Every evening we have devotions in the dorm. Our tradition is to invite different people in the community to come and share; where else could you have people do something like that? Last week, one of the single women came and brought a video that she made when she bungee jumped in Victoria Falls, Africa. The video was dramatic, and she gave a wonderful talk about trust and faith.

What did fifth grade boys get out of the talk? The next morning, three different guys had tied their socks together, tied one end off the top bunk, and the other end around their ankles, trying to see what it felt like to bungee jump. I can’t answer what it felt like, but I have many unkind opinions of what it was like to untie used socks.

On Friday night, Matthew went with a friend to spend the night. Our eight year old walked a mile in the dark with another eight year old to his home, something I cannot imagine in the states but didn’t worry about here, in this part of Africa. They spent the day together, and had fun swimming and playing.

Matthew came home sunburned, and wondered if Josh had gotten sunburned. We replied that probably not, because Josh is a Kenyan with dark skin. His reply was classic Matthew:

“I wish MY skin was black”.

With the help of some other friends, we were able to help Grace cover the tuition for her oldest son. But the educational system in this country is so corrupt that when the government announced that they would reduce school fees in half, the schools simply ignored the government, and kept fees the same level.

The final blow came when we got all the money together, which is about twice what the average African makes in a year. It couldn’t be paid in cash; it had to be in a money order. And there are some good reasons for that, considering all the thieves in the schools. (In the schools defense, many of the teachers have not been paid in 5 months) So it had to be a money order.

And the money order cost three weeks wages.

I have never understood revolutions before I came to Africa, and I think if there is unrest here, the poor will be the most hurt, but at what point do you throw up your hands and say `Enough is enough’ and trash a system that robs and steals from its own people?

I don’t know the answer to the question, but I understand the question now.

YP