This fall, we’re going to be highlighting on the blog several stories of our students and their sponsors. At Canopy Life, we get to witness change first-hand, and are so thankful for the Sponsor Families who play a part in encouraging our students, asking hard questions, and cheerleading the kids forward as they take on challenges.
One student who has been growing in leaps and bounds this year is John. He’s in class 5, over halfway done with his second year at the Academy. John is one of the most observant kids we’ve ever seen. He doesn’t miss a thing. For instance, he is often seen picking up around the school’s property. It’s like his eyes are drawn to the smallest buttons, pieces of lint, and discarded erasers. When the power goes out (which it often does), John is the first one to walk around the home and ensure every light switch is flipped to the off position.
Since coming to Canopy Life, John has wrestled with strengthening his skills in math. Like most of us, John prefers to focus on things he is good at… and math is not one of those things. Jim and Kate, John’s global mentors, frequently encourage him in this area during their Skype calls. They nudge him to work hard even when it is difficult. Kate says that one of their favorite things to observe about John is how proud he is of the work he does well, and how much he enjoys telling her and Jim about it.
With the encouragement of his teachers, Canopy staff, and Sponsor Family, John has made a concentrated effort to study hard. Teacher Pip told me how by the end of Term 2, John was becoming so capable with this math skills, that his classmates were asking him for help. John has become serious about learning.
His schoolwork isn’t the only thing that John is serious about. When he is home during breaks, John chooses to go to church alone. His mother shared with our staff that she is proud of John for being a leader in that way. While he is at school, John is always attentive during group devotions and church time. He seems to soak up everything Abbu says like a sponge.
This year, at the beginning of Term 2, Canopy staff began to notice that John was consistent in doing the right thing, but noticed it was for him more about being a rule follower than because his heart was behind it. As you can imagine, being great at following rules, but missing the heart of why, caused John to sometimes be negative toward others when they made mistakes. His Sponsor Family, especially John and Kate, have been praying for John and asking guided questions about this tendency. Over time, we’ve begun to see John take on a more humble spirit and a willingness to share his belongings and serve others.
Like we said, we’re so thankful for our sponsors and global mentors that make up our Sponsor Families at Canopy Life. Last summer, Kate even got to go visit John at his school (check out the awesome picture above of them together). Knowing we would be highlighting John’s story, we sent Kate a few questions about her and Jim’s experiences as global mentors. Keep reading below to find out more:
How long have you been sponsoring John? For a little over a year.
Was there a special something that drew you to him? I could see he has so much potential! He is super observant, sharp, and I know he will be a great spiritual leader.
Are there any key conversations you’ve had with John that have made you laugh, smile, or feel encouraged? All of them! He is always so proud of his work and I can tell he wants to make us proud of him. I loved hearing about their field trips and creative projects. He loved the giraffe park so much, that he told us about it twice! He was so excited!
What’s your favorite thing about Canopy sponsorship? I love seeing what he is up to daily on social media, and being able to speak with him on Skype is priceless. I love the interaction with him and it helps keep me grounded and in tune as well. It’s not just writing a check—it’s a personal relationship to help someone in another country make a difference and all for the glory of God. It’s amazing!
To join Jim and Kate, and countless others who are investing in Kenya’s future as part of Canopy Life’s Sponsor Families, click HERE.