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A treasure trove of pencils
Leave it to some school kids in Kenya to show us what’s really important.
Education reporter Natasha Robinson gave us a great glimpse into the open hearts of youth through a couple of stories about a Red Oak Middle School student collecting pencils for Africa.
Jay Brown has collected more than 17,000 pencils, erasers, sharpeners and other supplies for a school in Nairobi, Kenya. As Natasha reported in February, he began his crusade after his pastor returned from a trip to Africa and talked about some of the basic needs Kenyan children have.
We all have thoughts about the hardships we’re bearing during these tough economic times, but reading a thank-you note from a kid who’s thrilled just to have a pencil really puts things in perspective.
Here are a few excerpts from the dozens of letters Jay received from students at Grace Harvest Academy. Keep in mind that English is a second language for these 11- and 12-year-olds:
“I am writing to you using the pencils that you gave us. Some of us bubbles of joy are bursting out of them because they have never caught anything from America. We really appreciate you. May God bless … wherever you go, God’s blessing to follow you plus all the blessings from Kenya.”
— Faith Wanjiru
“In Kenya, our country, a child can not (construct) things like those to other children. … I am a girl. I like education because education is the strength.”
— Cecilia Wambui
“It is with a lot of dedication and honour to write for you this letter to send to you a vote of flying thanks because in my lifetime I have never met somebody generous, kind hearted and concerned like you Jay.”
— Jane Wanjiru
“I have never known somebody who is like you. As I am writing this letter, I am as happy as a king. We as a school are proud of you. … God bless you mightily. May he keep you and may you grow up to be a good and important person.”
— Gloriah Nekesa
By a lot of measures, Jay seems well on his way being good and important. Jay’s hard work reminds the rest of us that even the smallest bit of goodwill can make all the difference in the world to someone else.
Here’s a link to Natasha’s most recent story:
Comments
By Jeff
April 26, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this
Jeff i would like to know what you can do to get updated news as it happens on the Rocky MOunt Web. I just read at 2:38 pm Sunday April 26th that a teen had been shot in Rocky Mount and take to Nash General on the WRAL News Web. Its sad that Raleigh gets our news before we do…. Can you work on that???
By Tom
April 26, 2009 8:08 PM | Link to this
Mr. Herrin These Electricities people lie about everything. On annual meeting, Ken Raber did say Sponsors, aka consultants paid millions by electricities, paid and the ratepayers did not. Even though ratepayers have to pay for Bruce Rose, Fred Turnage and all these other people to attend. Elizabeth City took 10 people. So now Electricities breaks even from sponsorships paid by consultants paid by ratepayers. I think misinformation and half truths is starting to becoming a real issue According to an employee, Estherine Davis has tormented another employee into leaving - the 8th one in two years. This needs investigation.
Someone should call for the Eastern Members of the ElectriCities Board to resign - Bruce Rose, Fred Turnage, Ron Elks, John Craft, Richard Hicks, Paul Fisher, Sam Noble - malfeasance is serious. They will not answer the people who pay. They waited a month to answer to answer questions www.lightbill.wordpress.com hoping we would go away. They could have answered that right then. I hope Rocky Mount and other cities will pass resolutions demanding they answer straight up. If Andre Knight hands them the questions I bet you they will not tell him to come in and find out the answers. Tom
By dwigt
May 1, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this
Jeff,
I haven’t heard anything at all from or about David Combs in a long time. Is he active and you guys just aren’t covering him? Is he not active?