Pleading eyes time of year!

Hello!

I hate this time of year!  This is the time of year when all the students that passed their 8th grade test get calling letters for high school.  If you score high enough on your test, you can go to high school -If YOU CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY!  So, students come to me and my teammates from rural Turkana asking us to sponsor them to school.  It takes around $550 per student to pay boarding, tuition and buy the supplies they need for school.

They have such pleading eyes!  I only have so much money.  How do I choose?  It is so hard to turn some away.  I believe in education.  I believe the more educated the Turkana people get, the less they will be considered second class citizens in their own country.  I know most of them cannot come up with even a small portion of what they need.  Even so, I cannot support them all.  So, that is why I hate this time of year.  

So far, I have four high school students in upper grades - one is supported by one of my supporters.  They started early this month.  The freshmen will start school anywhere from the 1st of Feb to the 15th.  I have told one student I will help him with everything as he is an orphan, I have known him for several years and he is a good student.  I have given two students a little over half their school fees but they have to come up with the other portion and the boarding requirements (about $300 each for them to find).  I told one I would help her some if she can find other help.  Her grades are not that good, but I know her uncle who came pleading her cause.  I have had to turn away four.  I know there are more coming as we get closer to the 5th when many of them are required to report for school.  I hate this time of year.  

Where would you be if you hadn't had the opportunity to go to high school?  What if you did have the opportunity, but your family and friends could not come up with the funds to send you?  You also might have had pleading eyes.  I don't have deep pockets, but I do what I can to help.  I know God sees and I know he is with even those who are unable to go to school.  It is just hard on this side of the pleading eyes!  Praise the Lord for those I am able to help!  Praise the Lord for your own education!  Praise the Lord because He is God!