Day 10 – Catwalk & Weeping
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart rejoices, and with my song I give thanks to Him." — Psalm 28:7
This was the day we had been dreading.
We began the morning with worship alongside the students before heading into our final VBS crafts. The younger students created colorful sidewalk chalk art, Grades 1–3 made turkeys, and the upper elementary students spent time writing heartfelt thank-you notes to their sponsors.
After crafts, we passed out Rice Krispy Treats—a favorite among the students! Then it was time for one of the most anticipated events of the week: the Talent Show.
Each grade took the stage to share a poem, song, or dance they had prepared. Their enthusiasm and confidence were contagious, and it was a joy to watch them perform.
The highlight of the morning, however, was the Catwalk!
About 15 students confidently strutted across the room as if they were on a professional fashion runway. Their personalities absolutely shined! Leading the way was little Lillian, who walked with such confidence and style that you would have thought she was a professional model. It was impossible not to smile.
After the students finished performing, there wasn't much time left before lunch, but our team managed to squeeze in a few acts of our own:
Rachelle and Joy played "Hot Cross Buns" on their recorders.
Joel raced Grade 6 student Ambrose to solve a Rubik's Cube. (Joel narrowly claimed the victory!)
Anna and Paul amazed everyone with a card magic trick that had the students cheering.
We may not be the most talented performers, but the students certainly made us feel like stars!
While the students enjoyed lunch, our team unpacked the backpacks that will be given to the graduating students. A huge thank you to Costco for donating these backpacks! We also delivered 150 treat bags that had been assembled for the students to receive as they leave school.
Then came the hardest part of the day.
Each member of our team visited every classroom one final time to thank the teachers for the incredible work they do and to say goodbye to the students.
Nothing could have prepared us for what happened next.
As we made our way from classroom to classroom, the students began to cry. And not just a few quiet tears—they sobbed. Before long, we were crying right alongside them. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.
Those moments reminded us just how meaningful this week had been.
By spending time in the classrooms each day, helping with lessons, playing games, creating crafts, and simply being present, we built relationships that went far deeper than we ever expected. These children are no longer just names on a sponsorship list—they have become part of our hearts.
Throughout this trip, God faithfully carried us through exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and sickness. He gave us the strength we needed each day, and He blessed us with unforgettable relationships and experiences.
When we reflected together that evening, every member of the team said the same thing:
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
I plan to hold them to that promise.
Thank you for praying for us, encouraging us, supporting Huruma HOPE, and following along on this journey. Your prayers sustained us, and your generosity made so many of these moments possible.
May God continue to bless Huruma HOPE School, its teachers, its students, and every family represented there.
God bless you all...
We'll see you soon.
With love,
The Huruma HOPE Team
Peter met with us and helped us a lot during our time in Kenya. Thank you Peter for your work with Huruma HOPE School. You are a blessing!
Sidewalk chalk was a hit but they really didn’t know what to do at first!
