Doors and Windows

There's a saying, where God closes a door he will open a window. Let me tell you, God is opening some serious windows in Ngong!

We have quite a few children at Grace's who are not sponsored. Four of the children are lovingly referred to as Ann's Family. Ann is the oldest sibling. She has scars from burns over 60 percent of her body. Her mother, who was a drunk, threw boiling water on her when she was a small girl. She came to Grace first and then her three siblings, James, Peter and Sylvia followed. I think they've been with Grace and John for six years. Ann and James have graduated from high school. Peter is starting his senior year and Sylvia is entering ninth grade.

In December we found out the church in Minnesota that had been sponsoring them had withdrawn its funding. Grace called her prayer group into action and called Ann's Family and told them it was time to pray for a window to open. We prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for the church that had brought them this far and then we prayed for the path to take them forward to be made clear.

A month later Sylvia's school headmaster called and asked if Sylvia had filled out a scholarship form from Equity Bank. No, we said she hadn't, we didn't know about the program. He told us that it was the last day to apply and we had to hurry. A flurry of activity occured, Ann went to pick the application, Grace went another way and Sylvia another. Everyone convened back at the Ngong house to fill the forms and then the were rushed to the bank by the 4 pm deadline.

The scholarship pays for all four years of high school education. If the student gets a C+ average or better and chooses not to go to college they will have a job waiting for them at Equity Bank. Only 600 students from throughout the country will be chosen.

We found out two days ago that Sylvia was to be interviewed. Yesterday she and Grace spent hours waiting to be interviewed. There were more than 50 children there and they were only choosing 6 girls and 4 boys. They were told if they were chosen they would have to be ready to go to a four day orientation by 8 a.m. the following morning. And that those chosen would be called in the evening.

Syvia and I were cooking dinner and Grace was taking a nap in her room, when Grace got a phone call telling that Sylvia had been awarded a scholarship. Grace came in the kitchen and told us and we immediately began screaming and jumping and hugging one another and shouting, Amen! It was quite the celebration.

Then we went immediately to the living room to say a prayer of thanksgiving. We also prayed for Laton who we were told through email from the US, had been sponsored for at least one year in school.

Sylvia didn't have any clothes with her so we raided Judie's boxes and my supplies and then we went to the corner shop for a toothbrush, etc. We also bought black currtent soda so we could have a toast! During dinner we called EVERYONE to tell them the news.

God is truely great!!!