I feel the cool air in the break of day coming through the cracked window, as I reach to turn off the chimes that wakes me before the sun arises. The anticipation of what will come in the next hour is enough to make my feet hit the floor. Already my mind is flooded with what the day, the week the year will represent. Four kids, going to school for the first time ever! Breaking the chains of generational poverty, what does that mean?! How will it change the existence of many families living in conditions that are beyond comprehension in the 21st century? As I jump in my car to drive just 3 blocks behind my apartment to another world, a place called the "Gardens." An area where many families live in houses made of mud bricks, with no water or electricity. They survive day to day by rummaging through the trash recycling plastic bottles and metal items they find in exchange for less than 1 USD a day. After 2 blocks the asphalt street changes quickly to dirt and rocks. As I dodge the holes and stray dogs that bark endlessly I arrive for our first 2 kids. I sound the horn and quickly the girls come out smiling in great anticipation of their first day of school. Their hair finally clean after one week of sorting through each strand for dead lice and eggs! Their clothes filthy from the weekend spent in dumpsters, hands and nails black from sitting hours carefully breaking and eating their way through many black walnuts.
The excitement and anticipation fills the atmosphere in the car with joy! As we drive further on, dogs still barking we stop again for our next boy. He bolts from the house and jumps in the back seat. We move forward, dodging holes and driving on make shift roads, again we stop, sound the horn and in the front yard the Uncle who is sleeping outside the house arises from the front yard, sleeping outside because he was locked out for drinking to much the night before. Out the boy comes, dressed, cleaned and wearing a suit proudly that his parents bought for him. He is careful not to step in the mud, as his shoes are new as well!
The chatter in the car is short lived as we drive 5 blocks back to the Community Center. All jump and run to the door, the echo's in the hall are deafening, just after day break. Girls in the bathroom first, as they wash, change into school uniforms and are transformed right before our eyes! Next, the boys, again a transformation in every way is unbelievable, "From the Trash to School!"
Now our kids can pray and they thank God for the food, the Center and for God to help them learn. They eat the cereal and then brush the teeth. I laugh at loud at this thought, they stand at the sink and every time they spit into the sink they show each other the blood that comes from their gums. Gross, but funny! I assure you, after 2 weeks the blood barely exist. Can you imagine not brushing your teeth everyday?
The first day's excitement was short lived as quickly the war begun! After a couple of days, they began to drop out one by one and refuse to go to school! We called for an International prayer to fight with us and suddenly 2 of our kids had a change of heart and for the past 5 days the adjustment and change is not hard! We have a routine in the morning and for the first time today they entered the classroom alone and began speaking to their classmates! A miracle, I want to tell you, an absolute miracle! Now we have some momentum and the spiritual atmosphere has freed us again from the poverty that was trying to hold us back!
Today 2 of our older boys had their first day of school. Although their school did not start until 12, they insisted to come to the Center with the other kids at 7. They were so proud to go to school. They wore their new uniforms, shoes and backpack with so much pride, they were so dang cute! Today another link in that chain was broken. Four kids, from 3 families who never had one person from their family to attend school and they did it! They are the first!
It has rained for 72 hours straight here, and is still raining, the streets and the Center is flooded and the roof is leaking! The dirt and rock road where the kids live is a muddy mess and my car slid in the mud today to get them, but we go them and they went to school against all odds! Even though we are covered in rain and clouds the Son was shining on us! It was an awesome day!
"From the Trash to School!" Don't stop praying for us! We are winning the war!
Together we are breaking the chains of poverty...One step at a time!
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