Americans around the world are celebrating Thankfulness this week. Our family has much to be thankful for, especially that it is possible to be here in the US with our families this holiday season. Ethan will be joining us in a few days, and the entire family is currently enjoying good health. Having spent the last 2 years in Kitale, Kenya, where living conditions are significantly different, we have developed a heightened awareness of just how blessed we are. As we count our blessings today, our thoughts are drawn to our Kenyan family: our 54 Kenyan children and many staff and friends there. We are thankful that God has chosen us to be part of that ministry, allowing us to have a direct impact on the hearts of those we serve. I would like to share the story of one of our girls and the impact she is now having on others.
Lena is 17 and a very well-spoken and bold young lady. She is not afraid to stand up to injustice, even though she is a woman in a culture that favors men. Because of health issues and academic struggles, she completed 8th grade last December, later than many others finish primary school.
At the end of 8th grade, all students take an important exam (the KCPE). Records from our past students at the Children’s Home indicate that nearly 100% of students who did not pass the KCPE but went on to secondary school anyway, dropped out or failed out of secondary by the second year. This has led to self-esteem issues among our students, and has left multiple without a means to support themselves when they reach adulthood. Thus, this past year, we implemented a new policy that students must achieve a passing KCPE score in order to attend secondary school. If they do not pass the KCPE, we counsel them and help them choose an appropriate trade school.
Lena was among a group of students who did not pass the KCPE at the end of last year. We did not take the approach that they had failed. Rather, we counseled each of them individually by encouraging them in their strengths, and helping them identify skills and interests they have, so they could choose a trade school in which they could succeed. Despite our counsel, many of our students were angry with us for implementing these new policies, as culturally secondary school is viewed as the best way to achieve success. Lena, however, was not angry with us, but embraced the opportunity to go to a school of her choice where she could learn through hands-on experience rather than only by textbooks.
We spent quite a bit of time looking for the right school for Lena. She wanted to learn hairdressing, but also had a strong interest in human rights and standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Finally, our team mate, Jennifer, found a Christian trade school in Nairobi (PCEA Eastleigh), where Lena could learn hairdressing, but also have opportunities to do volunteer service and network with others in non-profit organizations. Lena started school last June, and has just completed her classroom training. She is now doing her internship back in Kitale, and will return to Nairobi in February to take her final exams.
Before Lena completed her classroom training, she started working on the side doing hair and nails. She earned quite a bit of money doing this, and went to the second-hand market in Nairobi to spend it all on clothes...in sizes other than her own. When she returned to Kitale for her internship, she handed out all the clothing to her “sisters” at the Children’s Home!
Imagine how special each of Lena’s sisters felt when she returned from school wanting to bless them. They see Lena blossoming into a successful young woman. They see her tangibly loving those around her. They see that it is possible to bear good fruit despite difficult circumstances. This is the very vision we have had for our children at the Home. And now they can begin to envision it for themselves. We are so proud of Lena and the positive impact she is choosing to have on others. I have no doubts that she will help change the popular view that secondary school is the only road to success. These are the moments we cherish. These are the moments that affirm why we are returning to Kenya next month. These are moments to be thankful for.
