This week the kids have been taking their end of year exams. So, in the midst of sickness and suffering, they are also trying to focus on getting good marks for each subject. This is part of how it is determined whether they are promoted to the next grade level.
Friday would be the last day of exams and also the last day of classes for everyone. Since exams would be finished before lunch time, I had plans to see every child to check on their uniforms, their shoes, and other basic things like t-shirt size. I also wanted to ask each one how old they were because not every parent remembers their child's birthday and sometimes the year of birth reported and the age do not match. This would give me information for sponsorships and determining needs for next school year.
On Friday morning, Madame Olivia, the head mistress, brought me some updated reports about who still had balances on their tuition and other basic things. She also brought with her some bad news. During the night on Thursday, the home of one of our students was attacked. Shakira is one of our P5 students. She lives with two older sisters. During the night, a man broke into their home. The first thought was that he wanted to rob them, but they are not well off. Also, he didn't take any of their cell phones or any of the money in the home.
This man beat the 3 young ladies. At first, our only report was that they were beaten and robbed. Madame Grace inquired about visiting them and we got very bad news. Apparently, the man attached all 3 of them, but Shakira received the worst injuries. In the morning, she was taken to the clinic in Kifampa, but that doctor sent her to the hospital in Nakaseke (the closest actual hospital). We were told that Shakira had an injury to her skull that was very bad. The brain injury is bad enough that at this point she still cannot speak. Some description gave me the understanding that perhaps blood is pooling. As you can imagine, with different languages and different cultures and knowledge, it is hard for me to understand clearly.
I only know that the oldest sister has given testimony that it was one man who came in the night time. He apparently beat all 3 of them. At some point, he hit Shakira in the head with a brick. We don't know why he attacked her worse. We were told that neighbors came but it was too late for them to do anything and the man got away. Of course, it still isn't clear why he attacked because he didn't still anything. Since they were all young females, one suspicion is that he came "requesting something and they refused, so he became angry and attacked them." I"ll leave you to interpret what he was requesting.
I don't share this with you for you to be concerned about our safety (I know some people already are concerned, but don't let this increase your fear). We have a strong home and a night guard and dogs and a God who is mighty. We are just as safe as any one else in the world because nothing can happen to us that is unknown to our God. We do not live in fear.
Rather, our heart breaks for our student, for Shakira. So, we ask you to prayer for her recovery. We also ask you to pray that this man will be found and justice served. We don't want something like this to happen again. Perhaps it was random and not something that will be repeated, but we can pray for justice. Also, if/when Shakira is able, she will come to take the last examination, which she missed on Friday morning. Of course, there is no rush, but we'll pray that she has no damage to her mind and that she is able to continue on in her education.
Friday would be the last day of exams and also the last day of classes for everyone. Since exams would be finished before lunch time, I had plans to see every child to check on their uniforms, their shoes, and other basic things like t-shirt size. I also wanted to ask each one how old they were because not every parent remembers their child's birthday and sometimes the year of birth reported and the age do not match. This would give me information for sponsorships and determining needs for next school year.
On Friday morning, Madame Olivia, the head mistress, brought me some updated reports about who still had balances on their tuition and other basic things. She also brought with her some bad news. During the night on Thursday, the home of one of our students was attacked. Shakira is one of our P5 students. She lives with two older sisters. During the night, a man broke into their home. The first thought was that he wanted to rob them, but they are not well off. Also, he didn't take any of their cell phones or any of the money in the home.
This man beat the 3 young ladies. At first, our only report was that they were beaten and robbed. Madame Grace inquired about visiting them and we got very bad news. Apparently, the man attached all 3 of them, but Shakira received the worst injuries. In the morning, she was taken to the clinic in Kifampa, but that doctor sent her to the hospital in Nakaseke (the closest actual hospital). We were told that Shakira had an injury to her skull that was very bad. The brain injury is bad enough that at this point she still cannot speak. Some description gave me the understanding that perhaps blood is pooling. As you can imagine, with different languages and different cultures and knowledge, it is hard for me to understand clearly.
I only know that the oldest sister has given testimony that it was one man who came in the night time. He apparently beat all 3 of them. At some point, he hit Shakira in the head with a brick. We don't know why he attacked her worse. We were told that neighbors came but it was too late for them to do anything and the man got away. Of course, it still isn't clear why he attacked because he didn't still anything. Since they were all young females, one suspicion is that he came "requesting something and they refused, so he became angry and attacked them." I"ll leave you to interpret what he was requesting.
I don't share this with you for you to be concerned about our safety (I know some people already are concerned, but don't let this increase your fear). We have a strong home and a night guard and dogs and a God who is mighty. We are just as safe as any one else in the world because nothing can happen to us that is unknown to our God. We do not live in fear.
Rather, our heart breaks for our student, for Shakira. So, we ask you to prayer for her recovery. We also ask you to pray that this man will be found and justice served. We don't want something like this to happen again. Perhaps it was random and not something that will be repeated, but we can pray for justice. Also, if/when Shakira is able, she will come to take the last examination, which she missed on Friday morning. Of course, there is no rush, but we'll pray that she has no damage to her mind and that she is able to continue on in her education.
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| Please pray for Shakira. |
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