Karibu Kibeta

We had visitors this month!  Bishop Rimbo from the NY Metro Synod, his wife, and other members of the Synod paid a visit to Bukoba. The NY Metro Synod has been incredible partners to KEMPS over the years so everyone was excited to see them and they were excited to visit again. 

The students put together a show for the visitors.  It included singing, dancing, skits, etc.  Watching the kids perform is always one of my favorite moments.  When the Ngoma, traditional dancing, started, the Bishop even joined in.

The visitors also came with an array of amazing gifts from the members of their churches.  They brought art supplies, jump ropes, tennis balls, an entire suitcase full of snacks for us, and I think the favorite......a new soccer net.

We used all the candy they brought to celebrate Halloween.  The students all said 'trick or treat' in exchange for sweets.  It was a fun way for us to celebrate and include the students!

And of course, Halloween is also Nino's birthday.  So we spent some time celebrating him as well!

Thanks again for all the goodies and for visiting.  We enjoyed having you here!

Asante Sana Grace Lutheran Church in Yorktown Heights, NY

We would like to say a BIG THANKS to Grace Lutheran Church in Yorktown Heights, NY.  A few months ago, I was emailing with Inge and Bob Schnut and they asked if we needed anything.  As usual, we needed pencils for the students.  They are tough to come by here in Bukoba.  But we also asked for chess boards.  Trevor has been running a chess club for months but with only one real board.  We made more out of paper but the 'pieces' were difficult to keep track of.

Inge and Bob organized and pencil and chess board drive at their church.  And the results of their efforts have arrived and the students couldn't be happier.

There are SO many pencils.  The students use pencils for drawing in Vocational Skills and PDS.  Below is a picture of some of the students being sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church with some of the pencils.

The chess club has taken on a whole new dynamic now that they have so many boards.  The students are such fast learners.  We have already had one tournament and hope to have another soon.  There is also talk of building a life size chess board in collaboration with the Art Club....

Oh Happy Day

This morning was a special church service celebrating children. It started off with a parade where the children waved flowers and sang songs. The older students led the church service. When it was over, the students got to enjoy some snacks, sweets and soda.

Weights and Measures

Last week, the school inspectors visited KEMPS.  They spent two days meeting with teachers, reviewing paperwork and office processes, walking around exploring campus, etc.  It was a stressful two days for the staff but it also seemed to spark some good conversation about teaching.

One of their requirements was that we update the student record cards with heights and weights.  There isn't a scale at school so we had to improvise.  There is a spring scale used for weighing flour, rice, etc.  So the students had to hold themselves up on the spring scale while a teacher read their weight. 

It was sort of like the President's Fitness test gone terribly wrong because not only did you have to do a pull up in front of everyone but then they also yelled your weight out for the teacher to write down.  But I'll say it ended up being a pretty funny moment.