faith like a child

Yesterday we took a walk to the river to go swimming, and for just a moment in time, I was transformed from the Holly whose mind is always running fifty kilometers an hour into a woman who was just amazed with the little hearts that surrounded her. I watched in wonder as seven or eight of our youngest children scurried along the path, picking flowers, staring at caterpillars, turtles and spiders, scampering towards trees that contained this particular wild fruit that they love to pick and eat, and holding their arms out to run as if they were an airplane, soaring high above the ground. Even some of the older ones enjoy and request this game we made up together that’s similar to something we used to play at the skating rink as kids…remember green light go, red light stop? Similar, except our version includes running like horses, walking like cows, and jumping like frogs as well as stopping on time. They request it every time I venture ten feet beyond the house now. And their enthusiasm about swimming in the murky depths of the river that is permanently chocolate milk colored, as well as a cattle crossing/watering hole/laundry area for the villagers, amazes me. The vigor with which they splash around in this water that some of us would refuse to touch, the happiness with which they run and jump and play, the joy they find in the smallest of creatures or flowers, the willingness to work through the emotions that are left behind with such great loss at such a young age, the love they bestow on us and the praise which they bring forth to God couldn’t be more humbling. He is doing such great things in their hearts and minds and lives. And I am so thankful that you and I both get to be a part of it.

Miss Rosie Hura

Rosie belongs at Juliard, for sure, the way she dances and sings...and is part of the most loving and helpful family of kids we have at the house...loves to cook, clean, and assist in any way possible...with the most faithful heart and humble attitude...thank you Jeffers and Watkins for sponsoring her life and her education.

cows, plows, and corn planting

Our cows are being put to great use now that we have purchase the plow. Pictured below are Mwita and Magige on the first day of plowing. They are quite the team...Magige stays past his night shift to help in some way nearly every day, and comes back early for English class in the afternoon. I bug him often about not knowing how he has time to sleep. And our beloved Anna, up front in the second pictures, was so interested in helping plow this morning when Magige had taken our dirtbike to go pick up charcoal for the kitchen, that she got right outside, still in her pajamas, to help Mwita and our other matron, Selma, do some plowing. The heavy rainy season is almost upon us, and so these next few days are crucial to the planting process. We're grateful every day for those of you back home that make small things like cows turn into big things like a huge corn harvest.

Education is the key...

It's a phrase that might sound sort of overused by teachers and administrators, but I can verify it's truth here in a country where opportunities to be educated are few and far between. One of our biggest needs as a ministry this year is education sponsors. For $35/month, education sponsors provide necessary school supplies, uniforms, and school fees for one child. We heartily thank those of you who have agreed to participate in this great investment in the future. For each child in our midst, we hold the audacious hope that their education and life at Angel House might present them with opportunities to be the future leaders and businessmen of this country. You make an amazing difference. Bless you all.

Siza Juma, 4th grade....thank you John & KayLynn Smith.

Veronica Mwita, Kindergarten...thank you Dennnis & Colleen Richardson.

Joseph Hura, 5th grade...thank you Sylvia Coats.

Frank ChaCha, Kindergarten...thank you Scott & Kathy Rundell.

Pics of the week: baths, buckets, and braiding

A typical Saturday afternoon might include bathtime for all the littles all at once. Derick, our youngest, is actually small enough to be carried by even the younger children, and all enjoy it immensely. In January, our primary students all joined an English medium school, which is exciting in and of itself. However, even more exciting for the girls is that St. Jude allows them to have long hair, which is something not allowed at government schools. Recently they've been furiously pulling and willing their hair longer, and have obtained some yarn that can be braided together with the existing hair to weave while it's in the in between stages. Afternoons and especially weekends recently have include major salon sessions among the middle school ladies. Every day is different here, but they're all good...we thank God for His mercies that come new every morning.


Mwita and Nossi standing in the sun to dry after their bath

Derick being carried in a bucket by Bhoke

Bahati braiding Grace, and Amina braiding Benedetha

church alive!

You've not really experienced 'church' until you've experienced African-style worship. Belting it out and dancing is the expectation and norm, and in addition to the Holy Spirit, on Sunday we welcomed the St. Jude boarding school students to join us in worship. St. Jude is the English medium school our primary students started attending this past January. We have been cultivating a great relationship with the staff and students with events such as football matches between their school team and the Angel House boys on Friday afternoons. They are very excited at the idea of us building a quality secondary school nearby, and have offered to market our school to their current middle school students who will be headed to secondary school next year. Angel House was packed to the gills yesterday with students praising God. Just how we like it.

Music too good to just stand there for... St. Jude students' visitingGirls' choir singing and dancing

Slumber party featuring Eric Soard

Anyone would have been impressed with Eric this week...the only guy in a house of nine gals....he held his own with finger nail polishing and girlyness. Each week we have a different group of the children over for a slumber party on Friday night, and this week was middle school girls night. He earns points in my book for many reasons, but I was truly impressed he let them paint his toes...way to be, man.