Back to school!

All the children (except Daniel who will begin school next year) at Mercy Child Foundation are back in school! 17 of the children were able to go to school for 1 term this year, the rest had not been in school all year because of lack of funds. Remember their school year is from January - December. They were so excited to go back to school! Don't they look smart!? Chuck met with the Head Master of the school (Koma Ranch Primary) and the school committe to negotiate the fees (not fees for school but fees for the building project). Plus we had to purchase desks for all the children at 500 KSH per desk. It's standard here for students to pay for their desk. They came to an understanding and the kids were able to go back to school on Thursday!

A new child was brought to Mercy last week. His name is Ben and he was found living on the streets of Nairobi with his older brother. They had fled their home in Eldoret from an abusive father. A well-wisher knew about Mercy Child Foundation and asked Pastor Wychera to take him in. The need for homes is so great and many children are living on the streets. Not just in Nairobi but everywhere in Kenya. This child is one reason we are always putting the needs on the website and blog. Using the funds we receive to help feed, shelter, educate and love one more child is our responsibility as children of God.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

Here is a classroom from the kids' school. (it's like a "where's Waldo/Chuck"!) They can have up to 50 children per classroom per teacher! But many of them have up to 70 kids in one class with one teacher. They sometimes sit three to a desk (except we bought our kids desks so they have one to themselves) and the desks are just lined in the classroom because there is no room. That's the reason for the building project - getting more classrooms. These are a few reasons we would love to find a way for the kids at Mercy to come to Nice View. They would get the attention they need since being out of school for so long. Please pray for the kids as they go back to school that they can adjust and learn quickly and not get frustrated.

I thought this was an interesting picture - young children using machete's to draw lines in the sand! Believe me, it's a completely different culture of what's an ordinary way of life!

With all the differences though children are still children no matter which continent. They are hungry and need food, they are naked and need clothing, they are uneducated and need education, they crave love and give it so freely. I was with a child today at Nice View who wrote a letter to her sponsor and I gave her a big hug from her sponsor (Aunt Alma she loved the hug!) And she was smilig so big and she kept saying how happy she was. It takes such a small amount of time and money to give a child this kind of happiness - the happiness of knowing someone cares for them and their future. Please consider sponsoring a child today. Your help is needed to bring happiness to one more child.