So I Can Help the Poor

Gin Gin interviewing Blessing.

Kids in one of the classrooms at Hwol Yarje.

Marina & Teresa teach the kids "I Am Not Forgotten"

A young pup nestles with a mother and child.

Kids lining up to be "snapped."

Teresa with children at Hwol Yarje School.

A child who wished to be "snapped" by himself.

Children at Hwol Yarje School.

Marina leaps over the stream.

Gin Gin contemplating the water situation.

The "washing rock," where clothes are beaten.

John Pada, brother of the man who donated land for farming by the patients of Faith Alive.

From Rob Douglas & Greg Strouse of The Faith Alive Hospital Team in Jos:

What a day! We had an early meeting with Dr. Chris to take us out to the school at Hwol Yarje. We were there last week, and have fallen in love with the place. If you remember, this is a small farming community that Faith Alive found by chance - they were gifted a plot of land from a grateful patient. It measures nearly an acre. When they came out to see the land, they found a hundred kids of all ages and wondered why they were not in school. They didn't have a school.

So Faith Alive built a temporary school with the help of volunteers from the Naval Academy last year. Now they have 200 children - and today, they were called in to class to greet us! They were so excited. They were so happy. When we came in, they acted as well-behaved young students - sang to us, answered in unison, and stayed in their seats.

Three overstuffed classrooms with dozens upon dozens of children. We went outside and took some photos, and the kids surrounded us, and couldn't get enough of us. They were intrigued by our appearance, and by our cameras - wanting to be snapped over and over. It was actually a challenge to stay controlled.

We left them for a moment and wandered down to see the water source for the village. We walked past a plot of land that has been donated by the village to build a permanent school. Faith Alive is hoping to do that over the next 10 years, but they are already outgrowing the school they have.

What we saw at the stream was very disheartening. It is a small stream, easily stepped over, running through reeds and over rocks. It is used by the village of 500 for all water needs - including bathing, washing clothes, relieving themselves, as well as drinking. It is also used by all animals for the same purposes. This stream is an average of 10 minutes walk from the villagers homes, some more, some less, and they have to carry it all back.

We walked back up, feeling a little down, but we went back to the kids, and their excitement was so infectious! We played with them, and taught them games, running all around, teaching them songs, arm wrestling, and thumb wrestling. Finally we got to interview the kids, and learned about their big dreams - they want to be nurses, and doctors, and lawyers, "So I can become a judge and help the poor people," said one.

We left feeling hopeful and wanting to do as much as we can for these wonderful hopes for our future. We were exhausted at the end of that, and had to rest. This was the most emotionally charged day yet.