The school currently borrows a bus from the local Kosraean government office, whose officials are eager to reclaim it for use in their own schools. Because nearly all student attendance depends on daily transportation, the loss of this bus would have a serious and immediate impact on the school.
The Lake Union Conference was paired with the island of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia. This small, six-mile-long island is home to approximately 6,000 residents and currently supports two Seventh-day Adventist church groups meeting on opposite sides of the island. It is also home to a Seventh-day Adventist school serving between 40–80 students each year. Most of the teachers are student missionaries, many of whom come from Andrews University.
An early visit to Kosrae in 2019 by a team from the Lake Union Conference and the NAD Education Department highlighted an urgent need: a covered gymnasium that would provide students with expanded opportunities for play, exercise, and gathering. In response, the Lake Union Conference partnered with Habitat for Humanity to launch a Union-wide fundraising campaign involving schools across the territory. Students and communities rallied—selling handmade pillows, hosting 5K marathons, and working diligently to raise the necessary funds. In total, more than $100,000 was raised to support the project. Although the COVID pandemic caused construction delays, the gymnasium—complete with new restrooms—was completed in 2023. Final details and equipment were added, and the gymnasium was dedicated in May of 2024.
Today, another significant need has emerged for the school: a bus. The school currently borrows a bus from the local Kosraean government office, whose officials are eager to reclaim it for use in their own schools. Because nearly all student attendance depends on daily transportation, the loss of this bus would have a serious and immediate impact on the school.
To address this need, a new fundraising campaign has begun from January through June 2026 as a tangible way to show continued support. Early estimates for a used bus and shipping costs total approximately $50,000. A brand-new bus is not ideal due to limited access to replacement parts, so guidance has been given to seek a used bus that meets very specific requirements. With the help of the Guam Micronesia Mission and partners on the West Coast, officials have identified a feasible plan to ship a much-needed bus.
Schools—and churches that wish to help—will begin fundraising efforts as soon as possible. We’re encouraging participation. We anticipate more pillows, more 5Ks and, this year-- cashews! Cashews? Yes! Most recently, a partnership with ADRA’s sustainability fundraising initiative has begun to support cashew farmers in Ghana. ADRA assists with packaging and transporting cashews to a storage warehouse in the United States, where they are held until sold. Schools and churches can sell the cashews, earning a 25% profit, while the remaining proceeds support farmers and families in Ghana. Participating students will receive a beautiful “bus” sticker for their water bottle. It is a beautiful example of outreach on both ends—so if someone offers you Goodone cashews, be the “good one” and say yes…because we are committed to “Keep Kosrae Prayed For and Cared For!”
Nicole Mattson is interim director of education for the Lake Union Conference.
