A Mattaw Update, From the U.S.

I've been home for two days now, and while it has been a joy to be back with my family, I am missing those in Kitale terribly.  When I'm up at night from the jet lag, I pull up pictures from my trip to look, pray, and remember well so that I don't forget.

Today I read Kim's latest update on her blog.  I sat on my bathroom floor to read the update and just wept over the news of Esnas's death.  I never met her personally, but was burdened along with Anna, Keela, Kim, and many others to pray for her healing and love her well.  I was confident, like many others, that God would heal her.  Like Kim states in her latest post, we all know He has the power to do so.  However, He did not.  At least not in our world.  I can rejoice with Kim and those in Kitale that attended her funeral because she is healed and with Jesus now.  She is not experiencing pain or sickness.  She is experiencing the glory of our Savior and basking in His love eternal.  I can rejoice because where the sting of sin and death exists, the Hope of the Gospel can triumph and heal.

Thank you for your prayers for Esnas.  Continue to pray for the many, many others like her.  Continue to pray for the Huffmans as they bring the ministry of healing to those hurting and broken in their community.  Continue to pray that we might know that same power of the Gospel for those hurting and broken here in American communities, and that the love of Jesus may spread everywhere.

On Safari.

From Friday, June 22:

So I've made it to the airport, narrowly escaping any rat encounters.  Bud took the teams and me to Nakuru, a town about four hours from Kitale, for a safari drive Thursday morning.  

Gorgeous views on the drive.

Made a pit stop at the Equator.

We had a blast and saw some of the most amazing scenery and animals.  Nakuru National Park is huge and absolutely beautiful.  We took an afternoon game drive, then spent the night in a tent resort in the park and got up the next morning for a morning drive.

  

Two from our caravan.

The water is incredibly high.

Lake Nakuru.

Twins?

Storks.  Not attractive.

What's up, y'all?

Possible relative of our friends in the ceiling, Anna and Keela?

Last goodbye to cowboys Bud and Caleb before heading to the airport!  

I've enjoyed some quality time with the teams these past couple of days.  They are great people.  Now we're off for one more flight until we're back to the land of Chick-Fil-A and power-flush toilets!


*Thanks to Caleb C. for the pictures!

Last Day: Part 2

From Wednesday, June 20:

I walked away from Dorcus and down the path from the school to find a great big party, put on by the two teams here from Missouri and South Carolina.  These two teams are awesome!  I was overjoyed to see all the little ones gathered in one place for face and nail painting, s'mores, and games.  So what else could I do but join in?  The teams, Keela and Anna, and I laughed and had a great time loving on the kids.  By the end of the afternoon every single child was both more colorful and sticky from both paint and marshmallows.

  

I finished painting an almost-butterfly on Faith's face (turns out I'm a better teacher than I am artist) and looked up to see everyone in a circle.  Faith, some others, and I finally joined in and the singing began.  I wasn't sure what was going on, but recognized the song as the same one the children sing to greet visitors.  This time is was to honor visitors and tell them goodbye.  And I was first.  Holy moly, did the tears come.  Jennifer pulled me to the center of the circle, we danced, and then she wrapped me in an African sarong.  Each visitor danced and was given a gift of thanks as well.  I continued to blubber uncontrollably, blaming my tears on the smoke from the s'mores fire.

Jennifer and I.
What a trade off--she gives me gift of thanks and I paint her face as if she's the Green Lantern.

The men were given hats.

There is nothing better than watching white people dance.

Let's all join in!

  

The children and house parents gathered for pictures with the teams and thanked them for coming.  Then it was my turn for a picture with all the children.  A few stepped forward and thanked me for my time here.  I had the opportunity to remind them that God has great plans for each of their lives, and to encourage them to follow him with all their hearts.  Now there was no blaming the tears on the smoke.  All I could think of was how blessed I am to know them, how grateful to the Lord I am for the opportunity to come do life with them and teach, and how much I am not ready to leave them.

We left and had a farewell dinner with Bud, Kim, the Huffman kiddos, Keela, Anna, and the teams.  I even had two pieces of chocolate cake.  TWO.  It was glorious.  I love my new friends here dearly.  Keela and I were laughing the other day and she joked, “How long have we known each other again?”  I responded, “Three weeks,” and she laughed and said, “Feels like it's been our whole lives!”  She's so right.  They keep saying they are going to all throw me to the Kenyan rats so I'll pass out so hard and miss my ride in the morning to leave.  I can only laugh nervously in response because I would never put it out as a possibility between the three of them.  I'm going to miss them very much, and am thankful for all they have taught me while I've been here.

With Keela and Anna.

Goodbye squeeze from sweet Elisha.
And I need to wash my hair.

Kim, Keela, Anna, and me.

Last Day: Part 1

From Wednesday, June 20:

Today marked my last day at Mattaw during my trip.  Man, it was hard.  I'm not typically very sentimental or emotional; I have more of the tendency to just put my head down and barrel through whatever is ahead of me.  Today, however, was a different story.  Each image and conversation I wanted to freeze in time and hold closely to me.  

I made my way around to each classroom, beginning in the preschool room.  We colored for a while, and then I was asked, on the spot mind you, to teach a lesson on “physical development.”  After a brief conversation I figured out Teacher Winnie was referring to a lesson more along the lines of physical education.  So we went outside, threw the ball, played Simon Says, and ran.  Best lesson I've ever taught.  Ha.

Beautiful Faith.

George is super cute and he knows it.

We folks in the States call it P-E, Winnie.

This is my sponsored child at Mattaw, Rosie.
She is adorable, and about as big as the basketball.

We finished lessons on friendly and business letter writing and vowel sounds in the upper level classrooms.  Salma even wrote a letter to me.  It was so genuine and precious.

Friendly and business letter-writing.

Salma.

One of my favorite parts of the day was getting to observe the teachers implementing some of the teaching techniques we have discussed during out time each afternoon.  The teachers in the middle room worked in small groups with students today, and then we evaluated formative assessments from the lesson during our “nap time” that afternoon.  I'm so proud of their progress and eagerness to learn as teachers.

Hellen working with a small group.

  

Before I knew it, lunch was here, and the last half-day of school was over.  Before they could go to lunch though, I held each class captive and made them take photos with me.  I plan to post these on the wall in my classroom at home.  It's my desire that the children in my classroom this upcoming year would become aware of the fact that they live in a big, big world, and that not everyone lives as they do.  I pray that awareness would give way to thanksgiving for our many blessings, and conviction and giving toward others' great need. Ultimately, I pray seeing photos of my students at Mattaw would cause my American students to ask questions of what they do at Mattaw or why I spent part of my summer here, giving me an opportunity to share with them the Good News of the Gospel.  Best kind of teaching there is, no matter which country you're in.

Upper level classes.
Where's Waldo, anyone?

Preschool class.

Middle level class.

The teachers and I spent our last session together and discussed student engagement techniques from the book The Highly Engaged Classroom by Robert Marzano.  We also discussed classroom management and discipline.  Our time went by so fast.  We said goodbye through tears and hugged each other numerous times.  Dorcus was the most difficult goodbye.  She wept and thanked me for coming, saying that she knew the Lord had sent me to her to encourage her when she thought she couldn't go on.  I was so moved and humbled by her words.  I told Dorcus how proud I was of her leadership and courage, and that I had great confidence that she could accomplish immense change because the Lord would give her strength.  We both praised God together for His work among us teachers.  We also agreed to both pray earnestly to the Lord about an opportunity to return to visit them one day.  We're both confident the Lord will provide this, so instead of goodbye we chose to say, “Tutaonana” // See you later.  And, as a side note, for once during my time here, I pronounced a Swahili word correctly. (But I did have to ask how to spell it.)

Tutaonana, Dorcus.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

From Tuesday, June 19:
I cannot begin to believe tomorrow is my last day at Mattaw.  The days have been filled and are going by so quickly here.  The teachers and I have grown very close, and I am immensely blessed to know about their lives and work.  I've been very busy at school this week.  The teachers often look at me, shake their heads and say, “Ohh, Court....Busy, busy, busy.”    Ha.  I've taught more lessons on phonics, time, and even letter writing.  It's been so much fun.  I get so excited when the students get a concept, I have found myself jumping around and waving my arms in the air in celebration.  The other day, Joshua and Saida laughed after showing me their papers and Joshua said, “I made the teacher dance with my work.”

You sure did, buddy.

Telling time lesson.

Writing friendly letters.

Mary during a lesson on long vowel sounds.

The teachers and I have continued to discuss lesson planning and student engagement based on the work of Phillip Schlechty.  I'm so proud of how far they've come, and pray they will be able to continue to implement what we have learned in their teaching.  A few of them have really begun to take ownership of the new curriculum, and students are progressing greatly as a result.

The teachers with their copies of the book. 

Don't be confused though, it's not “busy, busy, busy” all the time.  Here, we take an hour or so for lunch, and then have a short rest in the school courtyard.  I'm catching on quickly.

  

I wonder how my principal would feel about implementing this Kenyan tradition at our school all in the name of cultural enrichment...?  

I'm thinking I'd better just enjoy it while I'm here.

The afternoon topped off with some quality girl time on the side of house 1.  We sipped tea, chatted, and I even had my hair done. 

It's going to take me a long time to undo some of these braids tonight.

Some news on Esnas—She is still in the hospital, and at this point struggling greatly.  The Lord has provided immensely through many who have given toward her medical expenses and care.  Please continue to pray that the Lord would heal her and she would sense His great love through Kim and others.