Learning lesson

We walked to the Academy this afternoon and when we arrived at the gate John came up to me with a huge smile and gave me a big hug. What a way to be greeted! The boys must have been in the hugging mood because when we got to the field Moses gave me a big hug and just held onto me for a bit, then Tati wanted a hug, even Antony who is normally shy gave me a big smile and hug! What a joy it was for me to be there at that moment with them. And then we had a reminder of our sinful nature. Remember yesterday I said how mature the kids were getting? Chuck gave three children each a bag of candy to distribute to the rest of the kids (there are 72 borders here). When the candy was gone there were still 13 kids standing without sweets and all heck broke loose at that time. Chuck stepped in to find out what had happened and he was told that some kids got a sweet from one line then jumped into the next line for another. Chuck gave his fatherly speech about being honest, how they cheated the others out of a sweet and that they had stolen from their friends. He told them how God would be faithful to them if they were faithful to Him and that if they couldn't be trusted with a little thing like a sucker how could they be trusted with something bigger. He asked those who took more than one to bring back the extra - well we didn't get any sweets back but we had several kids come and tell us they took two but gave their extra to someone who didn't get. They came to both of us asking for forgiveness, which we gave freely with a thank you to them for having the courage to come and admit their wrong. They are seeing God's love and forgiveness through their own actions, the actions of their friends and us. What an opportunity to show them the practical application of God's command to love your neighbor as yourself.

Then we played all afternoon, actually Chuck played while I sat and talked to Milkah about boys, growing up, how to relate to her parents and friends. She is one girl who is going to go places! She told me that she would go to the United States for five years then come back to Kenya then back to the US and believe me, she'll do it! She also invited me to the "counseling session" on Monday after school with the girls who border here. Should be an interesting time to see what issues these girls are struggling with here in Kenya. Please keep all the children, Nice View Academy, Eldama Ravine and Mercy in your prayers and consider a donation to help continue the work that is being done and still needs to be started at all three locations. Your support, no matter how small, can do wonders here through God's will. Thanks and sorry no pictures this time, I was busy talking!