Today we were walking through Mwanza and came across some kids playing soccer on a dirt field.  Tim and I decided to sit down and watch them for a little.  We happened to sit right next too a man who spoke decent English which is pretty rare here.  He said his name is Jophet.  We talked about a number of things with our new English speaking friend.  At one point he even found out that I played soccer and talked the kids into letting me play with them!

            When I got back from kicking the ball around he went on to explain that he is a teacher.  He’s not just any teacher though.  Jophet has started his own school.  In two years he already has 50 students.  The kids parents can only afford to pay around 3000 TZS ($2.30) a month.  This obviously doesn’t cover all the expenses of desks, books, and uniforms so Jophet covers the difference with the profit from his farm.  Now when I say that the kid’s parents pay, that only includes 40 of the students.  10 of the students are especially special to Jophet.

            Jophet became a Christian a few years ago and read about how one of the things that God deeply cares about is orphans.  Then he saw how God calls us to do the same (James 1:27).  So the other 10 students are kids who have no parents.  He has taken them off of the streets and full on takes care of them.  “I gotta see this”, I thought to myself as he was explaining his life’s devotion.  So we told him that we would love to come by and see his school.  Half glad and half totally surprised, he told us when and how to get there. 

            The building he teaches in is simply a cinder block structure with empty holes where windows and doors normally are.  As we approached, the children saw us and slowly herded out of the seats and into the street.  They seemed to have a little bit of apprehension in approaching us at first, but soon it was obvious that they wanted nothing more than to run at us.  Like when someone is being tickled and about to burst into laughter the kids were on the edge of explosion.  Once one child broke out from the crowd they all came thundering toward us.  They kept saying over and over again, “Good morning sir! good morning sir!”.  They all just wanted to touch us, mostly our hands, but some of them completely embraced our legs.  I even got my butt grabbed a few times, most likely unintentionally cause they are all 5-7 years old :]

             After we taught them a little math and graded a few papers Jophet dismissed them home.  Then we all accompanied the orphan’s back to the house they live in.  He said he wishes he could have 50 more orphans, but the conditions are already so bad he can hardly afford to feed the ones he has now.  Everyone keeps telling him he needs a sponsor to give him money each month, but he would rather just have a $1000 to buy the field that is for sale next to his house so he can expand his farm.  This will not only mean that he could support more orphans from the income, but also he would hire men in his community to farm thus creating jobs for the many unemployed. I was amazed by his determination and plan to stay sustainable when most people just want a hand out.

             It is people like Jophet, Devotta, and Grace (last blogs) who are the heroes of Africa and this world.  They are the ones who are making a difference in the lives of those who need it the most.  There is no way to predict or measure the magnitude of change that is taking place through people like them.  Ordinary people just like you and me, who choose to sacrifice of themselves so that others may benefit.  To think that so many people never take action and are left feeling helpless because they believe that what they have to offer is too insignificant.  To help one person only one time will change the world, at least for that person, forever.  So what could this mean for you?  What potential inside of you that is waiting to be unleashed.  What small things can you sacrifice to not only allow others to live, but you as well? (Mark 8:35)

         Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive because the world needs people who have come alive. – Howard Thurman

             “If you think that you are too small to make a difference then you’ve never slept with a mosquito under your sheets.” – I forgot who said this

 David Peterka

Give a Damn? Team

P.S. Everyone who reads this.  I’d love to hear from you guys.  Send me an e-mail (Dmpeterka@hotmail.com) or a message on facebook about how your life is.