Aol Irene

Monday, June 22, 2009
Before prefect elections (below) – Today was an excellent teaching day. I got to teach the concept of plot mapping to all levels. They seemed to really grasp the concept. In fact, for the senior level four group (we had to combine both streams, so there were about 130 kids in the classroom at one time), after giving notes on the plot map I told them the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” …to the best of my ability from memory. It was amazing. If you haven’t read this story, you should. Anyway, they really appreciated hearing the story. And at the end, they were successfully able to map out the plot on their own. They even pinpointed the climax! So exciting…
After class, since we had to combine the two streams (classes) there was about an hour break in between class and lunch. So, I decided to sit outside because it was a gorgeous day and read Three Cups of Tea…hopefully all of you are doing your summer reading also. However, my reading was disturbed by a young girl that I have mentioned before. Irene is the “head girl” or head prefect for the girls at Keyo Secondary and she led the video tour in the schools for schools video for Invisible Children. We have developed a good friendship, so she came over to talk. I feel so blessed by the fact that she chose to share her story with me. And to be honest, if I had any doubt as to why I am here, she just refueled my reasons for coming.
Irene is the oldest child of a family of five children. Her father died in 2004 from HIV/AIDS and her mother is unable to work. So, when Irene was chosen to be one of the children sponsored by Invisible Children to have her school fees paid for, it made a huge difference in her family…and she has not taken a single day of this blessing for granted. I think that Irene will make an excellent role model for so many and I know she will go on to do great things.
I wish I could share her stories, but I don't feel comfortable publishing them in a blog. This is her life...
But she, like so many I have talked to, has the same stare. When they are talking to you about their experiences and all that they have seen, they get lost in a trance. It is uncanny. I can’t explain it, or imagine what it feels like. Maybe they just have to become numb to some extent in order to be able to recall those images. One thing that I have noticed about so many, especially Irene, is that they cling to God for hope. I am greatly encouraged by them. Their faith is so strong. It is humbling. We struggle with our faith back home on a daily basis, but they have been given every reason to turn their back on God by feeling like He has turned their back on them and they refuse. Instead, they run to him for every comfort. I can see both sides of it, but their strength still astounds me.