This time for Africa: Life in the village

I love living in the village because of how everyone encourages and supports one another! As a village, the kids study, eat, play, sleep, worship, laugh, worry, cry, share joy together, and so much more! This weekend has shown me so much of that in different ways!

Our P7 students are starting their final exams today. This is a big deal for them, they are called candidates, and this allows them to graduate in to the secondary school. As I watch them study and prepare, I can't think of a time in my life where I have worried so much about an exam. I can remember writing papers, but not such an important exam. Yesterday in church we prayed for these students. These students have been encouraged by Mama Cindy, staff members, and a recent visitor, Cyrus. If you think about it, please pray for these kids.

Today, while Donna, Janelle, and I were on our walk, we got to send off the P7 class, who walks to Mile 8 (the town here) to take their exams. It was such an exciting moment to greet them, encourage them, and remind them that we are praying for them. 42 incredible children, ready to move on to the next step in life.

Another exciting thing that happened yesterday was getting to observe the Hybrid Solar Eclipse with the village! Everyone was out with mirrors, water basins, welders goggles, film, anything we could use to witness the eclipse. It is so fun to see the delight in the children's faces, and also staff faces, as we all experience this together! What a great moment!

What an incredible place we live in! I am so blessed by my time here, and by the people around me. I am thankful for you all who have supported me financially and prayerfully so that I could be here to experience this.

It's been an interesting week of reflection, as I wonder...why am I so lucky? I am so fortunate to be the body sent by so many to come and love on these kids. I am amazed at all of you at home, and how you have played such a part in this, by sending letters, encouragement, prayer, so many bits of love that I get to bring to this village. It's all because of you, and I am thankful!

I still don't know what God is doing in my life, or what I am learning, but I do know that I have been sent here for a purpose. That purpose is still not clear to me, but it is becoming more clear by how I see others impacted by my time here. God is doing something great, and I am thankful to be a part of it!

Now for some more pictures...

Elijah climbing the tree outside of my hut to get to the best berries

Watching the Red Rover game with Faith and Daisy. This is right before Pepper (the world's sweetest dog) decided to come and lay down by us, causing the girls to scream and cry in fear. Poor girls, poor Pepper! Elijah and Cosmos saved the day by moving Pepper.