Armed Guards, Shelling the Maize and Sunday Worship

Now that the government exams are done many of the orphans are being taken back to their family communities and will be staying with grandmothers, uncles or aunts and in some cases they will stay with different families in their home church communities until classes begin again in the new year. A few of the more fortunate may still have a struggling mother waiting for them.

I was surprised to see an armed guard on stand by at both the elementary and high school at different times when I entered the school yards and wondered if the folks here knew something they weren't telling me. However they assured me that the extra security was common government practice during the grade 8 and gr 12 exams to ensure the integrity of the exams and that they proceed without interruption. The exam results determine entrance opportunities to specialty schools, colleges or universities as well as the standings of the school in the county.


The Form three boys that are taking the applied technologies course will leave for their family communities when the course is complete while the Form Four students in our group will be leaving Omwabini and be preparing to strike out on their own now that they have completed High school. There are about 40 - 50 children who will be staying here at Omwabini the entire time because they have no family or a home community that will have them.

Some of the children staying behind seen here taking their turn at shelling the maize cobs


Carolyn and I  joined Anna and Angela Bunyasi and their families for worship this morning at their home church. The energy and enthusiasm they pour into their singing and praise is amazing and the volume must carry across half of the town.  The pastor was very accommodating and delivered a good part of the message in English so we could benefit as well.

By Carolyn:

We had a lovely worship time with a local congregation and sound preaching on 5 – S’s from scripture: Serve – we were saved to serve. Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served but to serve, and gave his life as a ransom for many.” Step up – to lead, to act, not full of promise but of action, sometimes it means to swim against the stream. He urged his fellow countrymen to fight against corruption, expecting opposition – Proverbs 27:5,6 “Open rebuke is better than secret love…”. Speak out – don’t be silent, encourage somebody. Speak for the poor and needy. When you’re silent in the midst of sin it is sin! In love direct a brother who is in the wrong, confront sin. Stand strong – Be firm when you are attacked, challenged, criticized. Jeremiah 1:18 – God told Jeremiah he was a fortified city, a defense. Cowards are not fortified against the princes of darkness. 1 Corinthians 15:57, 58 – “but thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Stay humble – start humble and end humble. 1 Peter 5:5,6 – Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Such sound advice to live by!