As everyone in the US is settling into back-to-school routines and classwork, our students in Kenya are winding down for the year. Due to a recent decision made by the Kenyan government, term three has been shortened and will conclude at the end of October. The adjustment was made in order to address some concerns regarding cheating during exams (if you’d like to read more, you can read this explanation provided by Capital News).
While there is no concern that cheating has taken place at Canopy Life, we are grateful for the change because it gives our students, teachers, and staff a longer holiday break with their families. They’ve all been working hard this year and the November and December break will provide time for rest and, in the case of our teachers and staff, professional refreshment.
With only a short time left in the Kenyan school year, we want to let you know about a few ways you can pray for and engage with our students this fall.
FACEBOOK LIVE
This Thursday, September 15, we’ll be hosting our first Facebook Live event! Want to know what daily life is like for students at Canopy Life? Or what it’s like to be licked by a giraffe? Well, now you can ask the students! Come ready with questions for Mercy, John, James, and Grace (pictured above). The fun begins at 10:00 a.m. (EST) and will last for about 15 minutes. You can tune in on our Facebook page. We’ll see you then!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Health and Sunshine: While many of us are experiencing the best days of late-summer/early-fall, this is a damp, kind-of-miserable season in Kenya. So much of life happens outside for our students (for instance, drying all of their clothes!), which means long stretches of poor weather can be difficult. Several students have not been feeling well, yet the rainy, cold weather is hanging on. We need the sun to come out in Kenya!
Provision for School Fees: Pray for the parents and their responsibility towards school fees. While Canopy Life and its sponsors cover almost 99 percent of the cost of Canopy for students, there is still a small school fee parents are required to cover. It’s our desire that families will feel ownership in their children’s educations and resist a more passive mindset.
The end of the year can be challenging for parents as they secure the remaining school fees to complete the year. We’re praying families will be resourceful and prioritize the funds to keep their children’s school fees paid.
A Smooth Staff Shuffle: Pray for Linah as she returns to work from maternity leave. We’re thanking God for Elias who has helped around the house and filled in during this time. Please pray for him as he returns to college this month.
A Strong Finish: Pray for the staff as they wrap up assignments, conclude lessons, and impart final tidbits of knowledge to the students. We have only seven weeks of school remaining before the end of term three and, as all teachers know, it takes determination, love, and patience to finish strong at the end of the year.
Growth, Love, and Grace: When asked what we can be praying for, one of our teachers shared this: “That the students will continue to grow in their love for the Lord. That the staff will be steadfast in their pursuit of Jesus as they disciple the kids, and that God’s abundant grace will always be evident at Canopy Life.”
Thank you for joining us as we pray and cheerlead our students, staff, and teachers through the next two months. As always, we’ll keep you updated through Facebook and Instagram. And don’t forget to join us this Thursday for our Facebook Live event!