Tucked away on the beautiful Valley Isle is Maui Adventist School (MAS). Except for high speed Internet access and new malls, this cozy isle still cherishes small town values.

But there are a few changes afoot. Thanks to the leadership and hard work of teacher Miki Nelson and Principal Dennis Kingma, Maui Adventist School was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Bendon Family Foundation.

“Maui Adventist School is a non-profit educational organization established to provide excellent educational opportunities within a distinctive Christian environment for the children of Maui,” explains Mrs. Nelson, who is the teacher for first through fourth grades. “Our school is designed to provide learning opportunities that help children acquire the skills and understanding needed to function effectively in society and to guide them in developing attitudes and character traits compatible with a Christian lifestyle and world view.”

The need was real. MAS needed new materials for the school library, but there was no money in the budget. That is when they got the idea of looking for foundation money to help.

Kingma, who has a reputation as an innovator and “go getter,” indicated that MAS would utilize the grant to make available new and appropriate reading material in their library. Reading is a key life skill which not only enables young people to prepare for high school and college but gives them the tools to read the Word of God.

The paperwork was completed, and a letter signed by Miki Nelson accompanied the application packet. The only thing which remained to be done was pray—and they did just that.

Sometime after, their prayers were answered. The foundation was going to send them the grant money they applied for.

“We feel very blessed to have received this award from the Bendon Family Foundation,” says Mrs. Nelson, with a smile. “Mrs. Bendon's personal interest in education and her family's financial generosity are adding to the educational opportunities for the students as Maui Adventist School.”

The application and Miki Nelson’s letter may have laid the groundwork for the Foundation to make the decision to award the grant money. Clearly the Foundation appreciates the contribution Maui Adventist School is making to the education and character building of Maui’s young people. But no doubt faithful prayer made it all happen.