Yesterday my dear friend, Twyla, and I visited with the kids...for the purpose of learning more about each of their lives. Twyla has written a book entitled "My Safari" - it is an excellent tool to help tell the story of a life; from birth, through childhood, schooling, marriage and family, spiritual life...a great tool to help tell our stories. She had shared her story with the kids during our first discipleship meeting and I think that made it easier for the kids to share their stories with us.
We decided to meet in an upstairs hallway that would give a nice cross-breeze for Twyla so she could stay cool...but chairs were needed!
We met them in pairs...they had each chosen a partner to work with and we felt this would also be a good way for the partners to learn more about each other.
The first kids to meet with us were Jacinta and Faith...I have known Jacinta but even so I learned so much about her! Most especially that the Anne I have met a few times is her sister...imagine!
Twyla is quite animated, which I believe puts the kids at ease...
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| Jacinta is a pretty girl! |
Faith I have not known so it was wonderful to hear about her life...
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| Faith |
Meanwhile the kids who were waiting their turns were visiting (and playing) in the room adjacent to where we were meeting...
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| Looks like they were also working on their My Safari books! |
Collins took some fabulous photos!
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| Jane |
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| Felix and Brenda |
Looks like these two are completing their My Safari books to be able to meet with us!
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| Brenda |
Twyla led the meetings with each pair, which gave me a chance to watch for opportunities to ask questions to discover more about each child...we make a good team!
Since Collins had my camera he was able to take some shots of the area behind the church/school.
The kids love playing soccer!!!
Meanwhile Tom was in the room hanging out with some of the smaller kids...
These shots were taken in the girls dorm building...
This shot is the class one (first grade) classroom where we have met a few times...
We ended each meeting with prayer. During the time of sharing each girl managed to share something that helped us know what to pray about...
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| Brenda and Miriam |
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| Erick on the veranda waiting for his turn |
Sharon is one of the girls who attended the discipleship classes with Denise, went to the August camp and even came to the camp up country in December. Now she is in high school so she boards up country...it was wonderful to see her as she was on break.
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| Sharon and Erick |
Seline is Sharon's sister - she is also on break from boarding school...
Tom taking pictures with Twyla's camera...
For some reason Miriam has always been one of my favorites so I loved hearing more about her life; I discovered there is much hidden behind her beautiful smile...
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| Me, Miriam, Brenda and Twyla |
Here I am exclaiming to Twyla that this is Anne, Jacinta's sister...
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| Anne is a cutie! She is only 10 |
Technically Anne is too small for our classes, but we included her since she seemed open and eager to share with us...
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| Anne and Jane |
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| A vehicle Collins admired! |
Jane struggles to understand American English, but did a great job completing her My Safari pages and allowed me to read some of her answers.
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| Sisters!! |
Seline and Sharon are sisters...and their brother Joseph is also with St. Catherine's...I love seeing them together. The photo below makes me wonder what they see when they gaze into their futures...
Collins has a gift! He captures the heart and spirit of a person...
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| Sharon |
Even with the back-lighting I love this shot of Seline...please take a moment to study her face...
Our session with Jane and Anne was a bit challenging, but with two of us to sort of tag-team we were able to engage effectively with the girls...
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| Me, Jane, Anne and Twyla |
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| Tom and Mercy chatting on the veranda |
I just love these shots!
Twyla and me goofing around...
My favorite moment with Erick and Felix was when Felix said "Erick is my best friend"
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| Erick and Felix (seated), Collins and Tom (standing) |
Another set of sisters! The newest addition to St. Catherine's...Mercy and Jessica are daughters of a friend to Gladys (Twyla's house help...you have seen her photo I am sure!). Their mom died in December and Twyla managed to find them a home at St. Catherine's.
Mercy will begin high school up country at a school where 5 other St. Cat girls attend...Jessica will attend St. Catherine's primary school with the other kids who live at the home.
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| Twyla, Mercy and Jessica |
What a blessing for me to spend time getting to know the kids on a deeper level...I am grateful to Twyla for providing this opportunity...
