By Partnership, By Prayer

Partnership:  one of our themes for 2009, and tonight we expressed our team's desire to partner with the Christ School staff by inviting them to join us for dinner and games.  Scott impressed the men greatly with his grilled chicken, and everyone ate their fill of hot foods and local sauces, cold sodas and fresh bread.  We designed some ice breakers (find someone with more than ten siblings, someone who was born more than 100 km from the place his/her parents were born, someone who watched a football match this week) which set everyone at ease, and then played "bowl full of nouns", a great group party game that has everyone acting and laughing, slapping knees and protesting points.   Joanna Stewart would have been proud.  It was an evening of camaraderie, a respite in their week of intense preparation work, and indrawing of collective breath before the 350 students arrive on Monday.   As with our team, a foundation of trust upon which to build the year's work.  The Pierces have worked hard to set a tone of ownership and responsibility, integrity and planning.  And perhaps the best part of the evening for me, to see my kids participating, at ease with their teachers in a way that is hard to achieve in the school year.  

Prayer:  our other theme, and we will re-join the CSB staff Sunday night for a prayer walk around the school.  This will be a time to physically move from dorm to dorm, class to class, asking for God's protection and power to change lives.  We know that oppressive sexual relationships and abuse, witchcraft, bullying, fear and shame, alcohol dependance, manipulation and cheating, all plague CSB and other schools in Bundibugyo.  I treated a 500 gm (1 pound) 25 week (5 to 6 months) preemie born to a 14 year old primary school student this week . . not from Christ School, but a stark reminder of the tragic turns many students' lives can take, and the fatal results.  So prayer is needed; please join us (5 pm = 9 am East Coast time Sunday, perfect for Sunday Schools and early services!) in asking God to actively invade this school in 2009.