Day 3 - Movie Day - The Wild Robot
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." — Matthew 19:14 (NIV)
Day 3 was another wonderful day at Huruma HOPE School.
Each member of the team spent the morning in a different classroom assisting a teacher. We helped grade students' work with a red pen, adding a check mark when answers were correct and encouraging students to make corrections when needed. The children were so eager to have us check their work! Watching them learn and grow reminded us just how dedicated the teachers are. They work tirelessly and genuinely want every student to succeed.
Byron has made a special friend in Nathan, who has quickly become his little shadow. Watching their friendship grow has been such a joy.
One thing that stands out each day is the school's commitment to caring for the whole child. Every student brushes their teeth at school, and Huruma HOPE provides the toothbrushes and toothpaste they need. A special thank you to Gentle Dental for generously donating toothbrushes for these amazing children!
Paul, our gentle giant, continues to be a favorite among the younger students. He has provided plenty of laughs for both the kids and our team, and we are so thankful for the joy he brings wherever he goes.
At lunchtime, many of us enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that we had brought, but the cooks also graciously shared the students' meal with us. We were served rice pilaf, green grams, cabbage, and kachumbari (similar to pico de gallo). It was absolutely delicious!
After lunch, we combined two classrooms and transformed them into a movie theater for the afternoon. The students watched The Wild Robot, a beautiful story about adaptation, community, connection, and sacrifice. They were completely engaged and loved every minute of the movie—and, of course, the popcorn! Well... everyone except a few of the P1 and P2 students, who may have dozed off before the ending.
After the movie, everyone pitched in to help clean up. By 3:30 p.m., we headed back to Heart Lodge for dinner and some much-needed rest after another full day.
Each evening, Joel leads the team through fun "get-to-know-you" questions. Tonight, however, the spotlight was on Joel. Anyone who knows him knows he has a huge heart, and his love for Huruma HOPE is even greater. Having been on seven Huruma HOPE mission trips, Joel shared how deeply this ministry has changed his life. His prayer for our team is that each of us would leave Kenya transformed in the same way.
As we close out another incredible day, we thank God for every smile, every conversation, and every opportunity to love these children.
Good night, everyone! We pray that God places a fire in your heart to share the story of Huruma HOPE and continue praying for this incredible ministry. Thank you for walking this journey with us—we love and appreciate you all.
