - for PE days.

Check out the pictures to see what you can do...  Don't these Children deserve a nice school?  For more information please email us at jgravley@aol.com

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