A fulfilling Saturday!

Saturday was a busy day, but a good day. We got over to the Academy around 10 and the kids were still having classes (they have extra tutoring on Saturday’s from around 8-1). So that’s when I updated the blog – love this internet modem! After lunch we had a home visit to Ruth Mumbua’s home. She has six siblings with a single mom. Sometime earlier in the year her mom was cooking in their outside kitchen when a wall fell on her and her son, killing the seven year old boy and injuring mom’s hip. Her husband died suddenly when her youngest was only 8 months old (now the youngest is about 18 months old) She has been struggling ever since – when we visited they had not had any food in the house for a couple of days. The younger ones were begging from the neighbors to eat and Ruth was only eating what she received at the school – which is porridge in the morning and lunch before going home. We are working with mom to see what we can do to help and how we can help. It’s a bit different here in that you can’t just give someone money or food in fear that someone may rob them of it. And it was a real concern of moms so we told her we would work something out. Ruth said they have been praying for another uniform for her – since she only has one and trying to keep that one clean all the time is hard and a school bag (backpack). We have backpacks at the school so Monday we’ll get her one – so one prayer answered – AMEN! She’s such a sweet and smart girl, she’s ranked #9 in her class (6th grade) out of 31! These are the people you are helping, not only putting food in their stomachs but giving them a reason to succeed, a reason to have hope. They are being told it is only through God’s grace that we are here helping and He is the reason to have that hope for the future.

Then upon our return we got the balls out and had the field full of kids again playing. It was great to sit and watch them playing and laughing together. I only handed out a couple of hackies and one was to Kelvin who really has skill with it. While we were watching, Moses the one on my right, wanted a picture of us together. But here once the camera is out a mob arises and you can’t get just one picture with someone! He’s such a sweet kid and loves hugs (I told him Tarrin was missing my hugs so I think he’s helping in that area!) He was walking around school the other day and he usually has a smile, but this day he didn’t so I asked him what was wrong. (Most of the kids don’t feel comfortable telling us their stories). When he said nothing was wrong I told him to talk to Ruth (being the house mom they tell her everything!) He said he hadn’t been able to reach his mom for some needed items (he is a border here) and he was very sad and started to cry. We told him we had the items he needed so not to worry about it. Ruth said his mother is very hard to reach and many times they never hear from her during the school term. So Moses is aching for human interaction and hugs which I am only too happy to give him! He’s another person you are helping with your support – he is able to live here among people who love him and want him around.

Then everyone had dinner while we got the projector set up for movie night. We got popcorn (already popped from the grocery store) and juice for everyone. We watched Homeward Bound and everyone had a good time. To give these kids an opportunity to just relax, have some popcorn and watch a movie – to just be a kid not wondering if mom will visit, not worrying about school exams or thinking about their home situations. These times are possible through God’s grace and love for us all.