Terry,
Had some bad news from Charles this morning. One of the 2 boys you been sponsoring for school was killed Christmas day. I asked him which one. He said the guys name was Stephen, he was about 20-21 years old and he was in 11th grade. I trying to remember which young man this was?
Charles said no one really knows what happened. Charles called for him to come and fellowship on Christmas and instead he went off drinking with some of his friends and something happened.
Tough world…
 |
| Stephen is on the Left |
In Zambia, the government pays for school through 8th grade. After that it costs $60 per term (there are 3 terms each year) to continue one's education. Most families cannot afford the tuition, and many others can only afford 1 term per year. That's how they have 21 year old 11th graders.
I never met Stephen. I met Malumbe, the boy on the right. He wants to finish high school then go on to become a doctor and help the people in his part of Zambia. There is virtually no health care available for these people at all now, and HIV/AIDS is far above epidemic levels.
Young people dying in rural Zambia is all too commonplace. A couple of years ago, my brother went there to see about starting the farm, and attended the funeral of an eight year old boy who was killed by a crocodile at the river as he tried to draw out water for his family. His mother stood on the bank and watched helplessly.
We should be thankful for all that we have in this country before we bitch about anything that we feel needs to change. God, please be with Stephen's family.