A Shiny New Pen
A young orphan girl simpers in front of the camera while waiting in line to receive a UNICEF school kit.
Thursday was a day that helped me remember why I’m here.
Sometimes things can get a bit stagnant in the office, and the immediacy of the need in this country and the beauty of the beneficiaries can dim. Which is why Thursday was so good for me. Help Channel Burundi was in Rutana Province in the south of the country, distributing 12 000 primary school kits to orphans and otherwise vulnerable children in a project funded by UNICEF. We spent many days planning the logistics- how to best determine the distribution locations, how to formulate the information database to ensure the correct amounts of materials make it to the correct schools and to the correct children, and then how to actually do the distribution. It was a massive job, and the Help Channel team shone brilliantly. However, the best part of the experience for me was actually driving to a few schools and handing the school kits to the individual children. It was inspiring to see how they graciously accepted the materials, with the looks on their faces showing their eagerness to learn. For some, to use a pen for the first time. For all, to fill the bright white pages of their new workbooks with marks of hope for the future.
4 comments:
glad you had one of those days. they're crucial. hope to have one myself before too long.
pee ess. i had to look up 'simper'. is that a scrabble word? please tell me you don't use that in your everyday vocabulary.
Hi Brandon! Our church made up over 200 school kits a few weeks ago. The missions committee bought the supplies after collecing a huge bottle full of change. Everyone was invited to help put the kits together...from 2 yrs to 80 yrs....it was great! We have enough supplies for 70 more kits...just waiting for the bags to be sewn. It's great to see pictures, and to hear first hand how much the kits are needed and wanted. Maybe next year our missions committee should send ME to help distribute the kits so that I could bring back a first hand report!
Thanks for the blog updates. We read them, and pray for you often.
Aunt Barb, and family
the quality of this picture is stunning, not to mention the beauty of the children. this truly is a beautiful work.
Seeing the smiling faces does help to remind us of what we do. I am glad you were there for that! Next time I'm standing in Staples among 100's of different pens...I will remember this picture. Praying for you always!
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