Hello Don, Mary and SOAR-K
Sorry I have been out of touch at a time when I should have been updating all of you on the endless excitement that has gripped the entire Barut community……NOT JUST Hopewell!
The cargo has elicited intense excitement never seen here before. From the time it arrive in school last Saturday, people have been coming in droves, most mesmerized by the gigantic size of the container itself while many lining up by the school gate for clothing.
The last money grams sent in helped with clearance and I just hope all these guys who handled this cargo could get you back any amounts double paid. But the long wait was worth it! I wish we were already waiting for another one. Just thinking aloud.
Nelly will be completing distribution of clothing tomorrow. All students and staff of Hopewell have already gotten their share. Pauline will be picking her pallet today and I found her greatly admiring the sewing machine Aileen packed specifically for her. Harrison will drop by this week to transport his to his new location upcountry. Nursery school stuff, which were in huge quantities, have already been sorted out and some will be going to Darleen’s Little Saints tomorrow and several local children centres.
Just like I delayed in communicating this great news, expect an avalanche of mails from staff, students and many members of our community who have share the pride in receiving this exceptionally priceless gift from the kind and big hearted people of Wisconsin and the other contributors.
Hopewell is most likely the only high school in the country with white boards now. Even my former high school, Starehe Boys, the finest in the Kenya, doesn’t have one. Aren’t we just sooooooooooo special! Books will be sorted out today and after we secure enough to await completion and furnishing of the library, we will share these many volumes with the surrounding schools.
One disabled man celebrated yesterday when we handed him one of the crutches that was in the cargo. He just couldn’t believe that it was his….for FREE! I will send you his picture. He suffered from polio as a kid and has been without any mobility device ever since. You just made him mobile……..isn’t that just marvelous!
I can write for hours on end. So as not to rant for hours on end celebrating this miracle in our Barut community, I will leave it at this for now but will be back with more news and pictures. In our national Kiswahili language, we can only ASANTE SANA (profuse thank you) and God bless you (MUNGU AWABARIKI). You just changed our lives permanently and brought, through one incident, a massive positive attention and publicity for Hopewell. Who can dare touch this school??
Vitalice