Jeremiah

I am still fighting the North Carolina bug that I brought from the states and so I have not been able to work in the nursery as is my usual haunt.  Instead I have looked for other opportunities to serve.  Yesterday‘s opportunity was to go with several other missionaries to an orphanage called Mosop which is about twenty miles from here.  The countryside is so beautiful, hilly and terraced with small sambas, or farms, and some tea farms.  The roads however are not beautiful but filled with large potholes that you try and avoid!  It is always fun to leave the “compound” and venture out into the countryside.

Mosop is a beautiful place!   It has its own school which you see as you drive in.  There are approximately 300 students who attend the school, some from the orphanage, some from the community, and some are boarding students who have families.  It is such a unique idea which seems to be working really well.  The founder and director, Elijah is a warm gentleman who just radiates pride in his home and his children.  The concept is that orphans mix on a daily basis with children who have families.  Often these families will include an orphan in their plans, bring them gifts, or invite them to their homes.  It is the hope that as a result they will grow up to be much better adjusted. 

The reason that we were there was to do Bible quizzing.  As I have said before it is like the old fashioned Bible sword drill where kids are on teams and must press the buzzer, and answer questions from the Bible within a time frame.  It is amazing what they know about the book of Matthew and how many verses they can recite!  The team named “The Sea of Galilee” won yesterday!   Hopefully I will be able to go back every Thursday afternoon and help coach them for the final quiz.

After the quizzing, we were invited to share tea with Elijah and some of the teachers and Elijah was good enough to share stories about a couple of students.   I think that he could write a book about his life and career.

Here is one story I would like to share one with you.  Jeremiah was born albino and rejected at birth by his father. The father thought he was mazunga (a white person) and the result of an affair.  The baby and mother were thrown out of the village and lived a pauper’s life.   At 14 Jeremiah was injured and brought to Tenwek Hospital.   When he recovered no one came to get him and so he wandered around the hospital until a missionary nurse, Robin Moore, brought him to Mosop Orphanage.   Elijah soon discovered that Jeremiah could not read or write and so he began tutoring him at night.   Within one week the boy was reading and Elijah realized how bright he was.  He began school in third grade and soon moved up, skipping fifth grade.  He graduated with the highest scores ever at the school; scores that no one has yet achieved.  He is now enrolled in nursing school despite his limited vision.  But that is not the end of the story. Unbeknownst to anyone, Jeremiah saved every coin anyone ever gave him and when he had enough he bought a very small piece of land and built a hut on it for his mother.  Unfortunately, he cannot find his mother and so he continues to search.  His love is unfathomable to me! To be rejected and still be able to love; that is only by the grace of God. 

Lots of love,

Mom

p.s. It has not rained yet.  We all continue to pray.