NicolesLetters.org

Hi Everyone,

I learned the first night after typing for 35 minutes to save these as a draft as I go. Sending is so slow that during the actual “send” I lost the email and had to start over because my internet ran out. ouch. Same thing tonight. Here is where the email starts…

I’m tired tonight. Another busy day. I don’t even know where to start these emails. So much happens in one day. We arrived, the kids were in class. People started filing in the interview room. Many children, some adults from outside of the school. They are also trying to sponsor some children in the community so they can attend the school. They sit there in the chairs, silent. The kids don’t move. It’s weird and uncomfortable. I turned on some music because it was very strange. These people come here to see us and it’s like it’s their ONE chance. If the parents bring their children, they dress in the best clothes. You can tell they only have one nice set of clothes. Or maybe the borrowed it from a friend or family, most of the clothes don’t fit properly. Many of the kids don’t look people in the eye. My translator was adopted by Pastor Steven when he was 9 after both of his parents died. He has studied in South Africa and is looking as a job as a teacher. He said that the culture here is very hard and he can never remember a time when his parents were alive that he looked them in the eyes. He said that many of the children are treated poorly and don’t get love or feel important. That is clear!

As the interviews rolled, I only did about 11 today in about 6 hours of work. We have a few breaks but I spend a lot of time with the kids and I try to ask them in English. Some understand. I want them to have the opportunity to speak English as they study it all the time. Mostly the translator has to ask the questions after I do.

Today I asked a little girl if she had one wish what would it be? She said that she lives at the school but goes home on holidays. Both of her parents are HIV positive and there are so many children that 8 girls sleep in one room.

During lunch, my sponsor girl, Sara, came to me and said that she is hungry that she doens’t have much food. She lives with her dad outside of the school. I went inside and one of the girls with me, Adrienne, doesn’t eat chicken. The staff brought us fried chicken and fires for lunch. I asked her for a power bar or something to give her. She said, give her my chicken. I asked pastor Steven if that was okay. If you bring anything, imagine 500 kids flocking at once. I found Angel and Sara, I have seen they are friends. I took them around the corner of the building and had the wrapped chicken in tissue. I showed it to them and they split it up and wrapped it again in tissue and put it in their pockets. I don’t know what they were going to do with it, save it for later, maybe Sara will take it home to her father.

Michele was interviewing a child across from me at the table. I saw the boy teary eyed. Michele was too. He said that he was afraid of the rebels. It’s so amazing that these children have to fear such big things.

Throughout the day I see Angel and Sara playing. They look at me all the time, just to see if I see them. They seem to understand that I watch them and find them in the huge crowds. They are happy I have been slipping them candy when I can. I have to be careful so I don’t get mobbed. I saw Sara sharing with her friends. I gave her a approval smile. She knows I will give her more later.

We had a huge downpour during afternoon prayer. They fit almost 200 kids in a classroom with drums and singing. It was amazing.

I have to sleep… more tomorrow.

lots of love,

Nicole

P.S. Jen you got Babra, Heather Norah, Luis Samson he’s the boy in the picture with the new shoes. My translator knows his family. He is very much in need.

Thank so much!

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