The BEST day of your life???
The best day of my life????
If I were making that choice, I can think of a lot of possibilities... but I would not be likely - EVER - to include my first day at a new school as an option!
But this is different!
It was PURE JOY to get to walk with these girls as they exclaimed, laughed and smiled over their first day in a new school!
We met first for a little snack and prayer time with some pastors from Nairobi Chapel/Jubilee Fund - the scholarship fund that will facilitate and mentor them through their education.
I gave each girl - (after all we've walked through together, they feel like my own daughters in a way!) a journal with a reminder of God's love for them in the front...
I pray they never forget the God that PLUCKED them out of a horrible and hopeless situation.
As we toured the school, I GIGGLED with them as they responded to each "luxury" they encountered... water - actually available and a real shower! (The center they came from usually had NO water - not even for drinking most of the time!) They outright cheered when the matron mentioned the meal schedule - 3 meals a day and tea in the afternoon!?! (Compared to the one meal - or none - they had faced at the last place they had lived... a situation that had pushed one of them into prostitution just to find food to survive). A bed for each of them... no sharing with 2 or 3 others!
Before we left them, in their new school - ready for a fresh start, Maggie told us that she knew what she would be writing in her journal that night...
"This is the best day of my life!"
And we are excited to watch how our GOOD GOD works in each of them - as they grasp this new chance in life, reach toward their dreams for the future, and experience GOD'S love in a very tangible way!
If you haven't contributed yet but would like to, here are some details to make it simple for you:
Our amazing church back in Florida has agreed to collect the funds, and issue you a tax receipt, then get them all over to the scholarship fund here in Kenya. - address and info below. When writing a check, make it out to Summit Church and write Jubilee Fund (attn. Ministry Team) in the memo. The Jubilee fund is the scholarship fund that we are using to sponsor our girls (through Nairobi Chapel) - we love that they provide a mentor and a close relationship with the student and their family as they go all through school.
Summit Church
735 Herndon Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
office: (407) 897 8130
www.summitconnect.org
Oh what a special moment you get to be part. I suppose they will never forget that feeling.
ReplyDeleteEven if you do nothing else in Kenya, those 4 precious girls are worth every minute, every penny. Praising God with you. Praying lots for you, His presence and protection.-Leah
ReplyDeletethis brought tears to my eyes! I can't imagine how you must feel.
ReplyDeletehow they must feel! So happy for you and them. Thanks for sharing your story with us.