Saturday
Athletics, dance, music composition, singing, birthday celebrations graced the JOAC home weekend.
Saturday commenced the moment with as usual Auntie Jen calling upon everyone for a morning run; it started with physical stretches and a 20 lap run around the JOAC compound field. Most of the kids participated and for the very first time, almost everyone finished running the 20 laps.
The kids later did their house chores, cleaned the house, cooked lunch, collected water from the well, and did their laundry.
In the afternoon it rained quite significantly. The rain enticed Jen to run and dance in it. First Kakuru joined her, followed by many of the boys. They showed off how far they can slide in the mud without falling. After playing, they got to work collecting water from the rain and overflowing gutters.
Saturday night was a games night which after a few games like ‘Simon says’ turned into a dancing competition. Auntie Jen brought up the idea, and Joseph helped to be co-moderator of the competition with Auntie Jen.
The kids paired up for the competition, with the rest of them making their choice of the best dancer out of the pair. The best dancers were on an adjacent side, they all smiled as they were announced winners. The losers often frowned but afterwards would afford a smile after being caught up by the excitement bug again.
All winners in the pair went for another competition, the crowd (which were also the judges) nominated out the worst competitors leaving room for the best.
Finally Auntie Jen won the competition.
Sunday
Sunday got everyone in an enthusiastic mood of the church service, as usual, breakfast was prepared early. The day was also Auntie Esther’s birthday, and as is the norm in this home, the kids stalked up Auntie Esther to get her an early morning shower (pour cold water on her as a birthday wish).
The third JOAC Church’s Sunday service was great as usual, led by the boys, more new people came in to attend the church service. All of them were students from a neighboring business and secretarial college.
The girls were so vibrant and easily got involved with the affairs of the church’s program, most of them gave testimonies of how God healed them, and how he placed them in leadership positions at their college. One of the girls said she is Moslem, but from the look of it, she was enjoying every bit of the Sunday service. We pray that in the process of regularly attending church with us, God will touch her and bring her into a personal relationship with him.
Auntie Jen shared in the Sunday service about how God brings us from ashes to beauty. Most of these kids have experienced life on the streets, and they testify that God has brought them from that place to a place of redeemed lives in service to Him.
In the afternoon after church, Auntie Jen shared with the girls her last topic from the book ‘Living in Love with Jesus’ most of the girls from the college attended and even brought their friends. Auntie Jen’s teachings from this book have impacted most girls from within and around the community for the last three weeks.
Thereafter Auntie Jen and the girls danced to the music that the boys were playing on the JOAC compound. Every Sunday afternoon, the boys bring out a system to the compound; they play danceable gospel music that takes them through to the evening. Of late, the boys have been composing songs, one of the songs may easily turn out to be the JOAC anthem, and it is entitled ‘He is the Joy of A Child’. Joseph helps them compose the songs and even record them. The boys are eagerly waiting for a time when they can record their music in a professional music studio; they already have two songs to their name.
Auntie Jen enjoyed the fairly heavy rain down pour, unlike everyone who feared to get out into the rain, she got a small rain coat that barely covered her whole body and started collecting rain water into a big water container. The boys later joined her; it became fun when the boys even started playing football in the rain.
Monday
Fun was extended into Monday morning, a school day that was also Ruth’s birthday; the kids woke up early morning to celebrate her birthday. They cunningly encircled her, each pouring cold water on the screaming Ruth.
Auntie Jen, who also volunteers for about five hours at St. Agnes School where most of the kids go for school, postponed her day at school until Tuesday, and offered to take Ruth out to town for a special birthday treat. It was definitely a great experience for her. They got sodas, sweets, and Ruth’s ears pierced. It was a blessed morning. Ruth repeated, “I’m so happy” all morning, and later shared that it was her favorite birthday (because she had never celebrated one before).
A lot of great things have been happening here, we really feel the hand of God in our ministry, and are so impressed at what He’s doing.
Blog written by: Joseph
Photos by: Joseph
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