Tiffany Hickle

During our time in Kenya, a group of us were blessed to serve at the Hope Academy, with the wonderful teachers, students and staff that faithfully make Hope Academy the wonderful place that it is. A group of us volunteers went into each classroom multiple times a day, every day for four days, and spent time with the students and teachers. Some classrooms did skits, some played music and danced, some played games and others completed fun crafts and activities. The Hope Academy classrooms have open windows and standing in the center of the school courtyard, you could clearly hear the kids having a wonderful time, singing and laughing joyfully. It was an incredible sound. While volunteers were in classrooms, VBS was running in the outdoor cafeteria area. They would also sing and run and play together and then come together to complete a fun activity they had never done before. The kids were absolutely perfect. So excited awaiting what activity they got to do with the volunteer having a blast being outside with us. During VBS, you could smell the wonderful lunch being prepared by the hard working cafeteria staff. After lunch, the students would gather around and ask everyone questions and play “rock, paper, scissors” or tap your shoulder and run away laughing. It was a pure joy to serve at The Hope Academy. The teachers are humble servants serving an amazing and smart group of students. You could feel God’s presence all over the school campus, no matter where you went, and a big credit goes to the fruit of the Spirit the teachers, students and staff show each and every day.