Eliza's First Day of School

Last Tuesday was one of the happiest days of my time in Kenya.  Eliza went to school! 

For the last few weeks, I have been working to find Eliza a sponsor.  I haven't been successful as of yet, but time was running out.  Because of the way their school system is set up (based on 3 terms per year), she needed to start last week or she would have to wait until January.  I couldn't let that happen.  "You're going to school tomorrow" I told her last Monday.  I could not stand by and allow money to prevent this girl from starting a new chapter of her life. 

Tuesday morning, we left the center early and headed into town.  Our first stop: the tailoring shop where we bought her uniform.

We also made stops at the bookstore, the market, and the shoemaker.  After several hours, we had everything on her school list.  She was ready to go!  I don't think Eliza stopped smiling the entire time we were shopping.  She kept grabbing my hand and whispering "I am just so happy." 

We headed back to the CYEC so she could change into her new uniform.  Of course I had to take her "first day of school picture." 

We walked to school, and I enrolled her with the headmaster.  We discussed some details, and then he told her it was time to go.  I panicked.  "You're taking her?" I asked, like a mother might on her child's first day of school.  I hugged her tight, and told her to have a good day.  "I'll see you when you get home," I told her.  "I'll be waiting to hear all about it!"  Of course I cried the whole walk back to the CYEC.  What if the other kids don't accept her?  What if she doesn't understand the classes?  What if she is too behind to catch up? Worry filled my heart for the sweet girl.

I thought about her all day until she walked through the center's gates that evening.  She ran up to me and hugged me for a long time.  She thanked me and told me how happy she was.  "Except, I cried all day," she admitted.  I laughed, and told her that I had cried, too!!  She said that most of the tears were 'happy tears,' but every time she thought about me walking out of the school and leaving her, she had 'sad tears.'  We are quite the emotional pair, haha. :)

This week, Eliza has been happier than I have ever seen her.  Several of the staff members and students have told me that they have never seen Eliza like this before.  "It's like a breath of fresh air has filled her lungs," one of them told me.  She has purpose again.  The girl who (just 2 weeks ago) sat on a bench at the center all day is now in school, studying and working hard toward her goals. 

I have spent each evening with her in the library, helping or encouraging her while she studies.  Each night, she has been one of the last students in there.  She has also started waking up at 4:00 each morning to study.  I walk her to school at 6:30 each morning, and the whole way she talks about her classes, her teachers, and her peers.  The once-quiet girl has become quite the chatter box.  :)  

Yesterday (Saturday afternoon), I couldn't find her anywhere.  Finally I spotted her in the library, hunched over her books.  I didn't disturb her: just stood there and watched her, praying for her and her future.  

It's hard to explain how I feel about this whole situation.  It brings me SUCH joy to know that Eliza is in school.  But it breaks my heart to know that there are countless children in this community (let alone the world) who are so desperate for a chance at an education.  And the only thing preventing that opportunity is money.  The last two weeks have taught me a lot about money.  What is it, really?  What does it matter?  How can I go to sleep at night knowing that I have money sitting in a bank account that could change someone's life?  Money, as well as all of our material possessions, are such a blessing.  Of course we know that.  But they also present a problem.   How do we enjoy them when we know others are suffering from lack of them?   A song lyric has been playing over and over in my head recently:

"Now that I have seen, I am responsible.  Faith without deeds is dead."  

Now that I have seen how far a little money can go, I am responsible. Responsible for the futures of the 97 sweet faces that look at me each day.  The faces I have grown to love and care for.  

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and money.  Luke 16:13

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.  Acts 2:44-45

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:25