Thursday morning I spent time working with Nancy. She helps Athens with ACTS’s child sponsorship. She actually works with an organization called Urban Systems out of Canada along with the work she does for ACTS. She does their child sponsorship. Nancy and her husband Bern (Bernard) volunteer 6 months a year to ACTS and are basically second in command. So Nancy is the person to talk to about kids and schools. We sat down and talked through the whole situation. She gave me stats on test scores at the schools the secondary kids were at and scores of other secondary schools in the area. Interestingly enough, Mbrara and Ntungamo, the two closet towns or city for Mbrara, have extremely good private schools. She told me that ACTS had just recently made a deal with Ntungamo High School. They were willing to accept ACTS sponsored kids as long as there was room. Ntungamo High has scored very well on their tests. One of the 6 secondary kids, Mariat, was already enrolled there. We decided that we would try to move all of the kids to Ntungamo at the start of next term, since this term had just started, except Junior. We wanted to get all of them to the same school. My education on Uganda schools continued as we went through fee structure, levels, and divisions. Test scores of level 1 are a pretty big deal here. Junior was already enrolled at a school that produced 96% of its students at level 1, making it one of the top five in the country. The school is alma mater of more VIPs in Uganda than any other school, and is the school where the current president of Uganda and Rwanda graduated. Needless to say it is extremely impressive for him to even be enrolled there much less doing as well as he is. Of course the fees for him to be there are much higher.
Next we discussed the primary children. In case you have not picked up yet, most children who get a quality education attend boarding school. It is something parents here desire for their children. It is a hard concept for us to get used to, letting your 5, 6, 7, 10, or 12 year old leave your home and go live at school. However, it is the way of things here. One reason is they get the best education, and it is cheaper to pay for them to be at boarding school than to take care of them at home. We decided that we would give Beteth the option for her younger children. If she wanted to move all, part, or none then we would do it. We again had a connection with an awesome school in Ntungamo that Athens had worked with. Now, we had a plan. I was excited for Athens to come Friday morning and for us to show up and tell Beteth that her prayers had been answered. Rose had sent word through someone else in the village, that we would be coming for a visit, but she did not know why.
Friday morning we hooped in the truck and drove to the village. I was pretty excited as we made the walk through the banana trees. I had had a great morning of worship with God and was excited for him to be praised through this whole ordeal. As we were walking we ran into Beteth who had become excited and started looking for us. As we entered the house we introduced her to Athens. Athens then went through recording all the information on all the kids, name, age, school, and level. I could tell Beteth was confused as Rose and I had done this two days before. After we got the official information, Rose and Athens looked at me and said, “Well I think it’s time to tell her the good news.” As Rose got her attention I said, “Well Beteth, God has opened the door for us to pay to put all of your children in school.” (I am laughing now because as I am writing this listening to music “Mighty to Save” has started playing. I like that about God.) The confusion in her face was flushed out as Rose translated. Her eyes got big and a huge smile spread across her face. She jumped up and began to thank each one of us in the room. I told her that God was who deserved the thanks for what was happening and she shouted, “Webale Jesu” (Thank you Jesus).
After she settled down and returned to her seat from hugging her children, Athens took over. She explained all of the details of the sponsorship program. She shared how they must maintain good grades, good behavior, provide supplies for terms 2 and 3 during the year, how they should handle requests, and how the sponsorships could be renewed. After telling her kids they better be listening, she agreed to the terms.
Athens then shared our plan for the secondary students. She was very happy to know they would be together. She then told her that we would take the primary kids to boarding school if she wanted. I thought she had been excited the first time, but shouts of praise to God poured forth from her mouth. It was like living many of the Psalms where David would proclaim that praise would pour forth. Shouts were not the only thing that poured either, as her eyes welled up with tears. She was having a chance to release all the concern, uneasiness, pain, uncertainty, struggle, and thanks at one moment. This time she came around and looked each one of us in the face and slowly said thank you. It is the moments such as this that I always wonder WHY? Why would God ever choose to use someone like me. However, I am learning to quit asking the question, be thankful, keep following, and praise Him along the way.
We went outside and took some photos for the sponsors that are to come. The kids laughed and shyly hid behind their mom or around the corner. As we were leaving, Paul, the oldest primary child was returning from taking an exam. He had no idea who we were or why his mom was so excited. She yelled for him to pose for pictures. As I took the pictures he quietly thanked me not really knowing why. It seemed appropriate. So many times I think we thank God without truly knowing why. We forget all he has done; on the cross, at creation, all those times we fail, all the times he forgives, all the times he redeems, and all the times he uses us so that he might receive the praise due His name.
Webale Jesu for including us in your plan. May your praise pour forth from my mouth in all circumstances because I remember what you have done, are doing, and will do. I will Choose2B a reflector of your goodness and glory. Yesterday, we took the primary kids to school. Yeah the story is coming and so is the video for sponsorship. Can you continue something twice? Regardless their story continues to be written just like God’s.
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