Tuesday, January 18, 2011

the JOY outweighs... 60 high school students in 2011!

30 eighth grade students pass their national exam
20 students start boarding high school
3 high school students finish in the top ten academically for 2010
60 total high school students in Kibera Penda Project 


Those are some big numbers. Some joyful numbers. As I have been back from Kenya now for 2 weeks, I have felt JOY in these milestones and God working in each of these individual students. 

In Eddy Mwangi, who finished 2010 as the #1 student in 9th grade at Lang'ata High School. He began his second year at a boarding school on January 7th. Eddy's a quiet boy, who loves soccer, but not more than studying so that he can change the future for his family. While I was in Kenya, Eddy asked me if he could repeat 9th grade so that he could do even better than he did this year (I'm not even sure that's possible!) Eddy also got a brand new pair of Puma soccer cleats for Christmas from a student at Veritas Academy. I've never seen him light up quite that much!


Eddy on the left holding his new cleats!

In Joan, who has a very special place in my heart, after hardship after hardship scoring the highest mark for a girl in the school. And this girl who strives for goodness was angry at herself for not doing better! We had to force some excitement out of her. Now, after two and half years in eighth grade due to family situations, Joan is going to boarding school! I've learned so much about perserverance and strength in this girl and find so much JOY in watching her become a leader and beautiful women of God.

 Joan rocking my shades in July.

In Lucy Juma, who we all fell in love with our first time in Kibera in 2008. This girl just has that spirit that draws you to her, makes you love her, and makes you want to know you more. She's never asked me once for anything despite the great need in her life. Lucy is a double orphan who has drifted from family member to family member. Over the past year, after issues with one aunt, Lucy moved in with her grandma, after another aunt broke up with her husband, she and her 3 daughters moved in with grandma. There was not enough room for all of them, so Lucy was asked to move out. Then, an older man tried to force Lucy to marry him. She was out of school for 2 weeks living with the man until the church pastor got involved. Lucy is now living with the pastor's daughter in Kibera, but is not sure how permanent that is. After prayer, deliberation, frustration, and begging, we decided to start Lucy's high school education over (she was in 9th grade in 2010) and got her into a boarding school!!! We are so thankful for an opportunity to get Lucy out of Kibera and allow her to focus completely on school. We are thankful that the pressures from older men, where to get food and whose roof she will be sleeping under are gone. 

Lucy holding up her new athletic shoes, a Christmas present from another Veritas student.

And Tressie...Trecy...Tressy (still not sure how to spell her name...haha), a now five year old girl who lives next door to New Hope Primary School, who we met and have loved and spoiled for the past 2 years. Tressie was really sick when we first met her, and after a long walk to a clinic with her and her mom, Deborah, their family has really become our family. Tressie is now a beautiful, healthy five year old who is starting kindergarten at New Hope this year!! So overjoyed to see that girl in school! 

Tressie in Summer 2008
Tressie in June 2009
March 2010
with Kyle in July 2010
January 2011

But then my heart is still heavy. There is still brokenness and sadness. And moments that I just beg God to work in the lives of every single person and I know it's possible and I know that the answer isn't education for every student, but I don't know another answer yet. And I just feel heavy for these kids. I pray that in these moments of failure in the world they find their worth and joy in Christ and in the beautiful people, in His image, that they are. I pray for God's protection over them in a hard, hard place of poverty and insecurity. And I do pray that God provides answers. 

For Mwende. Whose father has passed away. Whose mother is dying of AIDS. Mwende is the oldest child in her family, which in her situation, makes her MOM. And she's 15. And despite her brightness, has failed the 8th grade national exam two years in a row. Because how is she going to study when she goes home and cares for her mom and cooks dinner and raises her younger siblings? How is she going to continue to learn with the anxiety and stress of not knowing how much longer her mom has left? And not knowing what her and her siblings will do when her mom is gone? 
Mwende in July 2010
For Lazarus, who did 9th grade twice but is still struggling. Who I had to have the conversation with that he would no longer be sponsored in Kibera Penda Project. And he told me about the frustration and failure he feels when he continues to strive to do good and then falls short. And his father who gets angry because of his lack of success. 

For Vallary and Josephine and Caroline Achieng and Phoebe and Juliet who I sat in room with as most of them wept because they were all within points of passing their national exam but didn't. Who were ashamed to repeat eighth grade. Whose parents and aunts and uncles had put so much pressure on them and they failed. Whose families were threatening to take them upcountry because they didn't believe they could do succeed in education. Because of maybe 2 questions that they missed...on one test...   

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; 
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8