Yes, Mike and Gail are Alive and Well in Africa !!

Hi everyone,

I know it’s been ages since I wrote a blog entry.  We continue to be extremely busy here and most evenings I fall asleep before I get around to typing a note to all of you.  So sorry.

One of the best parts about staying in one place for all this time is to see the growth in the kids – both physically and emotionally.  My first set of pre-schoolers are now in grade 3!  My second wave of them “graduated” to 1^st grade in January.  Most are doing very well.  Yet, I have found that the ones who are HIV pos. seem to struggle more in school – esp. with short term memory.  I still don’t know how any of them learn much, when the average classroom size is 55 to 60 students with 1 teacher.  The alternative would be to open our own school here at the children’s home, and that is not feasible right now.  We have 39 children ranging in age from 4 to 18 and covering preschool to high school.  I suppose we could start with just the lower primary grades & give the kids a better foundation before moving them to public school, but for now it’s walk 45 min. each way and sink or swim in the overcrowded classrooms.  We have 1 student who failed grade 10 for the second time, and has now left school.  Academics were not her strength, despite a strong work ethic.  She’s our first child to begin the transition phase with the eventual goal of emancipation.  We’re looking for ways to utilize her talents:  love of children and love of God.  She took a preschool training course, and is now taking a discipleship training course in Zambia with a previous volunteer to the children’s home. 

The longer we work with and get to know the children, the more we are able to see their strengths, weaknesses and character traits.  We still get some surprises:  positive ones such as witnessing our 4 yr. old learning to speak; watching real learning by a child we originally thought was beyond our ability to help; watching the 3 girls who came to us as frightened adolescents who’d been terribly abused blossom into lovely young ladies.  Then, of course we see some negatives:  children who steal from each other; bold-faced lying; blatant cheating – pretty petty stuff when you look at the big picture – which is why we have loved being a part of the programming here.

We’ve been asked to help administer a 2^nd children’s home located 45 min. from here.  The previous owner is now 95 yrs. old & unable to run things.  She asked the church to look after things, but not much happened.  So, for the last 3 yrs. or so, things really went downhill.  We’re helping to get things back in good order, both the physical maintenance as well as restore leadership and structure for the 20 girls living there.  I’ve spend a few days there teaching, sorting out issues, and helping with school work.  There’s lots to be done, but most of the girls are happy to have someone now in charge, even if it means more rules & discipline, since it also means they are getting regular food deliveries.  This venture is in addition to the over 150 children who are being supported in surrounding communities with food parcels, school fees & uniforms, etc.

Here’s a snapshot of a “day in the life of” for Mike & me:  met with Michelle at 7:30 am to plan the next few days events; prepared teaching materials for preschool 8 – 9; 9 – 11 met with leadership from a nearby orphanage run Taiwanese who are Buddhist and vegetarian (both foreign concepts here).  Then everyone helped load 12,000 banana plants that had been sold onto trucks.  After a quick lunch we tutored one group of children for 1 hour; had a welcoming ceremony for a US visitor; then tutored the 2^nd group of children for another & ended the day at 5:45. 

Gotta get some sleep & prepare for tomorrow.  Lots of love to you all.  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.  Gail & Mike