January 2, 2006

Dear Friend and Sponsor,

As you are aware, in 1992 the Slidell church of Christ began a work in Trujillo, Honduras that has become known as the Trujillo Christian School. Over the ensuing years, the school has grown to kindergarten through 7th grade and last year had a total of 257 students and a staff of 13 teachers, administrators, and support persons. Thanks to generous sponsors like you, the school has grown and prospered.

As you may not be aware, Hurricane Katrina had a devastating effect upon the Slidell congregation. Approximately one-third of the families lost everything in the hurricane and flood, and almost everyone had some degree of damage. The church building suffered some damage, but did not flood and will be repaired. As many as one-half of the Slidell members appear to have relocated and may not return. Unfortunately, the Trujillo Christian School was endangered by a hurricane that struck a thousand miles away.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the elders of the Slidell church approached the elders of the Goodwood Boulevard Church of Christ in Baton Rouge. Slidell asked Goodwood to take over operational control of the Trujillo Christian School and also the oversight of the sponsorship of 2 full-time ministers and one part-time minister in the Trujillo area. Goodwood became the focus of the relief efforts of the Churches of Christ in Louisiana and the western Mississippi coast. Goodwood agreed to sustain the work in Trujillo for the short term.

Goodwood Boulevard subsequently reached out to the West Metro Church of Christ in Hiram, Georgia, a congregation with ties to the congregations in Slidell and Goodwood and the work in Trujillo. After meeting with the elders at Slidell, West Metro agreed to assume the oversight of the Trujillo Christian School, effective January 2006.

West Metro, Slidell, and Goodwood agree that the work in Trujillo is important and must be sustained. While West Metro will assume direct oversight, Slidell and its members, including those who have relocated, will continue to have input into the future of the school. West Metro and Goodwood will be coordinating the overall evangelistic efforts in the Trujillo community and seek ways to better integrate the two works.

West Metro is committed to the immediate plans of the school; that of adding the 8th grade in 2006 and the 9th grade in 2007. This will mean additional staff and resources. The inclusive operating cost for 2005 was just over $28.00 per student per month. This caused the school to operate at a deficit, with Slidell making up the monthly shortfall. West Metro feels that the school should be self-sufficient and is asking that sponsors contribute $35.00 per month per student for 2006. If you feel that you cannot increase your sponsorship amount, we ask that you continue with the present rate so that this work can continue.

We also ask that you talk with friends and family about ways to remember the Trujillo Christian School in 2006 and beyond. In 2005, approximately 30 students were not sponsored. With the new kindergarten class of 35 that will begin in February, we now need 65 new sponsors. We are confident that God will provide them.

The West Metro Church of Christ is a seven-year-old congregation located in Hiram, Georgia about 30 miles west of Atlanta. We are located in Paulding County, which is the sixth fastest growing county in America. The congregation has approximately 300 members and added over 30 new families in 2005. West Metro is a congregation that loves children. Currently, we have 160 children under the age of 18, with two new additions due in the spring. That is one of the reasons for taking on the work in Trujillo. All children are important to God.

The elders of the West Metro congregation have placed the operating control of the Trujillo Christian School in the hands of an Operating Committee. Adam Freeman, a deacon, is the Chairman of the committee and the final arbiter. He will oversee the fundraising, the finances, the administration, and the relationships with the sponsors. He is a high school athletic trainer and teacher with a Masters in Educational Administration. Jared McCormick, the West Metro Youth Minister, will be Adam’s right-hand man. Several others have been selected for leadership roles in this evangelistic and educational effort.

West Metro has incorporated the Trujillo Christian School as a non-profit organization with the State of Georgia. The elders of the West Metro Church serve as officers of the corporation. Operations of the school will be as transparent as possible and we are available to answer your questions and concerns. We will soon be notifying you of the new school website, along with updates and invitations for input into a work that is dear to our hearts. In the meantime, please visit the West Metro website at www.westmetrochurch.org. Effective immediately, please send sponsor payments to Trujillo Christian School, P.O. Box 606, Hiram, Georgia 30141.