Report cards

I was sitting in my office, dripping with sweat.  I had to sit directly in front of my little fan for a few minutes before I could reach down to open my bag. It is just so hot these days, like deadly hot, with no relief. I wiped my brow, then wiped it again as I had already started producing new sweat and pulled myself together. I got out my computer, pulled out some files and got to work.



A short while later a few kids came bouncing into my office with giant grins and something tucked up their shirts, or hiding behind their backs. They then proudly pulled out their report cards and handed them over with a smile.



I was so busy trying not to drip sweat on my keyboard that I had completely forgotten that our primary kids were getting their final report cards today. The kids were so proud of themselves as they handed their reports over. The chatter was constant as they lounged on the couch and leaned all over my desk. 

 Eventually Ochanel came wandering in just like the rest and handed his report card over. I congratulated him on getting amazing marks this last term, an 87.7% average!  We fist bumped, smiled at each other and then all of a sudden it dawned on me. I looked over to his beaming face and said, “Ochanel, this is your first end of the year report card isn’t it?” His beautiful face began to bob up and down.

Ochanel is a teenager, but has never been through a full year of school. I think he went off and on for a few years as a young child, but he was often sickly and eventually his parents decided it just wasn’t worth sending him. That’s in the past now, and this morning his smile was contagious, he was so proud to have completed a full year of school and been promoted to the second grade! Could you imagine being 15 and never have experienced the joy of moving up a grade? The joy of counting down the days till summer vacation? There are so many things he and his younger sister Rose Myrtha have missed out on, and it is a complete joy, and honour to be a part of their first experiences. We’ve walked through their first Christmas, the first time their birthdays were celebrated and now their first end of year report cards.  I love that I get to sit back and watch as God restores their lives and heals their little hearts.


So congratulations to Rose Myrtha and Ochanel who have both been promoted to the second grade. What a wonderful story of redemption their lives are, and how blessed are we to be a part of their journey.


Peace, love and report cards,
 

Rachel

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