Here They Are...

Apparently some people have been wondering what we're up to here. Well, wrestling with Blogger for one (and it's not just an Africa thing--it's tricky loading pics for other friends. For another...right now life is not very dramatic...just the way we like it!

We had a great friend and former colleague of Mark's here for a month. Brad was absolutely terrific working with our teachers, giving them a great start on their work with curriculum planning. The curriculum is nationally standardized, without a thought, really, to what might really happen in the classroom. We want the teachers to rethink the curriculum in terms of how they might cover the subject matter differently. Brad has done work in Mexico, Romania, among other places and we enjoyed every day he was here!

We are continuing work on student selection. I described the process in a previous post, and things continue much the same way. It takes an unbelievable amount of time! On the first couple days we started in town and ran into several cheaters, so we decided to head out to the villages. Away from town, where people are more isolated, we had much more luck. Last week and this, we've been back in town again and once again we've faced more cheaters. Yesterday we saw seven students and accepted one. Today, seven students and accepted two.

I am thankful to report this pic is NOT from the road to the school! That road has been greatly improved this season and everyone is quite pleased. No, this is student selection in action! The helpful man shoveling in the rolled-up pants is Charles, one of our teachers. He's a man of many talents! Mud is not the only obstacle on the roads--and I use that term loosely as many "roads" were really not designed for cars. Big holes, huge rocks, and washouts are also part of the adventure!

After all of this, though, we have selected 40 students. Some of them have been able to scrape enough money up to start secondary school, and others have not. Some come from families who love them very much, but have nothing else to give. Others are cared for unwillingly and grudgingly by extended family members. Still others are little more than indentured servants.
These are faces of hope. This is what happens when you support Peace House Foundation. Within this country of tremendous need, there is a light of possibility. These are lives are forever changed. These are children who have been given a chance--for some of them, the first break they've ever had. I know if they could meet you, they'd say "thank you." They may give you a gift--a stick of sugar cane, maybe, or a couple avocados or mangos. They would ask if they could take a moment and pray with you. They would thank God for you and your generosity. They would thank God for the blessings they have received.

Every letter we can hand to a student reminds us of why we are here. When things are slow, or frustrating, or heading off-track, I remind myself of these faces. I remember that whatever I've had to manage since I've lived here (or at any other time, for that matter) is nothing compared to daily life for so many families here. These children are what matter.

Whatever delays or setbacks we've faced have not deterred us from finding and meeting these students. We feel a huge sense of responsibility toward them, to create a community that will support them and continue to open doors to new ideas, new ways of looking at the world, new lives of peace and promise. You have helped. Every dollar donated, every hour volunteered has made a difference. Never doubt that. As we "keep on keeping on" we remain grateful for your support and commitment tnat allow us to continue our work here.