On Tuesday Charles Ngoje, the preacher of the Moshi Town Church, took Gwen and I out to Nedja Penda, a bush village where the church has planted a bush church and school. We drove about 20 minuets east out of Mohsi on the "Interstate" (a two lane black top road with speed bumps) then turned south. About 10 minutes later we turned off the black top road onto a two rut dirt road of dry, red, sandy soil. The road wandered around bushes, cactus, and Baobab trees past many single room homes until we came to a red brick building. It was just past noon and the children had been let out of school but when they saw Charles' car they came running back to the school. At school we met the teacher, a young man of about 25 to 30 years of age, his name is God Listen. Yes, that is his given name. The mortality rate of children is very high and many parents will give their babies names such as this to give them a head start in life. Charles tells me of people with names such as God Help Us and God Love. God Listen is a soft spoken man but those children listen to his every word. He had the children gather in the front of the room in two lines, girls in front and boys in back. Then they sang a song. I don't know the song but I heard Yesu (Jesus) and Mungu (God). I asked how much it costs to go to this school and Charles tells me these children go for free. I asked if the government pays God Listen's salary and Charles says no God Listen does this for free. PLUS not only does he not get paid, he walks 3 hours each way just to be able to teach these children how to read and write and teach them about Jesus. What dedication - walking 3 hours each way in 90 + degree weather because you know these children need a teacher and you are called by God to teach them. I was speechless at that point. God Listen is listening to God!! We can all learn a lesson from God Listen!!
School in Nedja Penda
Gwen Teaching the Children
1 comment:
Karen, as a teacher who complains about our US salary, I was very touched by God Listen and his story. We are all so spoiled in America! Thank you for sharing this inspirational story and perhaps we can find a way to help this young man. Glad the Collazo Family made it safely there. Tim was at church Wednesday night and shared his the hour long chat he had with Gwen. We miss you all and cannot wait to hear more about your Africa adventures. Give my love to all, Lynn
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