Is it too much to ask them to dream?

This morning I was up and out by 9am, stopped at the bank, bought a sharpie and headed to Chayah.  Breakfast was just finishing up…fried nuts and pancakes…the dollar size, without syrup.  

I met with the older girls for a bit and then colored with the younger ones.  The legos were out on the front porch and it was a lolly-gagging kind of morning for everyone. 

I was able to sit and listen to stories from a few. One talked about the day her mother died, another talked about being chased and beaten by a step-father, still another about being excluded with other siblings when a new man began staying over.   A different father meant you slept separately, often without food.  Some were eager to share, others equally eager to be silent.

 About 1pm, lunch was served and off we went the 7 big kids, Janet and me.

Our first stop was the hotel where we were given a tour of each area and job descriptions were explained.  The need to be honest and trustworthy was emphasized and the willingness to work hard was explained.   

The laundry and reception proved to be the most interesting, but probably because the individuals that welcomed us in were so enthusiastic about their jobs.  

The chef would have no part in allowing us in her kitchen, no way, no how.  Oh people who can actually cook something can get so territorial! Really, let the rest of us come stand inside and pretend for a minute!  

The owner of the hotel, Mr. Otille met us in the parking area and spent a few minutes encouraging the kids to work hard and “read, read, read!”

It takes a university degree to apply here and even the local trade schools that offer a 2 year “certificate” rather than a degree are hard pressed to employ their graduates in hotels.  They are mainly working in town are small restaurants.  With unemployment at 80%, I guess the competition would be pretty intense.

Next, we arrived at the Jinja Nursing/midwifery school for a tour.  We didn’t get into any classrooms but the laboratory full of models, equipment, charts and skeletons was pretty interesting.  The “dummies” were a little unsettling and questions by a 15 year old about what the stethoscope was for was also out of my comfort zone.  It made me realize how everyday experiences at home teach and create a baseline of knowledge that is outside the grasp of most.

I loved watching our kids see and learn about something new and possibilities for their future.  Even if they end up in a completely different field of study, or line of work, they know a little more tonight to hope for, plan for and work towards.  Sometimes I wonder if kids have to be taught to dream.  I cannot for the life of me imagine we aren’t just born with that desire, but it seems like maybe something so simple might need some work to unlock.  Time will tell and the older may lead the younger ones by their success or stumbling along the way.  

The enemy has a stronghold here called hopelessness.  The father of lies has only to point to the previous generation and can retire his efforts to discourage.  We hear about what has been spoken to and over them in Kakira and we know it is once again a battle for the mind and heart of children.  But our side wins in the end…it been foretold and we have no doubt.   

The roads they choose this side of eternity make a whole big bunch of difference but God is good and will redeem what has been lost, rebuild what has been torn down and be glorified in the midst.

You wouldn’t waste a minute if you could pray for their hearts, for surrender to Jesus’ calling on their lives and for the breaking of bondage in each and every one.