The BIG test

Well, we are making history with our little high school. Our first class is taking the national exams. Every senior in the country is taking this same exam. All education to this point has been hinged on passing this exam. It is a big deal. The entire campus has had to make adjustments to ensure there is complete silence in the form 4 class as they take their exams. The candidates, as the students are called, are not allowed to take anything into the exam, no money, no hankerchiefs, only the clothes on their back, and even that gets inspected. Every morning the exams for the day arrive along with the external supervisor, the two invigilators (who watch the students take the test) and a police officer with an AK 47. The policeman is there to ensure no one sees the tests before hand and to arrest any imposters trying to take the test for a student. Amazingly the peace of God has been there and the students have been relaxed and free. Most of the conversation has been about how close they are to being done High School!

Wild animals

We have had a number of these around lately....

Liz the Maize Lady

I have a new friend here. Her name is Liz. She sells roasted maize (the hard white corn) outside the gate of the compound during the day. Actually she is quite the entrepenuer. She started with a little pan full of haot coals and a wire mesh on which she puts the corn to roast. A few weeks later she added a wheelbarrow of pinapples which she slices and sells per slice. The next week she had small sacks of raw potatoes for sale. And once she even made mandazies (like donuts, sort of). Liz is pleasantly plump with an emphasis on the pleasant. She brightens my day with her dimpled smiles. The cafeteria food has never been my favorite (beans and rice every day gets old real fast, especially when there is rocks in the rice) and so it is nice to have another option for lunch.

I think another reason I like buying maize from Liz is the wait. Maize must be eaten hot or else it hardens and could chip a tooth. So it is make it when you buy it sort of a business. So I get the perfect excuse in the middle of the day, when I am ready for a break, to sit on the side of the road and chat for a few minutes with Liz, who is really quite the conversationalist. We talk about silly things and serious things. She is essentially a single mom and is younger than I am, but she still has big dreams for the future. She never seems bogged down or worried about life. I appreciate that she treats me not just as a customer but as a friend.

I could send a student to get my maize, or even give Liz advance notice so I don't have to take the time out of the busiest part of my day. But then again, the 15 cents I pay is not just for the cob, it also comes included with it a little dose of perspective.

Youth fun day

Hey, just put up a few pics of the "Amazing Race" the youth did last month. It was really a fun time, though only a few showed up. The race ended at our house where we watched "facing the giants"

Class time

It has been so interesting going a whole year with these classes.

Form 2 used to drag their feet at every assignment, begging for more time to finish, many needing a few reminders to get them in, and a few who never did any assignments at all. Now they are racing to get their work done.

I rarely just teach in Form 3 - I have conversations with the class. "Mwalimu (teacher), what is the difference between the characteristics of the prophets and the importance of the prophets?" "Brenda, what is a characteristic of Jacob?" Brenda gets a twinkle in her eye. At the beginnning of the year I would have worried about giving her sharp tongue an opportunity to critique a student, but since she was baptized she has developed such a sweet spirit, with just enough wit to keep her fun. "He's cheeky" The kids all laugh, but that's OK, Jacob is confident enough to take it. "That's right, and you could say that he is important to this class because he adds alot of fun to it. I like cheeky students." "That's because you are cheeky!" I smile at Carolyn. Is it possible that this bright eyed, enthusiastic student is the same one who sat in her seat and stared at her desk the entire first term?

I walked back to my office later marveling at the work of God and the transforming power of His word. I'm just glad to be a part.