School's Out!! Hooray.... NOT!!

 School’s Out. Hooray…… NOT!!!    April19
The King’s School Primary, where I spend my days, was almost under attack this morning. Here’s what happened, and I want to straight away add that I do not have all the details, but this is what I know.
The public school teachers have been on strike here for about a month, and it’s looking like this whole current year will be a write-off for students attending public schools - in other words, if a student is presently in year 9, they have to repeat it next year.
To protest, students from public schools decided to throw rocks into the grounds of private schools; the thinking behind this is that if they can’t continue with their education and with the next grade next year, than private school students shouldn’t have access to education. This was instigated by teachers, believe it or not!!
So this morning, with quite a bit of commotion on the way to our school, between 150 - 200 students arrived at the school with the intent of throwing rocks over the fence and gate. The gate and the fence that surround the school are  approximately 7ish feet high. The nursery class is right beside the gate, and the teacher of that class informed Aime, who works in the office, of the goings on.
Together they went out (brave souls - leave it to Aime and Olive to do this) and Aime started talking to the group. He told them that there were students from other countries than just Burundi, and that if they would get hurt, it would be worse. Moreover, these were little kids he informed them. They also had intentions of damaging Aime’s car which was parked right there.
Well, praise Jesus, this deterred them from throwing rocks, only with the intent on going to the International school (private) which is close by. I don’t know what happened after this.
This is serious, as there has been death as a result of this kind of activity in Gitega, a city that’s up country. I don’t know how many students were killed.
I imagine there will be more info. forthcoming tomorrow, and I’ll keep you posted.
We need your prayers.
April 20
Soooo, I tried desperately to post the above yesterday, but was unable to…. Internet access issues that are very frustrating.
Today there was a very heavy police presence close to our school, as well as the International school.
Like Isaac said before, prevention is so much better than dealing with a potential aftermath.
I know of no fear amongst the children, in fact I don’t think many even know about yesterday’s incident; there’s no talk about it from students. However, the Secondary kids were concerned/scared that they might become a target.  We know of one close friends’ friend that was hit by a rock yesterday at a different school.
The timing for this is awful as well - just 2 months before a very sensitive presidential election. So the political parties are having a real go, trying to manipulate and use the strike to their advantage.
The school board has informed the teacher’s that if they continue with this strike, they will not help/support the teachers for the next 5 years. I wonder what kind of ramifications that would bring with it.
We need your prayers for a peaceful resolution.
CRIB is “under attack” with malaria - 5 kids have it as of this afternoon, with a few additional alerts pending test results. Two children have an 80%, two 70%, another 50%. This is how they measure the severity of the illness, with 100% being very, very sick, and death is not uncommon. Two  of the 5 are hospitalized; one of the 80% and the 50%. The way they determine if you need hospitalization is if you can keep the tablets down or not. If you can’t you’re admitted. Malaria is accompanied by high fever, and if you can’t keep anything down, there’s a real risk of dehydration. It’s really hard seeing the kids so sick. The one that is the sickest is also one of two that is by far the most difficult at home and at school, but seeing him today made all 3 of us realize how much we love the guy.
The previous 2 subjects are heavy - I don’t feel like continuing, but I will for the sake of bringing you more up to date in our lives; I’m already behind with this.
During the last week of the two week Easter break Colton was so blessed to be able to participate in a soccer ‘school’. Honda and Libby had organized a group of 8 professional soccer coaches from the UK to come and run this. This was intended for Honda’s 60 boys plus 40 others by invitation, but things turned out very differently, as they often do here.
What’s a bored school boy to do when there is no school and he sees others engaged in an obviously unusual training camp, run by 8 muzungus!!?? Join in, of course!! By the end of the week, they played a bit of soccer and the coaches were managing at times near chaotic activity. On Friday there were almost 400 players on the two pitches!! As Honda remarked, “it’s much easier to let them play than to try and keep them off the field, and that way they don’t steal the equipment on the sidelines.” The team from the UK brought in loads of balls that they gave away, as well as huge inflatable nets that they’ll probably use again next year when they return - yep, they already said that they will probably come back next year. This is a huge blessing.
Well, Dave and Lynn, one of our pastor couples from Calvary Chapel is still stranded in London as a result of Heathrow being shut down because of the debris in the UK airspace from the volcano eruption in Iceland. They spent 5 days in London/Paris on a planned holiday after they left here, but involuntarily that holiday is lengthened substantially. What a rough life eh, -  to be stranded in London!!!!!
It was a huge blessing to have Dave and Lynn here; we laughed, we cried, we prayed,  drove through many potholes, were very grateful for Maryanne’s spirit that accompanied us up country, (only Dave and Lynn will understand this) we had fun, heard some of Dave’s near death experiences, re-positioned the fans in front of them yet again - I’m not complaining in the least tiny bit, it was just funny how hot they were. Oh, and Lynn got Colton pining for one of those cool IPOD touch gadgets. And they brought us Werther’s Originals. And Cows - the caramel ones. And Lynn gave me her ‘original’ , ‘Apple’ travel coffee mug. Lynn, I’m still pumped about it.
Seriously, we are very blessed to have Calvary Chapel as our church family, and that they see the importance of a pastoral visit when you’re so far removed physically. The Lord really knit us together a lot more, and we are very grateful for the visit, and for a deeper relationship.
Enough for today. Happy Tuesday.