It’s 5 AM… Do you know where your kids are?

It was one of those nights when sleep came in restless segments; those nights when you probably get more sleep that it feels like, but the night seems endless. At one point I began to be aware that I had been listening to a sound that seemed far in the distance; the muffled sound as of a huge swarm of bees. As I listened, I realized it was the children praying – it was pitch black dark! When the children pray, they pray all at the same time in fairly low tones, creating a wonderfully sustained hum. I checked the time – it was 5 AM! The prayers, that I could not help but lay there and listen to, lasted for about 30 minutes. (more…)

A Hot Afternoon… and a Broken Tooth

Dozing in and dozing out of sleep– the latent effects of jet lag, very early start to a very busy morning, an increasing heat of the afternoon that, was approaching uncomfortable - all converged to create the “Perfect Nap.” I was in that wonderful zone somewhere between asleep and awake when I began to sense that someone was at my door. I greeted the yet unseen person and welcomed him/her to come in. (more…)

My eyes were closed in prayer…

I felt the light touch a of little hand on my shoulder trip and what happened next was nothing short of amazing! We were deep into what the family in Zziba calls “evening prayers”. This is a time every evening when the 14 children, along with “Mama Edith”, come together for a time of worship and prayer. The time starts out with joyous singing, enthusiastic clapping, and sometimes even spontaneous dancing. Then without visible cue, the time transitions to a time of very engaged and intense prayer.

Each child winds up in various parts of the room, on their knees, facing the wall and all praying - at the same time – out loud! What seems like potential chaos actually reverberates into a wonderful symphony of praise and worship the likes of which I have rarely experienced in my life. At one point, I opened my eyes to look around to just absorb this amazing moment. As I scanned the room, my eyes met the eyes of little Edwin Pious Malinda, a third grader, about six feet right in front of me, as he was staring right at me. I gave him a reassuring nod and wink; and then closing my eyes, I returned to prayer.

A moment later, I felt the light touch of a small hand on my shoulder. I peeked to my right and there, kneeling beside me, was my little friend Pious – hand on my shoulder, eyes shut tight, praying with the fervency of an Old Testament prophet, calling down the presence and blessing of God on my life – a third grader! With tears streaming down my face, I thanked God for leading us to this amazing little group of people and for the difference that we are being allowed to make in their lives, as they are in ours – a truly amazing moment.

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