The last day in Meru, we began by setting up the office which was in a small town in Meru. At about 9:30am we arrived and took pictures with the aqua and bright blue painted office. People of all ages swarmed to see the "Wazungu" ("European travelers" in Swahili). On the outside of the office hung a sign that read "Kabachi Kids for School Office Opened on 17/7/2010 By Vickie Winkler." (Ironically, Vickie was not there, but that's beside the point.) Inside the 6'x12' office were two desks, one cabinet, four chairs, and a shelf, which sat underneath one of the desks. At 10am the official office opening ceremony was held where the chief (that's what they call them! Don't you love that?) of the town gave a short speech, expressing his infinite gratitude to HEART.
We set up the office with a brand-spankin' new Dell computer (with all the works) including a Scanner/Printer! In the words of the Chief, "Our computer will help us communicate all over the world." This office will not only do that, but will provide a place for documenting and organizing the Kabachi Kids for School Project in Meru. It will be run by leaders in the community and will allow for the Kids for School Project to be run by the community with the assistance of HEART rather than vice versa.
After the office opening, the Bayside team headed back to Nariobi and Katie, Margaret, the Kenyan staff, and I headed to Kathanga Primary School to launch the Freedom for Girls Project in Meru. When we finally arrived at about noon, there were about 600 girls sitting on the hill, waiting to be taught, and more were walking in. After we piled out of "The Elephant," the head teacher began to separate in the girls from the boys, the girls into schools, and girls into age groups. (Why this was not done before we arrived, I have no idea. But again, you just go flexible with Kenyan time. As they say around here, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not break.")
After about 45 minutes, we were able to begin the teaching. Katie spoke in English while Lydiah translated into Swahili. Margaret held the sign, and I took notes to be able to document for the Kids for School newsletter. She began by teaching about girls' monthly cycles. Most of the time, she asked questions, so she could base her teaching on what the girls did and did not know. The girls were taught why they bleed, the function of the ovaries, and about estrogen. Then, we proceeded with the sanitary towel (aka "pad") demonstration. Katie was very good at making it humorous for the girls by holding up the panties to herself and doing a little jig, and making the girls touch the sticky part of the sanitary towel. This was crucial to breaking the cultural barrier and awkwardness that came with talking about issues that usually aren't talked about publicly. Then, she covered different practical ways to relieve pain that comes along with their monthly cycles, including light exercise, hot water bottles, and gently massaging their stomachs. All of this led to the point of encouraging girls to stay in school while they have their cycle. (Often times, a girl is forced to miss school because she does not have supplies to deal with her monthly cycle, which causes her grades to suffer and, therefore, her whole education to suffer.)
We also briefly taught about sex and encouraged abstinence. Katie gave the girls different reasons why we should abstain until marriage. Most of the reasons were to avoid things that would get in the way of them accomplishing their goals to be nurses, doctors, lawyers, newscasters--including getting pregnant or getting an STD including HIV.
In closing, we asked the girls to write down any questions they had on pieces of paper. After we gathered the scraps of paper, we answered all of the questions. Some of the questions included: When does your monthly period end? What if your cycle comes more than once a month? What if I am 16 years old and have not yet experienced my monthly cycle? Can you get pregnant if you do not have your period?
Unfortunately, we were also surprised by how many questions had to do with the risk of getting pregnant or having sex during, before, or after one's period. We returned to the encouragement of abstinence, so those issues are not even a concern. We wanted to be sure that the girls understood. We asked them what they would say if a boy asked them to have sex. They responded, "No for now." Lydiah, shocked by the response, replied, "No for now? Yes for later? When is later?" They replied, "After school." Lydiah was surprised about how the girls had been misinformed. Later does not mean after school, but when you are married. Not after schooling, not if you get married, but when you are married.
After clarifying about abstinence and how it is the best way to prevent pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs, which could cause a girl to drop out of school, I stood up front and taught the girls a song. The whole time Katie and Lydiah were teaching, I felt the Holy Spirit putting this song on my heart. I realized how perfect it would be to teach the girls in this Freedom for Girls program; they love songs, and this one was simple, had dance moves, and was a "repeat-after-me" song. I edited the words a little bit to personalize it for the girls. This is how it went:
I am free to run. (I am free to run.)
I am free to dance. (I am free to dance.)
I am free to go to school. (I am free to go to school.)
I am free. (I am free.)
Yes, I am free! (Yes, I am free!)
I am free to jump. (I am free to jump.)
I am free to clap. (I am free to clap.)
I am free to live for You. (I am free to live for You.)
I am free. (I am free.)
Yes, I am free! (Yes, I am free!)
It was so much fun singing and dancing with a group of over 600 girls. They loved it. I loved it. God had used the common language of dance and music through me to celebrate with the girls about what they had just learned...and all on the spot!
After finally getting the girls settled down and seated again, Isaac and Evans, who are leaders in the Kids for School project on the Kenyan HEART staff, explained to the girls how the program would work. This was all done in Swahili, so Margaret, Katie, and I didn't really understand what was going on. At one point, the girls from one school began an "up-rising" in defiance to what Isaac and Evans were explaining. I was later informed that Isaac and Evans were explaining how the project works: The sanitary towels remain at the schools, where the girls can retrieve them (with guidance from the teachers) when necessary. This allows tracking of where the towels are going and how often. (A few days before a year's supply of sanitary towels for 1,000 girls had been delivered.) The girls complained and wanted to simply take the towels with them. This may seem like the better idea and a harmless solution. Unfortunately, the problem is that when the girls take them home, much of the time, family members including moms, aunts, and sisters as well as friends will take the sanitary towels to use for themselves, leaving the girls with less than a year's supply of towels. Not to mention, there are girls who would ask for the towels to take home for their family, friends, or teachers, who have not even started their monthly cycles. So, Evans stood up in front and explained to the girls that this is a project, and they can either be involved with how it is run, or not participate.
This was an odd bump in the road that has never happened before when launching a Freedom for Girls program. Usually the girls are very grateful and excited about the program. It was determined by the leaders that one of the schools sent their girls with misinformation that the girls were to go, get the teaching over with, retrieve the sanitary towels, come back and bring them to teachers, family, and friends. This is so sad, but we drove over the bump and ended on a positive note of freedom.
Just when I think the day is over, and we are waiting in "The Elephant" for Lydiah, Evans, and Isaac to finish informing the teachers how the program should be run, I am surprised to see four young boys outside my window. They were curious about the "Muzungu" ("European traveler"). I smiled and waved, figuring that that would be enough to satisfy their curiosity. But as they stood there, I decided to get out of the car and do some interacting. Since there were only four of them and no other kids in sight, I offered them some Gushers. (You know, those gummies with the sweet, gooey liquid inside?) It was probably the first time they had ever tasted something like that. I had fun watching them explore the flavor.
Pole pole ("Slowly by slowly"), more and more kids started to show up. Long story short, about 15 kids ranging from two to seven years old ended up finding the "muzungu." Together we played, sang, danced, high-fived, did cartwheels, and ran around in the grass. It was the most special blessing. These kids, dressed in ragged clothes, were giggling with joy at me chasing them around and playing with them. Who knows how many of them had a home...how many were orphans...how many had eaten...how many had ever bathed...how many are in school. One of the boys had a "50 Cent" shirt that looked like if you grabbed it, it would just rip off. Another boy had a "Dallas Cowboys" sweatshirt that must have once originally been white. Another girl, whose hair was braided to her head, was dressed in an adorable sundress and raincoat that was so worn and tattered, she looked like a kid from Les Miserables. But this is real life. And here she was standing in front of me, giggling with giddy joy. Her smile is forever ingrained in my head. Another one of the young boys that showed up was dressed in a worn silver suit and striped button shirt. I swear he looked like a young Usher or something. He was a handsome young fellow. I wondered what his future would be. I had so much fun, sharing laughs and good times with these kids, and only wish I knew their names. But God knows them each personally and intimately, and even if I cannot pray for them by name, God knows exactly who I am praying for and each of their needs.
It was the perfect ending to a wonderful, action-packed day. And I praise God for all that He has done.
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