Shine Your Light Jesus

We are currently visiting different communities to see where the Lord may be leading us to work, help empower and invest in for His glory.  Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit a school in a town called Rumuruti. It is about 30-ish minutes away from where we live.  The school is located just outside of town close to a few villages.  We visited a nursery school which has nursery classes (starting around age 3) up to class eight (about 14-15 years old). The school had students primarily from the Turkana tribe but also had kids from the Kalenjin Tribe, and a few from the Kikuyu Tribe.

One of our pastor friends who works at the school during the week as a class seven teacher showed us around and introduced us to the head master. They informed us there are just under 500 students at the school and only 9 regular teachers. I am sure you can do the math to figure out the ratio of teachers to students. There is a lack of teachers throughout the country which makes it hard for public schools to spread out all the work and make sure each student is learning the best they can. Many of the teachers teach multiple classes and subjects.

The nursery class was the fullest and had students ages 3-5. There were just under 50 kids in the nursery class and only one teacher.  She divided the class in half and while she was teaching one half the others would wait outside until they could come in for their chance to learn.

While there we noticed most of the kids did not have a uniform. Most of the families in the villages are not able to afford school uniforms. This school has graciously allowed the kids to come to school without their uniforms because they know they would not come to school otherwise.

We were surprised to see the school had a feeding program. All of the teachers made a decision to use some of the money the government gives the school to help feed the kids lunch. This money does not come around all the time.  On days there is no food, a large amount of students do not show up for class. While we were there, the kids got to enjoy maze and beans for their lunch. This is what they have on a normal basis but some days there are no beans so the kids only eat the maze. We noticed that many were carrying their lunch home. The head masters informed us that the kids will take their lunch home so their siblings can eat some too as this is generally the only meal they will get all day.

After we visited the school we took a drive to a few villages where the kids live. We saw how far some of them will walk to school and observed that most of them walk barefoot. We saw where they collect their water at the school and how the whole community uses it, the mommas wash clothes in it, the people bath in it, and everyone including the cows drink from it.

Every time we go out to visit a community I am reminded of how much need there is just in this town of Rumiruti.  The need is great and resources are few. People so badly want to have hope that something better will come but they are too busy worrying about surviving today. My heart breaks every time we visit these places. I find myself asking Jesus to show up in mighty ways.  I ask Him to come and help these people and shine a light in a community where it has been dimmed for so long.

Please join us in prayer for this community and school and for discernment as we seek the Lord’s confirmation as to where He is calling us to join Him.