Locheredome

Term 4, 2022

Greetings from Lochoredome Center! This term has come to an end and we would like to share with you some of the highlights. We are so grateful for your continued support as we transform lives through the hope of Jesus Christ. 

Maxwell Wabwoba Mulunda

Head Teacher Lochoredome

Total Enrolled: 259 students
Total Unsponsored: 184 students

We met Lucy* in 2019 when her aunt overheard a conversation between our social worker and another parent. Lucy was 9 years old at that time and had been living with her aunt since her parents had passed away when she was very young.

Lucy’s aunt before overhearing the conversation had not paid any mind to educating Lucy. It is customary in their culture for girls to be married off when they are young and their dowry brings wealth to the family. Lucy would then stay at home with her aunt and help around the house with the chores and her aunt’s liquor brewing and selling business. Lucy dreamed about going to school, but she knew her fate was to bring wealth to her family through marriage.

It wasn’t until one day one of our parents was going to visit Lucy’s aunt. It so happened that day that the social worker wanted to follow up with that parent as to why their children had been absent from school. The social worker met the parents at Lucy’s aunt’s home and they talked candidly.

Lucy’s aunt could not help but overhear the conversation between her friend and our social worker. She was moved by how much care the social worker had for her friend’s child. After they spoke, Lucy’s aunt had some questions about MOHI schools that she asked the social worker.

They chatted for a long time. The conversation weaved around the importance of school for not just the boys but the girls as well. They talked about the responsibility of a parent or guardian towards a child and the rights that a child has. While this was happening Lucy had been sent to a well down in the dry river beds to fetch some water so she can clean one of the liquor drums.

When Lucy arrived she met the three adults discussing. She politely greeted everyone and proceeded to take the water away. Her aunt stopped her and asked her if she had heard about MOHI. Lucy responded that she had, from friends who attend MOHI to some of her cousins who also attend. This was when we learned that Lucy wanted to be in school, but didn’t think it was in the cards for her.

Lucy’s aunt and the social worker continued to talk at length about the possibility of Lucy coming to school. After a long talk, her aunt thought it best to have Lucy enrolled. Once Lucy was enrolled Lucy’s aunt decided to no longer keep the liquor brewing business as she realized that it was inappropriate to allow Lucy to be involved in it.

Lucy was overjoyed to join us in our Lochorodome Center. She knew that here she would be safe and taken care of. As the years have passed, Lucy has become more confident in her Kiswahili and English; when she first came she could only speak her mother tongue. She can also now lead her class in prayer when called upon.

Lucy is working hard in her studies so she can become a teacher and help little girls go to school just like someone helped her.

*Name was changed

• We received a nurse from a nearby pharmacy who came to assess our students and gave them supplements as needed.
• We received Rev. Clinton Okanga and Pastor Patrick Maina. They came and had Sunday service with us. Rev. Clinton shared the word with us. They also went for two home visits, where they shared the word with the families. Two of our students have given their lives to Christ!

• We received Eastside Christian Church, who came to take two water samples for testing, one from the shallow ponds caused by occasional rainfall and the other from the school well. They also did a health assessment with the Kindergarten kids and gave supplements to those who needed them.

• Pray for God’s protection against snakes, spiders, and scorpion bites which are rampant in our community.
• Pray for rain. This area has not received rain for the past four months. Livestock like goats and sheep are dying because of hunger and drought.