When Smiles are Words

Hey, Guys!  What are you doing?

(Smiles.)

Are you enjoying your new chairs?

(Smiles.)

Should we take these into the classroom and use them as our new desks?

(Smiles.)

Are you having fun?

(Smiles.)

(Smiles.)

At least I know they are happy, even if I don't know why.

The Fall of Sennecherib

Class 6 seemed to be a bit preoccupied at the end of last term.  They decided to do a drama for recitation, and then jumped full swing into all the work that a drama entails: casting, script, memorization, props, and costumes.  The morning of recitation, they allowed me to come in and observe their antics of preparing for the moving drama "The Fall of Sennecherib."  I'm so glad I brought my camera.

What is the time, Mr. Lion?

In the year (wow!) that I've been blogging, I've shown you lots of pictures with a few music videos sprinkled in. When I see the kids in pictures I also here how they talk and phrase questions because I am around them every day.  I had a brain flash this morning that accents don't translate through still pictures or choir pieces (hopefully), so here is a short video of the Class 1 students during GAMES playing the kids' game "What is the time, Mr. Fox?" but substituting in a Mr. Lion.  (When you live in Kenya, foxes aren't quite so scary anymore.) Enjoy the accents that we love hearing everyday!

Kirk

Contentment

Term 2

At the beginning of this year, our headmistress chose several Class 1 students to join our school. They live in the community and would have attended the local public school where class sizes average 65-80 kids per teacher. They were chosen to join our school based on need and ability as we provide everything for them: books, uniform, breakfast and lunch everyday, and a great teacher who is only responsible for 18 students. In every grade at our school, we invite community students to fill the extra spots until the class size reaches 18. They are guaranteed a spot every year as long as their grades and behavior stay decent.

Needless to say, the transition can be quite intimidating for youngsters, especially when all of a sudden there are so many white people around!

During Term 1, the new kids hardly smiled.  They would whisper hello when spoken to and barely say that they were fine.  They would sit wide-eyed in music class wondering who this crazy white lady was trying to teach them crazy new songs.

Term 2 has been a different story.  Class 1 has come alive.  They are now comfortable in their new surroundings and trust their new teachers.  They are comfortable enough to act out every now and then, laugh and joke, and smile first when meeting.

When I am out and about during recess, I find I am suddenly surrounded by five or six smiling 6-7 year olds who all want to play with my elbows, touch my freckles, feel my fingernails and hold my hands. 

I can't wait to see what Term 3 will be like.



Kites

It was a very attentive

and proud (in a good way)

and happy

group of students who learned how to make kites from a sheet of paper, a bamboo skewer, tape and string on Monday.

Richard was the point man on teaching these mad kite skills.

Some of us were very eager to try them out,

but we had to wind the string around a stick first for control.

Freedom in flight!

Sweetness Embodied

At recess yesterday, all the Class 2 and 3 were playing futbol.  James, Class 3, was goalie, and a very zealous Moses bulldozed him to get the ball through.  James fell and cried.  We picked him up and dusted him off.  I told him that was what the goalie was for!  Good job! 

And then.

Then, Andrew, a fellow Class 3 kid, put both is hands on James's face, looked him straight in the eyes, and said, "Stop a minute, and let me dry your tears," as he wiped them away with his thumbs.  In seconds, James was in the game again.

Just thought you would like to know that we teach some of the sweetest kids on earth.

Surprise Footage

You want me to stop right here so you can take a picture of me wearing my new track suit?

You need me to hold still and smile?  Like this?

Wait a minute...

(Thanks for the photos, Richard!)

Then and Now

We have had the privilege of watching God bring 6 of the 97 children home to our orphanage.  Millicent and Ruth came on the same day with two others.  They were scared, malnourished, shy and obviously apprehensive. 

Check out Millicent's eyes and the circles under them.

Ruth looked like she expected the sky to collapse at any minute and never smiled.

Fast forward three months. 

On a walk this Sunday afternoon, Richard and I met several of the kids playing.  Here is Millicent, spontaneously posing for a photo.  Check out those sparkly eyes.

Ruth was sharing the see-saw with John and loving every minute.

What a privilege we live everyday to see God transforming the lives of the "least" ones.

Discovery

Stephen

+ mushroom =

happy

Play Time

Our children have never surfed the web or texted a friend on their cell.  Some share a TV with their family, but certainly not in their own room.  They don't know what a PSP or a Wii is.  But they have a blast.  Here is a small list of things that our children enjoying playing with.

1. Dirt - This was a cafe where I was generously given a portion of dirt and then another kid accidentally threw some on my shoe.  Do I still have to pay?

2. Hand games - I taught several kids to play Ms. Mary Mac and I think my hands were making the motions in my sleep I had to do it over so much.

3. My watch - A constant source of amazement and joy.  Everybody thinks you have to push a button, but they can't find one, so they push on the sides of the watch instead.  I can't walk anywhere without someone holding my hand and reaching for my watch.

4. Old Tires - These are set in the ground and the students love to run across the tops.  They were delighted when the very professional Mr. Brueck ran across one Sunday afternoon.

5. Something to climb on - This little guy wanted to show me what he could do and then just cheesed about it!

6. Pretending - Aaron is taking a picture of the sun with his camera.  He and I are sure it turned out very well.