Meet Peter

This is our friend Peter. I like to call him my little monkey boy because he wants you to pick him up and hold him and when you do he jumps up on you and wraps his legs around you very tightly and it reminds me of a monkey. He loves to be spun around very fast and for you to hold him upside down and act like you are going to drop him on his head. Whenever you do something he thinks is fun he says "tena na tena" which means again and again. We first met Peter and his sister Lillian on a Saturday when we went to the center to go help with the trash clean up. We had a lot of time to spend playing with them and they hang out at the center a lot. They are on the waiting list to start school next term.
I had the chance to go to Peter's home with one of the social workers the other day and to meet his mother. They live near the center in a tin shack that is about as wide as a queen size mattress and not much longer than one. About 6 people live in this place. Peter's mother is HIV positive and she is very sick. Peter's father has died from AIDS. They have no money as his mother cannot work and even if she could jobs here are hard to find. The center allows Peter and his siblings to come to the center each day to receive porridge in the morning and to eat lunch.
Tim and I were planning on sponsoring a child while we were here and we are planning to sponsor Peter. Although not in school right now Peter is a very smart. He loves to laugh and he has an endless supply of energy. We are very excited to be a part of his life.
At any given time there are many children on the waiting list at Missions of Hope. Children waiting for a sponsor and waiting to start school. Every time we walk through the slums we meet with many kids who are of school age but cannot afford to go to school. When we are praying with parents one of the most common prayers issues is for their children to be able to go to school. Education is of very high value here. Education is a huge step in changing the lives of many. I know many of you reading this already sponsor a child and it is so important that you know how much your sponsorship matter to these kids, their families, and this community.

If you don't sponsor a child or are considering supporting another one I really encourage you to pray about it alot. Sponsorship not only allows a child the opportnity for a good education and to eat daily-even more important than that it opens a door for people from the center to share Jesus with the families. We have information on how you can support a child please feel free to email us or to talk with us about this when we get back. To those of you who are sponsoring kids already-thank you. Your support is a huge blessing to these families.