Small Children. Big Difference.

Over the last month of school, I challenged my 5th grade student's to a little competition. Boys versus girls, whoever could donate the most school supplies to Kenya would get an ice cream sundae party thrown by Mrs. Baird.

These kids blew me away.

Five laptops, over $350, 38 keyboards, 21 backpacks, 40 binders, 55 folders, spirals, notebook paper, basketballs, hundreds of pens, pencils, markers and colored pencils. It is amazing!

Proverbs 21:13 says, "Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor, will himself call out and not be answered." I want praise these students because they heard the cry of God's children across the world and responded. I am encouraged by their giving, their love, and their obedience to serving the least of these. They did not use the common excuses of being too young, or not having any money themselves, or selfishly desiring their stuff, but GAVE. And the difference of these small, young people will be great! I want you to know some ways they will directly impact the kids in Kibera...

The overwhelming challenge of our high school scholarship students is walking to school in the rain. There is no sewage system, so imagine mud, dirt, sewage, bathroom waste creating streaming rivers and that is what it is like when it rains in Kibera. It takes them walking an hour through what we like to call "doodoo rapids" to get to school with everything they are carrying and wearing soaking wet and usually late. With the $350 donated I purchased 30 quality rain jackets for the students.

Even to get a job in Kenya, you need to know how to use a computer. None of the students in Kibera have ever used a computer. With the laptops and keyboards donated, we will be able to hold a primary school and high school computer class to equip these kids in skills they can use to obtain a job.

The other supplies will be used for an art class, tutoring classes, Sunday school, donated to the primary school, and help supply the high school students with better resources to succeed in their education.

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an EXAMPLE in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."         1 Timothy 4:12