Cultural Experience

One day I was asked if I'd like to visit a school that one of our workers started.  Knowing that it would be a great opportunity to experience something new and see a dream being accomplished, I said "yes!"  What an experience it ended up being.

The worker, I'll call him Mr. B, is from a tribe that is known for having limited educational opportunities.  The boys are usually expected to be out herding.  The girls are supposed to be taking care of the home.  Having grown up in the culture, Mr. B saw a need for a quality school in one of his tribal areas.  He began praying and asking what he should do to help his people.  After much prayer, things began to fall into place.  He was given land.  He sold his cattle, the most valuable possession for his people, to fund the building of the school.  And now, there is a pre-primary school where these precious children are getting an education that they previously wouldn't have had access to.

The students were so cute.  They were actually on their school break, but they heard that visitors were coming so they put on their uniforms and came to school to greet us.

It's not easy to find teachers who are willing to teach in rural areas with limited access to resources.  This sweet young teacher, on the right, has decided to make personal sacrifices to work at the school because she loves the children and believes that this is her work from God.  I am quite certain that her faith is growing as she works through the many challenges of teaching and living in a new culture with a different language.

Mr. B and the school have the support of a dear pastor friend.  The school is in the area where the pastor grew up and where his family still lives.  It's truly a community effort to make sure these children have a bright future.

Mr. B on the right with the supportive pastor, students, and teacher

An exciting thought is that as our teacher training program gets into full swing, we could possibly train up teachers to teach in this school who are equipped with effective teaching methods and rich classical curriculum and resources.  Can't wait to see what the future holds!

Not only did we see the school, but we also got to learn quite a bit about the culture.  We learned of the challenges and persecutions that the local believers are facing. Traditional healers are quite opposed to people of their tribe having faith in someone else.  But there were amazing stories shared of the power of prayer and perseverance in the faith.

This kid is going to be a leader one day :)

Traditional horn for milk

The cattle pin to protect them at night

After learning about the school and the immediate area, we were invited to the pastor's mother's home.  What hospitality!  Of course, the kids followed with smiles and eagerness to greet us with "good morning".

With access to education and the support of their church community, just think of what these kids might become one day.  Here are the future leaders to make positive changes in their community, their tribe, and their country.

At the end of it all, we were honored by being clothed in the traditional dress.  We pretty much look like we're members of the tribe, right?!

Pastor J

Two teachers from the school are on the ends

Welcoming, gracious, hospitable family members

I thought it was pretty funny to watch the number of people in the picture grow from 2 to 3 to 5 to 10.  I am so thankful for this day.  I learned so much and grew a whole new appreciation for many things.  It's a day I won't forget.

I drove all the way home in the traditional dress and got some pretty funny looks along the way, especially when we got pulled over by traffic police because they wanted to greet the pastor in my passenger seat.  Not every day you see a white girl driving down the road wrapped in traditional cloths :)