SCHOOL DAY

The bus arrived at the makeshift parking area at Outreach Community Church (OCC) on Tuesday. Our team was headed into the school to share some of America with them. One team was bringing letters from the Hazel Dell school children to the level four class at Mathare. My team was making “career day” presentations to the two high school classes.

I stepped down from the bus onto familiar ground and was greeted by familiar friends—Douglas, Ruth, Bishop Daniel, Gilbert. It was only the third day in Nairobi and I already felt a certain affinity for these people. We quickly received our assignments and left the parking area for the school.

Gilbert swung open the gate to the school yard and we were greeted by a few curious students. The light of hope in their eyes shined as we extended a hand of greeting and snapped photographs to travel home with us. It was time for the team to divide into the two groups. Paula, Gloria and Josh made their way to the level four class room. Ruth, Nick, Jenni and I ascended the stairs toward the high school classes.

We entered our assigned classroom and it felt like we stepped into a world where children seem to appreciate their educational opportunity…where it is understood school is a privilege and children are respectful and attentive. It was our turn to share a little piece of our lives by explaining what we did for a living and sharing photos of our families. As we did, these teenagers listened with attentive hearts and minds.

After each of us was given a turn to share, it was time for us to be blessed. One of the boys in the class stood and offered us an unrehearsed, heartfelt thanks explaining how much it meant to him that we were willing to travel so many miles and share our lives with them. I held back the tears. I silently prayed that God would open doors for this young man who wanted to become a mechanical engineer.

Why did I continually find myself searching deeper within myself for a faith that appears to be so evident in the lives of those here? Why did it bother me that I was the blessed one living in the United States being afforded any opportunity I reached for? Why did it scar my soul each time the children recited “for I know the plans you have for me…plans to prosper me and not to harm me”? Why did I feel compelled to know the story of each teenager sitting in the room before me? Why did I feel frustrated by the lack of time I had to spend here?

We completed our assignment at the school and returned to the church where Blake was finishing up with leadership training for the men of OCC. We were invited to sit in and be introduced to the men who were there. Little did I know I would hear a testimony that would carry with me into the night and throughout the rest of the trip.