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The Grace Journal is a place where Rev. Wambugu, and perhaps occasionally others of the Grace Ministries staff, will summarize the work of the day or week. We want you to feel that you are an active part of our work and our lives, and hope that this on-going journal of our activities – our joys, our sorrows, and our day-to-day work – will help to bring you more closely into our world.
God bless you for your interest and your support!
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Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 3:33 P.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING 28TH OCTOMBER 2006:
This was another short week for the School was having a break on Tuesday. Tuesday was the Muslim day to end their one month old fast and it is observed as a Public Holiday in Kenya. We have had three Public Holidays this month. Children still carried over the excitement of the tour into the week. One could hear healthy discussions among the pupils of the various animals that they saw and their interaction with Western Tourist.
Learning went on well. We are coming to the end of the academic year and pupils and teachers are busy revising for the end of the year Examination from 15th- 17th Nov.
There were two important events that were unique to the week. During the tour, Monica noted that one of the children was having mouth sours and has wounds in other areas of the body. When the child was asked if he has been taken to Hospital is said yes and was taking medicines. The mother had never brought this to the School attention and we invited her to come to School and meet the administration. It is a very tricky situation because we would not like this to be viewed as discrimination, but yet we have the duty to protect other children. When the mother came; she was very open and said that she has been taking Peter to Hospital and she is only given creams and pills to swallow and told that it is skin decease. Since he will be returned to the hospital Monday, Jane wrote a letter to the Medical Officer asking to be explained the nature of the sickness and if it is contagious. At the back of our mind we see early signs of HIV/AIDS. Lord forbid that it will not be the case.
Robert is a Standard three child whom we had interesting experience with. Roberts mother has full blown AIDS and has completely refused to go to Hospital. Robert has been in the category of the children that pays fees, but had not paid anything this term and last term. On Wednesday, Robert came to school with a bunch of money comprising of Shs.50 notes. This is the smallest currency denomination in a paper form. The Total amount was SHS. 1000 about $15.When I Miriam asked why he had brought the money in that form, he said that on Tuesday women from the community had gone to see her sick mother( Jane was among them) and that is what they had contributed. When I (Samuel) heard this, I told Miriam to give the money back to Robert to take to her mother and tell her to go to the hospital.
The ministry to HIV/AIDS has dominated the Grace School ministry this week. It is an extremely demanding ministry, physically, emotionally and financially. There are always unanswered questions as to why the Lord found it fitting to give us this ministry. We ask for your prayers that we shall endure the hardships with the strength that God alone can supply. May His name be glorified.
Have a pleasant week.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 5:45 P.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21ST 2006:
Grace School was a haven of activity this week.
The week began with children being in high spirits as they looked forward to Wednesday the day for their tour. This mood did not pervade to every child for the School could not take all the children that were not able to pay the required money. We hired a bus with a passenger capacity of 56. This means that we took 52 children and four teachers. Out of the 52 children only 20 had paid. It was a difficult task to choose the remaining 32. We gave the task to the class teachers to come up with 5 children who a most needy and hard working and this was done. The children had a lot of fun and learning.
The School had a longer break than we anticipated. There was no School from Wednesday- Saturday. 20th October is a public holiday in Kenya. We have used these days doing extensive building to the three upper classrooms. We fixed the doors, windows, metal grills, plastered the walls and put the floor. We also put Ceiling to Nursery and Standard one classroom. This was possible because we have the funds from the foundation and we have been in consultation with Ron Mayers the co-ordinator for ETFOGS and was of the opinion that we should go ahead to do the necessary construction.
I feel externally worn out by fatigue, but feeling elated when I see the transformation of Grace School which is nearing completion. This has significantly reduced the work that will need to be done in December. It is gratifying that I might have a week of rest this December -something I have never had since we started Grace School and its ministries.
The children come back on Monday if the Muslims will not have sighted the moon and have another public Holiday called Id Ur Fitir. We are therefore expecting a day break either on Monday or Tuesday.
We are thinking and praying for Rev. Sherrod and his family.
Grace and Peace to you all.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 09:00 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING OCTOMBER 14TH 2006:
The learning routine went on uninterrupted. Children have started practising Christmas Carols and Skits and they are anxiously looking forward for the tour next week. It is unfortunate that we shall not be able to take very child with us. There are a few who have paid and there a few others who will be going through the little funds that have been given to wards that end. We did not get adequate response for Janes appeal and we hope that times are generally difficult financially to most people.
We are enjoying light showers most afternoons. These are very welcome as we already had our farms planted and the potatoes and corn have already sprouted. It is important to not that the food we grow helps to feed the children and lowers the food budget.
I (Samuel) went to the hospital Monday to have the stitches removed from the left leg toe I had cut. The healing was impressive and I am now able to move without a cane. The teachers visited Eunice on Tuesday. Eunice is one of our teachers who is on maternity leave and she gave birth to a baby girl.
The ministry at the Church has been quite encouraging. Our sanctuary that had been dormant for close to ten years at foundational level has the walls almost complete. We have employed the people living with HIV to do the non skilled labour. This gives them the dignity that they are people who are able to earn their own livelihood and not depend on hand outs. We are thankful to the people the Lord is using to give towards the construction of this sanctuary.
Have a blessed week.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, October 07, 2006 at 5:31 P.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING 7TH OCTOBER 2006:
The week weather was good. We are moving to what we call warm and wet season, but it is not near the temperatures of your summer. The Sun is rising early and this has made it possible for nearly all the teachers and pupils to be in class by 7 a.m.
There is a grooming anxiety among the children as the date of the tour nears. This is because there is no assurance of the trip taking place due to School’s financial status. Jane made a financial appeal to friends and supporting partners and we are optimistic that we shall get response before the due date.
The School had painful issues to talk and pray about. On Monday while I was splitting wood at our house, the panga slide and caught my left foot toe. I went to the hospital and it was fixed with three stitches. I have been rare at School and whenever I come, I come limping using a cane. Children have never seen this on any member of staff and a few with guts came asking me if the toe was completely cut and if I have only four toes on my left feet. They are very sympathetic and concern. The stitches will be removed Monday and possibly there will be no more cane.
Another prayer item that has dominated Grace School is the sickness of Rev. Marc Sherrod the Senior Pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Kingston. Bethel Church has a very close connection with Grace School. The children of Grace have been communicating through letters with children of Bethel Church and even some teachers have friends they communicate with. It was therefore very sad to all Grace Family to hear what Marc is going through. We pray that the Lord will be gracious to him and restore his health. Our thoughts and prayers are with Marc’s family and the entire Bethel Church.
The Lord be gracious to all of you.
Samuel.
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Please know that your donation can help, not only to save the life of a child in Limuru, but to guide that life in such a way as to loosen the stranglehold of despair and death that threatens so much of Kenya's population. Thank you, in advance, for your compassionate support!
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