Game Time

It was such a joy to come back to Chifusa this past week. A new term at school has started, the rains have made everything more vibrant and my relationships with people in my village continue to grow. I have been getting up early in the morning to go for a run and it also gives me a chance to pray and think through my day. I absolutely love the way the sunlight and fog mix together to give everything a magical appeal. After my jog I get to enjoy French pressed (thanks Ry & Bren) coffee (thanks Tito) while listening to the BBC world news on my radio (thanks Hagood’s) and eating cinnamon roll oatmeal (thanks auntie Carol & mom). Life is so rough! While I am doing my morning routine tons of kids on their way to school wave and shout to me and I sing greetings back to them as well. This week it just really hit me how blessed I am to be in this situation; the pace of life is such that I can enjoy so many things that I would rush through back home in the states.

My friend Sam Lockhart and her work (thanks Adventure Club) sent out tons of toys and balls for the kids in my village. At lunch and after school I have groups of kids coming to my place to play. Other than a couple of rounds of out of control dodge ball, it has been awesome to watch these kids interact with one another. Leaders rise out of the group and they all work together to entertain themselves. Somewhere between each kick, throw, and catch the burden of poverty, of hunger, of sickness, all of it melts away and there is just a field of kids having a blast. I love that I get to watch and be a part of the fun. My competitive side (thanks Dad) also really enjoys being on the winning team.

When I am not playing, I actually work around here! This past week I was able to meet with the headmasters from three of the schools in my catchment area. All of them are going to work on action plans for how I can partner with them this next term. At Chifusa Basic I will be doing a one hour training each week with the teachers. We’ll be focusing on “Life Skills” that they can incorporate in their classrooms. The students have been given so much information on HIV and yet there is still a disconnect between that and changing their behavior. We are hoping that by giving them the tools for dealing with relationships, peer pressure, etc, we will see a move to behavior change. I am excited to see where the next term takes us.

Thank you again for your continued prayers. You have no idea how much each one of you, because of your influence in my life, is a part of this experience. I hope your days ahead are filled with simple joys!