Passion

Over the past 3 weeks I’ve seen and experienced passion and joy along with difficulty and struggle. What a joy it has been to begin my ministry at Immanuel Afrika!

I’ve seen passion in the teachers trying to work with struggling pupils. I’ve seen a passionate directors working hard to provide and support the boys. The social worker does her work with such joy and a sense of humour. The guard at the gate, proudly opening the gate each day for me, as well as washing my car.

In the past few weeks I’ve been trying to get in and understand the organisation and school more. Each day has been different. There have been many meetings with different people, trying to establish roles and responsibilities. These meeting have been helpful to establish what is needed of me. It has been great learning what is happening here.

I have also been spending my time in the school observing and participating with the teachers and trying to assess how to help most in this school. I have seen a lot and all of the teachers are excited and passionate about any ideas that I could help them with. The first thing that I'm trying to do is work with the curriculum guides and write a simplified version of the curriculum for the entire school Nursery- Class 8! It's a big job, but one which will help the teachers greatly.

Another thing I’ve been doing is helping to take a grandmother to the clinic several times. This is her story…One of the grandmothers of two of the boys was an alcoholic in a market place. She is the only remaining relative of these boys. I Afrika decided to help her a while back so that one day the boys will eventually have someone who can take care of them, instead of them staying in the centre. So I Afrika rented this grandmother a house in the local village. She lives there and each day she comes to the centre to help in the farm or washing of the clothes. This grandmother has also been trying hard to give up alcohol. A few weeks before I began at I Afrika, Cucu (grandma) was hit by a motorcycle who sped away after the incident. Her leg was run over on the back with the tyre. The front of her leg was broken and the back a deep open flesh wound. I had not seen the wound until my first day when I was asked to collect her from her house and take her to the clinic so her dressings could be changed (something that has been happening every 2 days). I picked her up as she hobbled on crutches looking very frail. She had a plaster on the front of her leg and a dressing on the back. When we arrived at the clinic the doctor got her to lay on the bench. When he took off the dressing it was a very grotesque site. A deep, deep hole in the back of her leg, oozing with pus and blood. I watched for 1 minute before not wanting to watch anymore. To cut a long story short, Cucu has been going to the clinic every 2 days. Yesterday when I went to pick her up I saw that her plaster is off and she was smiling from ear to ear! She was walking without the crutches and seemed overjoyed. When we got to the clinic the doctor was pleased with her progress and she started saying that God had healed her. It was wonderful to see and hear this! Transformation happens all around me.

I also planned for and ran a teacher staff meeting the other day! It was my first ever staff meeting where I was in charge. It was exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. We discussed many things, played games, shared ideas, made plans for improvement. It was exciting to realise the potential that the school has to transform student’s lives and minds. The teachers are now on holidays for all of August, so when they are coming back we (the principal and I) will be ready to work with them to implement new ideas and policies!

It’s also been wonderful spending time with the boys (both in class and at the centre). It has been fascinating seeing them in both contexts and seeing the potential they all have. The other day we spent time together where the boys drew the rules of the centre and made posters for their dorm rooms. They were so excited to join in. We are also planning some big art projects for the holiday season. J

Yesterday as I sat watching the boys my heart was smiling! J A visitor had come to the centre with a small black car. After a while one of the boys realised that the car reflections were acting like a mirror. He started dancing. Soon there were 8 boys standing in front of the car making faces, dancing and singing, watching their reflections. I joined in. They tried new moves, they bent, they twisted. They laughed. They laughed again. We all laughed! It was so precious. They started chanting and just being kids. I was thankful that they could just be kids in that moment.

There is lots to be done and I’m willing to do whatever is needed of me. My official role will be better established after my wedding in September.

That’s all for now! I am so thankful for everyone who’s been sending me messages of encouragement, praying for me and for those who are able to financially support me. God Bless you all! It certainly feels good to be in the centre of God’s will for my life.

If you feel led to assist me financially, I am still well below my needed monthly budget. Any helps! People can donate monthly through my bank account or through Genesis Aid- a tax-deductable option for Aussies. If you are able to give a one-off donation this can be done through http://www.youcaring.com/project-fundraiser/help-sarah-ross-transform-the-lives-of-street-boys-in-kenya-/349943

Be blessed

Much love from here. xxx

Sarah