another day at school

Wednesday morning Chris, Lindy and I visited a school in Kawangware (one of the 2 major slums in Nairobi) and presented the morning devotions to the students---from kindergarten to form 8, or 8^th grade. Lindy and I were determined to find the best skit ever, and at nearly midnight the night before we decided on “the sin box” after previewing at least 20 on youtube. How Chris didn’t hear us practicing this skit in the kitchen is miraculous. We decided on 1 Timothy 4:12, one of our favorites, and wanted to encourage the students to be an example, as Christians, in their SPEECH, CONDUCT, LOVE, FAITH and PURITY.

It was rainy on Wednesday, so driving (or 4wheeling) through the slums of Kawangware was quite the adventure on the way to the school. When we arrived, we followed the headmaster (principal) into his office, which consisted of a desk, phone, notebook and a 3 chairs. After developing a plan, the students were assembled outside in this small open area—really between classrooms and houses—and they began with prayer and a few Kiswahili worship songs. Then we did our hilarious sin box skit followed by 1 Timothy—and prayed the words penetrated their hearts.

After the devotion, we were invited to visit each classroom and greet the students. Once inside the classroom, which was no larger than a small bedroom, the students actually greeted us with songs and memory verses. Starting in kindergarten, they begin learning Scripture verses and were eager to share these with us.

I included a lot of pictures, because they portray better this experience than any words I can type. We were all just deeply humbled. I noticed one child’s pair of shoes when we were all standing outside…I’m not really sure how they were even staying together because there were huge holes exposing all his toes. One single light bulb in the center of the ceiling served as the source of light. The students were packed on benches sitting shoulder to shoulder, working on cardboard cutouts and small notebooks. Teachers taught from old black chalkboards and homemade posters on the walls. Yet despite these seemingly primitive school conditions, the students at this particular school earned some of the top scores in all subjects. Yet kids in America will do anything and everything to skip school, don’t think twice about doodling in their textbooks or ripping out pages, and could care less about the white boards, different colored markers, and the 4589798 visual aids teachers use to teach kids today.

Chris and Lindy say that kids come up to them all the time asking for money—and guess what they want money for? School Fees. SCHOOL FEES. See in countries like this, education is their key to breaking out of cycle of poverty. Its their chance to prove to the world that they DO have value, they DO have worth, and they ARE capable of contributing to society. Education empowers them to challenge the systems of the world, giving them feet to stand on against oppression.
Just one more thing we’ve been blessed with, but take for granted, and even mock.

Lord, forgive me, once again, for taking for granted what you’ve so freely given, and remaining silent and stagnant in the face of oppression.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
For the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
Defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9