Rejoice
. . .
Wednesday
Give,
and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap;
for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
--Luke 6:38
by
Maxine Covington
Christ’s
Gift Academy, a primary school in Mbita,
Kenya, was founded eight years ago with just one class of
30 Pre-K children. Each year since, as existing classes
move up, a new Pre-K class begins. Sixty-five percent of
the students are orphans who attend CGA tuition-free. The
school is sponsored by donors in the West.
In
2006 the founding class will top out at eighth grade. With
few employment opportunities in Mbita, and no hope of affording
high school fees, the futures of these students are uncertain.
Many will enter the cycle of poverty and despair that has
oppressed their community for decades, unless a sponsored
high school can be established for them. Plans for
such a school are under development.
Last summer a small team from Bethany visited Christ’s
Gift Academy to deliver book bags sewn and decorated by
over 70 of our members. In the pocket of each bag was a
handmade card with a scripture verse. In an all-day, class-by-class
presentation, each child received a bag personalized with
his or her name, and each class sang songs and presented
in turn thank you cards and letters.
These
children have
almost no personal possessions; imagine the delight with
which they walked home that day, swinging those bags with
their names on them. So much love was represented in these
book bags that were hand sewn, each one unique, and hand
delivered from halfway around the globe.
And the joy was shared on both sides of the planet as well.
Grayce Mitchell, who led the sewing effort at Bethany, sums
up the experience thus: “Jesus’ words, ‘Give
and it will be given to you’ (Luke 6:38) proved true
once again. We found joy in using our talents for the Kingdom,
getting better acquainted with one another, and learning
about the children and the wonderful work being done at
Mbita.”
Thank
you, Lord, for the joy of giving to others in your name
and for all that we receive in return. May the book bags
made by our congregation continue to carry the message
of your love for these children. And we pray that the
children will continue to sense the encouragement of their
church family here in Seattle. In Jesus’ name we
pray. Amen.
An Advent Journey