There I was sitting with Jane, the Headmistress of the boarding school where the six older girls from Joseph’s house (our orphanage in Uganda) attend.
I was there to observe and learn all I could about the school and what kind of “educational bang we are getting for our buck”. I was bragging on the girls and their extraordinary level of spiritual and emotional maturity, when Jane said to me “Let me tell you something about these girls that I am sure they have not told you.”

She proceeded to tell me that when the girls came to school at the beginning of the last term (late May), they came to her in private and said that they had compiled a list of prayer burdens that they wanted to pray for during the school term. They said that they wanted to fast for the entire term (90 days!) so that they could be more devoted and committed to their prayer effort. Well, Jane thought, these are mere girls, 13 and 14 years old; surely they would not keep the commitment, so she gave her permission for the intended vigil. There are 3 meals and a late night snack (a delicacy known as porridge!) per day. Their plan was to fast the 3 main meals and to spend the time in prayer and only take the evening porridge. (more…)