Games and "Therapy Sessions"

I cannot fully convey the immense joy of interacting with these young men. They are incredibly funny and full of energy... and they are also very LOUD when they're all together, particularly during a football match! They enjoy Uno, Monopoly, and essentially any game that allows them to compete with one another. It's remarkable to witness the light in their eyes and how much confidence and purpose they are discovering; for some, the change is as clear as night and day, visibly reflected in their eyes and smiles.

About a week ago, the boys participated in a football match that also served as a reunion for many other students from their village. It was a delightful afternoon and evening filled with reconnections and memories. The match featured the mentors and their peers (older) against the Etwene students and their peers (younger). It appears the mentors still possess some football skills, winning 9-6, although the students allege there was cheating involved, so who can say for sure! The afternoon was perfectly cool and overcast during the match, and then the rain started just as we arrived at the restaurant. We concluded with a lovely local meal of egg, sausage, fish, and Kenkey, a stiff dough-like ball made from fermented maize. The boys, along with some other friends, did a fantastic job organizing and planning the event.

During the week, I arranged individual time with each of the boys, which they affectionately called their "therapy sessions." It's been wonderful to have these quieter moments to listen to each of their thoughts and address any questions or concerns they might have. I plan to meet with the last few boys this week. Please pray for God to help them grow into godly young men and for wisdom and discernment as they continue their paths into adulthood.

Last Sunday, we celebrated Akolog's birthday with jollof rice, pizza, and a hamburger for the birthday boy! We enjoyed a lively session of dancing, where the boys learned to line dance to "Footloose" and some picked up the two-step. They then tried to teach the white mom how to African dance, which resulted in a lot of laughter and some videos that might end up on our social media pages!