Catching you all up - again!

Yesterday we went into Nairobi again to get text books, inner wear (underwear), PE shorts and some miscellaneous items. While Chuck, Gideon and Kathryn were getting those supplies gathered Pauline and I went into the Maasai Market. It’s a huge flea market type gathering every Tuesday in Nairobi. The Maasai started it but now all the tribes bring their wares to sell. I got stuff from the Maasai, Akamba, Lua, and Kukuyu tribes. Then it was off to lunch at the Pizza Inn! Pauline loves pizza now so whenever we head into Nairobi she plans on pizza for lunch! Kathryn took the tomato sauce and salt packets with her so she could show the kids. Most of them have never seen it in packages like that so she said it would be a treat and excitement for the kids. When we pulled into the school we had a mob surround us to help carry the packages. They all know that there is something in there for them and they were hoping to get a glimpse of what was inside! But it was all packaged up and I told Chuck we should wait a couple of days to let the excitement build! When they brought the packages into the store they all looked around at the books and were talking excitedly among themselves – they can’t wait to get at the books!
After lunch Chuck and I walked around the school property and went onto the first floor that they poured Monday. This is going to be a great building and I thank God for allowing us to see it go up. It will be a fantastic classroom facility and be able to house many more children.
While I was interviewing kids today I had a couple of heart wrenching stories (although every one of these children has one). One boy came in and Ruth took a small insect off his collar and I noticed she held it in her hand until the boy left. She showed it to me and asked if I knew what it was. It looked like a tic but she said it was a bed bug, which means that the area where this child sleeps is very dirty. She said that they are like tics in that they will attach themselves to the person and suck the blood. So if you have several you can get very weak from loss of blood. The other child (a girl) is a border here and her brother is in school here but unable to be a border because of lack of space and lack of funds for additional food. These are the reasons funding is needed for all areas of the Academy – bringing in additional children in need to give them an education, food, clothing and hope that others care about them and most importantly that God loves them. One child, when asked why he likes to learn English, he said because when he learns English he will someday be somebody. I told him he is already somebody because God loves him!
Today local actors came and put on small skits for the kids. I taped some of it but didn’t understand any of it since they were speaking in Kiswahili. So I didn’t laugh where I was supposed to, but the kids enjoyed it. I asked Ruth what it was all about and she said the first skit was about AIDS, the second was about being obedient to your parents and the third was jokes to lighten up the mood! When they finished one of the actors explained some of the words and actions because they used some tough Kiswahili words for the kids. Then with the help of Ruth and a teacher we handed out candy to everyone for being good listeners during the performance.

Here's a picture of the construction from the first floor! What an amazing sight! Love to all and thanks for all the prayers and support.