obu

a couple of weeks ago i went to arkansas for a dear friend's wedding. since i was in arkansas i simply had to go visit my alma mater and spend time with friends there i hadn't seen in a while. lots had changed in the last fourteen years ... but it was fun to be back to see all the upgrades and reflect on the memories made there.

training leaders

In Njuruta we had the privilege of training some of their leaders. It is amazing to see how eager they are to learn and how far they have come in the last year. 

Michael and one of the other team members, Jim, taught a leadership seminar for the Income Generating Activity groups.

Michael and Jim lead a discussion on team building and trust. As part of teaching about team building, Jim asked each group to build a Lego boat to see how each group worked together as a team. It was fun to see how groups who have never seen Legos let alone built anything with Legos try to work through the exercise.  They also had fun with the trust walk exercise.  I was so inspired by their willingness to try new things and to share about the struggles of each group. We could learn from that.  It is encouraging to hear how far they have come in just a year. And to hear their desire to work together and support each other through these groups.

Another day, I, along with another team member Anna, led a Sunday School Teacher training.  They again were so willing to learn and they had great questions. They have such an important ministry to children under conditions we cannot imagine here in America. I am so amazed by what they do. 

 

a community coming together

One of the exciting and encouraging things we got to see while we were in Njuruta was the new classroom the community had built. 

When I visited Njuruta for the first time in 2007, this was what the classrooms looked like (see below). Not the optimal learning environment especially given the very windy conditions. Combine the wind with dirt floors and the "air vents" in the walls and the result doesn't promote good focused learning. 

Unfortunately, these classrooms are still in use today, BUT the community just finished building a beautiful new one.

After receiving a brick maker, the community of Njuruta learned how to make their own bricks. On their own they figured out how to make the bricks even more sturdy to last longer. How amazing it was to see how the community came together to build something like this. What a sharp contrast in building style between the two buildings. 

  

It may not seem like such a big deal to have a better classroom, but in a place like Njuruta education is everything. It is the key to future success in the community and in the lives of the individuals seeking to get further education. Having a nicer school can also help attract good teachers. Currently the community only has five teachers, but they have eight grades. 

It is so encouraging to see what the community can accomplish when they work together. They were so proud of this project and how they worked through the obstacles on their own. And they should be proud. What an amazing accomplishment. 

On our last day in Njuruta the community dedicated the building. What a blessing.  I look forward to seeing more classrooms like this the next time we return.