Thursday: Happy Day and Happy Night

April 2007 the first phase and floor of Happy Day Academy was finished.  May 2007, the first term of Happy Day Academy opened in the new facilities.   The dream that began years before finally came about.  I can still remember where I was when Bernard shared his wife, Mary's dream of Happy Day Academy.  Mary told me Thursday morning she could not believe where it is today.   

Thursday morning, Mary and I stood on the newly completed third and final floor of Happy Day Academy.   Mary was filled with emotion as we talked about the move from the renovated animal stall and house to the new facilities six years ago.   Today, the construction part of the vision is complete (well, those of you who know Mary know there are a few small things to be finished.  It took almost three years to get permission to build Happy Day way back in 2004-2006.    Today it is home to 215 students.   The highest level is standard 6 (6th grade).  Over the next two years the academic level will be complete with Standard 8.   This spring, Happy Day Academy began fully registered and licensed as a nursery, kindergarten, and primary school.   Today was truly a special day for Mary and for me. 

Happy Day is more than a learning center for children.   Mary has mentored and taught young women and men how to truly teach with excellence these young people.   She continues to develop the future teachers at Happy Day.   Within the next two years, enrollment will exceed 250 students. 

This is Teleios Ministry.   God-given visions becoming present day realities.  

After we left Happy, Bernard and I had tea with Robert and Lucy at their home.  See the February blog for more info on this dynamic ministry couple.

Then, we had lunch at the Kentmere Club.   There we saw old friends with a lot of hand slapping/shaking, hugs, and just catching up on life.   It was a special time when we praised God together for answering our prayers regarding the peace of the Kenyan elections. 
 

After the Kentmere Club we went to pick up Carol at her school on the other side of Nairobi.   On our way back, I saw the most amazing and unbelievable sight.   We are in the middle of rush hour traffic.  Buses full beyond capacity coming and going.  People walking everywhere on the side of the road, in the road, across the road.   Suddenly, traffic came to a complete stop.   There was a "comedian" as Bernard called him on a bicycle with Kenyan flags.   He had traffic stopped while he entertained them with bicycle tricks.  Seriously, rush hour and people are all in the street, giving this guy money to do tricks with traffic jammed to a stop.   His great trip, riding up and down the road doing a very long wheelie.   I could not believe it.   When I come to Kenya, I always see something that I never thought that I would see.  As we worked our way pass the entertainer, traffic was backed up on the other side of the road forever.   Amazing what you see in Kenya.

I included the picture of three very special young women.   Shirley and Carol Kabaru (Bernard and Mary's daughters) and Cynthia (their adopted daughter).   We first met Cynthia at the very first Koinonia Holiday Bible Camp.   I taught her in the youth class.  She has extended family but has really lived with Bernard and Mary as their daughter.    I am so proud of her.  She has worked very hard and this week she began the Bachelor's degree program at the university.   I am really proud of her.  Teleios Partners have had a part in her success over the years through teaching, praying, and giving. 
Carol is doing great in a new school that uses an accelerated program.   She hopes to finish high school by April 2015.   This summer she was selected to compete in an Pan-African Conference in music and sports.   Shirley is doing great in her Human Anatomy and Biological Laboratory degree at Kenyatta University.   Shirley we have known since she was one, Carol since she was one, and Cynthia for the past seven years.   When I am in town we always go out to wherever they want to go.   We had a great night at a local Chinese restaurant--they are big on chicken wings.