Absence Of Electricity – Abundance Of Desire
October 9, 2007
Today is day 10 in Kenya, but only day 8 at St. Monica’s.
The power has been cut off 9 times. Today is the longest we have been without electricity. It has been 8 hours now and night is drawing near. I am grateful that I chose a hand crank flashlight. It has come in very handy.
Last night the girls were doing their homework by candlelight and by flashlight.
The drive to succeed here is very strong. There are 6 girls graduating from primary school, that is 8th grade. High school should be the next step. Unfortunately, high school requires tuition and Father Augustine can only send one girl to high school next year.
The cost is approximately $700 for the year for tuition, room and board, and $50 for the books. That is nothing to us. $750 for the year! I know that working together, we can make this happen. But because the cost is so high for the Father, he can only afford to send one.
So the girls are fighting.
They’re not literally fighting. They are fighting for that spot. Whoever has the highest scores will be the one chosen. So that is why the drive is high. That is why the desire is so strong. The drive to succeed, to get that one spot, keeps them moving forward without complaint as they do their homework by candlelight.
Inspiring, don’t you think?
Yes~I do find that very inspiring! It is very sad all that we take for granted.
I KNOW i can raise 750 dollars. You tell Father Augustine that all 6 girls will make it to high school! MFFO can make this happen! (just dont tell the girls, we want them to stay motivated!!)
Rocky ~ when you get back I want to touchbase with you about the lack of elecricity. I recently read an article about a farmer in Northern India that has built solar lights and it has changed their quality of life. I’m going to try to find the article and get more info on how much one would cost.
And if we’re going to get those girls into high school they’re are going to need plenty of light to do their homework!
The way I do math, that’s 5 x $750 = $3750. Yeah, I think we can make that happen.
We can make it happen.. Lets start working on it. All of us at MFFO can make anything happen. Lets make a difference.
If all the MFFO’s chip in I am sure we can do even more than that. It just goes to show you though. I know from personal experience that for a lot American’s that that kind of drive just isn’t there. It’s sad.
Put us down for one full year of tuition for 1 girl!
It will happen, Rocky! Not to worry! I wish there was more drive like that among children and adults alike here in the United States.
I just woke my man up and we are definitely talking about what we can do as a couple and as a family. This post made me cry. He told me to go to bed and not worry, that six girls would be going to high school. I love him, not only for who he is but that he loves me,even when I wake him up.
Rocky and Jeff,
Please put Mike and I down for one full year of tuition for one girl. We have also started to rally the troops for the fundraising event we will be holding in November. The invitation has made and the guest list is growing. We are on our way to raising lots of tuition money for our girls. I cleaned out the change drawer and found $72.11! I am so excited!
All our love and support,
Mike and Myla
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