Mambo. Today, I would like to write something different and something that will not happen too often. Today I want to highlight a special friend of mine. Her name: Emily Awino Odhiambo. Since the first day that I got to Kenya, Emily and her mom Agnes have been serving me and my room-mates by cleaning the apartment, washing our dishes, washing our clothes, and working so hard and diligently.
Emily is the first of seven siblings. She started school when she was twelve years old because her dad could not pay for her school fees. It wasn't until her mom started working that she was able to attend school. After she started attending school, her dad started abusing his children and wife. He stopped providing for them and left his wife to be the sole provider for the family. Emily would go through stages where she would go to school and then have to leave in order to help her mom provide for the family.
In 2005, Emily finished primary school with a "C" grade and in 2006 she was enrolled in High School in the Kibera slum, one of the largest slums in Africa. High School was no different from primary school as Emily's dad continued to beat her mom and the school would shut down because the teachers would go on strike.
Emily has become a leader not just in her family, but also in her church. She has been a Sunday School teacher the last five years. She loves working with the kids because it eases her pain and gives her an escape.
Emily has since had trouble finishing her classes because of challenges with her family, but God has sent some amazing "angels" and friends to help her along the way. Karen and Lydia helped Emily get through as much school as they could financially assist her as well as providing a job for Agnes. Through their connections, Agnes was able to get more jobs by cleaning peoples houses and doing household chores. However, these connections have gone and jobs have yet again become scarce.
Emily was recently given an opportunity to go back and finish her schooling. Her desire is to go back so that she can become "a somebody in society." Emily's mom is her hero as she has continued to provide for her and the family. Emily wants to make her mother proud and despite her being twenty-three years old, her dream is to finish high school. Her trust and and faith is in God and if it is His will then she will go back to Form 3.
Emily's tuition is 26,000 Shillings per term, which is around $313. Her school has offered to pay half of her tuition, which leaves her 13,000 Shillings away from completing her dream. Please be in prayer for this family as they have struggled through so many things and have been a huge blessing in my life. I thank God for their ministry as they serve my house and pray that someway these financial burdens can be lifted and help make these dreams become a reality.
Thank you all for your prayers and I look forward to sharing with you more about how God answers this prayer and many more to come. Cheers.
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