Monday we spent the day at the church in Kalomo putting together all the school supplies for the 100 sponsored children. What a day of organizing! We had three schools, boys and girl grade 1 through 8 to pack for. Each student receives a grain bag full of new shoes, back pack, books, pens and pencils, a Bible, socks, a school uniform and some are receiving sweaters too.
It was crazy when half way through we had a torrential downpour happen and lasted almost an hour. Leaks started popping up everywhere and you could hardly hear over the rain pounding on the tin roof, but we kept going and finally finished by 6pm. We are waiting for the kids to write there final exams to hand out these supplies but they will be dispersed on Friday. Its weird to think it’s summer time here so school is our for a month between terms. The interesting part I learned is most of these children are from the villages and that these uniforms will be some of theirs only good clothing. Talking with the guy that sold us some of the supplies, he was saying in grade four he went to school with no shoes. This is crazy to think no student here gets free education and all schools require a uniform. Average school fees are only about 100 Kwatcha, or $20Cad, but still most can’t afford that let alone the supplies.
Something that shock me was the ages, there’s an 8year old trying to get into grad one and a 16 year old trying to get into grade 8. This is normal here! And hardly any village kids make it to grad 9 or higher it seems. At this rate the circle of life will remain and progression will just stay slow. Not sure how this can be changed but between a mindset change and drive to go and help from those able this will eventually turn around.
This is one of the sponsored children from the village of Magrimundi, her name is Dorcus and she is a bright young lady but a bit shy. Her family is the type that wants to make a change! They are working hard to create a rental income from the house they have and live in a smaller place beside the bigger house. They are thinking long term how to make ends meet since its tough out here and doesn’t look like it’ll change anytime soon. The father had an experiment sitting out front when we arrived. He had a price of a broken solar panel and wired it up to try to charge his Cell phone.
Not sure if it worked but I was impressed at him even trying. This is the thinking that will help change the villages!
Today when we visited a few of the houses that Berea Built a few years ago and got the heat first hand how the recipient’s were going. These were incredible stories of having nothing, being incredibly sick and being abandoned to stories of joy, blessing and thanking God for ll he’s done. They know hard times don’t last forever, maybe they need to teach that to us now.
At the one house we learned that they had a dream to restart a business selling at a stand different goods to their neighbours and area. The had previously had a stand but when the church move them it was to a remote area they didn’t have anyone to sell too. With that not being an option they consumed the goods and shut down. Now the area is being built up and through a friend of mine who donated money were were able to help her with the overhead to purchase to goods to start up the shop again. It was amazing to see Mrs. Tombe be so happy she was rolling on the floor. Its amazing how far a bit of money can go out here!
Life is about realizing your blessings and seeing these families who were given houses feel so blessed by them!