Thanks.

The school year is wrapping up, we have finished O-Level exams and are entering the last few days of A-Levels. Our other students are in the midst of end of year exams. A brand new track, thanks to Scott Ickes (and many supporters!), has just been completed. The time between dinner and evening preps finds most of our students out walking and socializing along the new loop as they make their plans for the upcoming school holidays.
Back at home, we are receiving a steady stream of students dropping by to express their thanks and gratitude for Christ School. Yesterday, four guys came by to sit and chat with Kevin. These students have been sponsored since S1 and in the next few days they will finish their sixth year with us. It is a joy and blessing to have been a significant part of their lives. As I looked out the kitchen window yesterday at these four young men with a bright future ahead of them (probably university sponsorship for each of them) sitting on white plastic chairs talking eagerly with their headmaster about their years at CSB, I know that our time here has been well spent.
The theme that continues to be repeated with each meeting, whether male or female seems to be... "I never thought I'd reach this point." Over and over again we hear stories of tramatic childhoods, no possibility for future schooling, just a small tentative hope for a different life and then someone, somewhere suggested they go to Christ School and "see Kevin." They talk about their fears of having nothing but a bit of cleverness and a dream, about showing up for the entrance exam and finding "half of Nyhuka" waiting there. They share their joy and disbelief that they scored well enough to be sponsored, that their names were written on the list.
Now they sit with Kevin, 6 long years later, and discuss their future. He reminds them of where they've come from and their responsibility to give back to the community, to their families and clans. He talks with them about corruption ("When people rush to shake your hand, be careful that they don't pull you into their schemes.") He encourages them to talk with their elders, their fathers, their brothers. He implores them to "keep good behaviours" as they await their exam results. He talks with them about their dreams for university and life beyond.
What a cool thing for Kevin and I to be in such a position. Like our students we shake our heads and proclaim, "What a blessing that we have made it this far." Thank you.