The “Partners in Kenya” Come Together Again

Paul's Note: Joyce has not finished this yet, but I've decided not to wait any longer to post it. It does end abruptly.

Feb 7th & 8th, 2009

Early Saturday morning we were up before the sun to catch the 7:00 ferry for a 45 minute ride to Luanda. It was finally (!) time to visit our Partners In Kenya sponsored kids. We met our friend George, who helps Wash Jo in Kenya, and he escorted us across Lake Victoria to meet the Makasembo school bus (!) that gave us a lift to Nyakongo Girls Secondary School. It was quite exciting to ride in the bus that was recently purchased due to big fundraising efforts by the Makasembo community. Daniel, Makasembo’s Principal, came along for the ride to make sure we arrived safely. It was so great to see Daniel again. He greeted us warmly and made us feel welcomed, as he did in 2005 and 2007.

We were taken to Nyakongo first and met the new Principal, Millicent Omondi. She came to the school last year and she has been instrumental in making many good changes around the school. The school buildings were freshly painted, the grounds neat and tidy and the enrollment was up to 280 (expected) from 180 the last time we visited. In Kenya, schools are pretty “big” on having their school motto painted on the side of their buildings or at the school entrance. And there it was! Big as life…just as we arrived to the first building we saw that there was a freshly painted school motto and mission statement. It looked so nice. They had also just planted new bushes and set painted rocks around for boarders. It had never looked better. Even the fields that stood with old maize plants were cut down and looked nice. Apparently, the school board was not happy with the last principal, but they are now so pleased to have a new and capable woman to continue on. She is taking on many challenges and the school is thriving and growing! Personally, I did not connect with her as much as with Grace, but apparently Grace was not cooperative with anyone, including Wash Jo.

After greeting our favorite teacher, Leonard (also there in 2005 & 2007) we chatted a bit and then had a tour of the school grounds and briefly greeted the girls who were sitting in their classrooms doing their personal studies. This was a Saturday! They also have study time on Sunday! Kids in America need to thank their lucky stars that they are spoiled and undisciplined! After having a soda in the teacher’s room we stood before the whole body in their dining hall. Actually, the Form 1 students (the new freshmen) had just started reporting to school so about 90 girls were yet to arrive. The Form 2, 3 & 4 students come 3 weeks earlier. We introduced ourselves to the girls and Paul made a little speech, but then Mrs. Omondi asked us to do a presentation to inspire the girls. We awkwardly looked at each other and said that we were not prepared for that…oops. So, the girls went out of the hall and back to their studies. It was kind of strange because in the past, the girls have prepared some things for us so we were caught off guard. Anyway, our day proceeded with a small meeting between Mrs. Omondi and me. I had several questions about students that I had actually come prepared with (unlike our “presentation” mentioned earlier). She was able to answer all of my questions fully and I felt very satisfied.

Meanwhile, the rest of our “team” went back to the dining hall with our 15 sponsored students. (We did not start any new students this year at Nyakongo because we were unsure about the principal and thought it would be best to only start new students at Makasembo). We actually have 17 sponsored girls, but one was attending her father’s funeral and another girl was sick. The first time we visited, Winnie Juma, the girl that Paul and I sponsored, attended her father’s funeral too…it happens so much here. Morgan wrote some questions on the newly painted blackboard, and the girls sat and very diligently wrote their answers so I can bring them all home to you! The clock on the wall still said 12:55 as it did the last two times we visited. Clocks just love to sit around here not working…you would be amazed if you ever saw a clock that worked. Also, people have calendars hanging on their walls from as many as 6 years ago (and the pictures are not even that great!). After the girls finished their questionnaires, they wrote letters to their sponsors and had their pictures taken. I am keeping them quite safe for our journey home. It was then lunch time but we told the girls that we wanted to meet them again a bit later. When we finished eating we gathered back together and decided that we needed to get the girls loosened up a bit so we played some games with them and had a really good time. We began by sitting around and introduced ourselves. Most of the girls were pretty good at saying something really sweet about how much they appreciate their sponsors and the wonderful opportunity that they are receiving to be in school. So many students cannot afford the school fees, let alone be able to be boarders at school. Nyakongo is trying to “do away” with the day scholars so most of the students do live at the school. Girls are at such a disadvantage if they cannot live at school. That also means that they get three meals a day. We passed out the few letters that we had from their sponsors and they were so happy to receive them. After our games we all sat together and talked to the girls about their individual sponsors. They all wanted to listen to the information we shared about all of you who so generously pay for their fees. When we were finished our time was almost up! We went outside for a group picture and that is when the girls huddled around me just to ask questions. They were so cute and seemed to feel more comfortable talking with us now. Lilian, a Form 4 student (Susy & Doug Williams’ girl) seemed to be their spokesperson. She was very outgoing and always smiling. I checked with them to make sure they all had mosquito nets, were living at school and that they received new uniforms last year. The answer was yes to all questions!!!...and I must say that their uniforms looked very nice. They did ask if they could come to America when they were finished with school and they also asked if they were supposed to be receiving pocket money. Unfortunately, the answer to both questions was no. I am getting pretty good at saying no around here as we are asked for things constantly…even from people who just walk up to us on the street. I try to say it kindly….but it does get annoying. Even as we were waiting for our ferry back to Mbita, a lady just walked up to me and told me that I should by her some new shoes. Sorry, “no”. Sometimes when little kids say “give me money” we say “you give ME money” and that throws them for a loop and they usually go away.

The next day we went on to visit our students at Makasembo Secondary School. Daniel, the Headmaster, greeted us so nicely. Since this was a Sunday, there were not many teachers around. We also did not have to meet the school committee or the chief of the village. We had spent time with them in 2007 and we really just wanted to meet with “our kids”. We were happy to see some progress at the school. In a previously empty classroom we found a new science laboratory. It was a great place for us to meet with the kids. I was meeting with Daniel to go over a few things so Nick, Morgan, Ashley, Travis & Paul started by having the students write letters to their sponsors. I took time to talk to each student to tell them everything about their sponsors (that I could think of). They were really happy to get the few letters that we brought too. Ashley and Paul worked on taking pictures so we can bring them back home to show all of you. We were only missing two students that day (sorry Mom, but Perez was one of the kids that was not there…but I did leave her your letter). We were happy to see two of our previously sponsored students, Charles & Cyril, who had finished form 4 in 2007. Charles was actually working as a tutor at the school with hopes of going on to college later. Cyril was there to repeat form 4 because he wanted to improve his test scores on the National exams. Cyril really wants to be a doctor and going to University is not going to be possible if his test scores are not higher. He averaged a B, but that is not good enough to get financial assistance so he talked to the Headmaster and asked if he could come back to school. We told Daniel that we would be happy to sponsor him for one more year! When we were finished with our business we spent some time talking with the kids and showing them a map of the USA. It was a nice visit

Daniel encouraged us to continue with our sponsorship because