Continuing the Journey: November 2007

Jordan's Guitar Recital

Jordan had a recital with Sonata Music School. The recital was held at Oshwal Academy Nursery School. He played a few songs in a group with others and one solo. The solo was his own jazz arrangement of Heart and Soul, which you should recognize.

Champions!

Jordan's school, Rosslyn Academy, won the International School League soccer championship 3-2. It was a good match. Rosslyn was winning 2-0 with just a few minutes to play and Strathmore scored two goals, the second in the last minute, to send the game into overtime. Rosslyn then won in the second half of the overtime. Jordan didn't play much in that match. After beginning the year as key part of the defense, some back problems kept out for a few weeks, and he never quite regained his form.

Rosslyn also won the girls basketball championship.

Jordan played a few minutes in the championship match.

The Rosslyn soccer team waiting to receive their medals.

Jordan receives his medal.

Alia also received an award today. She got a 'world' certificate in the school assembly for having a positive attitude. (We aren't certain why she calls it a 'world' certificate, but that is what she insists that it is called. Her school likes to encourage the students by giving different awards. Her teacher sometimes puts a star on the student's forehead when the student does some work very well. Alia also received a star today for numeracy.

Another Dry Rainy Season (and other prayer requests)

We are in the middle of what is usually the smaller rainy season. It should be raining every day or so. Instead we are enjoying very warm and sunny weather. In fact, it is the hottest temperatures that we've experienced in Nairobi. It has only rained twice in the past 3 weeks, and this when the country should be getting nearly 1/2 of its total rainfall. So far there hasn't been much in the papers about famine.

Please pray that the rains might begin so that farmers may be able to produce the needed food.

Many students at NIST have difficulty paying tuition and keeping up with support for the family. I'd like to ask you to pray for them, that they can find money for school fees, transportation and other needs.

Mid-terms for Alia

Yes, that title is correct. Alia had mid-term exams in kindergarten. She had exams in science, literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy (math). It was an interesting exercise to observe. Alia never did fully comprehend what was going on. I think she saw it as a form of unusual school work. On one exam she told us that when she didn't know what to do, she just copied from her neighbor. In the end she received good grades on the exams, though I don't think that they seriously count for much. And we certainly aren't going to put any pressure on her to get good grades in kindergarten. I believe one purpose of the exams was to get the children used to taking tests.

She enjoys learning and especially reading. She doesn't always like to write, and spends a lot of time erasing her 'mistakes'. She likes to do it correctly. She also likes swimming at school, where she is now putting her head under the water, so she won't be afraid of it and she can learn to swim. But most of all she enjoys playing with her friends.