"I pray."

I didn't make it to school today.  I woke up with a bad migrane and the maama's wanted to take me to the doctor because they were worried it was the oncomings of malaria, but I haven't gotten a single bug bite since I got here and the last 3 nights I got less than 6 hours of sleep so I'm sure that it is just from that.  I'm feeling a bit better now, but it took about 5 Ibuprofen to get me to a point I could leave the bedroom.  No lunch with Isaac and Elizabeth today :(

Since I don't have any recent events to update on, I thought it would be a good time to go into a bit of detail about Isaac and Elizabeth and the children.  Last Thursday, Isaac took me along to the home visits.  We went to seven homes, and after each one, Isaac explained each individual situation to me.  He says that if I'm working at the school, it's important for me to know about the children.  I don't know if I was ready to hear everything on my first day though.  So many children have lost their mothers to HIV and the fathers have abandonded them, it's heartbreaking.  There was one child, Johnson, who doesn't go to the school but is a very close family friend to Isaac and Elizabeth.  He had incredible English, and Isaac told us he's hoping to find a way to pay for him to go to secondary school.  The next day I asked Isaac, "How are you going to fund Johnson for secondary school?" To which he replied, "I hope to find a way for Johnson, yes, but I have not the money.  I pray." It broke my heart.  Johnson does have so much potential and I can't wait to visit his home again.  His grandparents were so sweet, picking us fresh avacado. 

It would take a week to try to relay everything Isaac hopes for this kids to all of you back home.  His dreams are never ending, and it's so obvious when I talk to him.  Just yesterday, he said he wants enough money to buy a car to take the children places, but it's only a dream.  I say again, I want to give Isaac and Elizabeth the world so they can turn around and give it to the children. I want to go to church with them this weekend, but the guard for the volunteer house, Kaka, said something about wanting to take me to his church.  I love the people here. 

I asked Isaac on Friday all about Elizabeth, and he didn't hold anything back.  It's incredible that someone with such a hard upbringing can turn out to be so selfless and giving.  At their house yesterday, she didn't stop thanking me and welcoming me. 

It's so great to feel such a strong connection with the people I'm working with, and I'm dreading leaving Hilcrest mainly because I don't want to leave Isaac and Elizabeth.