Recently, I haven’t had much rest because of my schoolwork. However, I have also been realizing how thankful I should be. There are so many times when I complain about the intensity of work, the piling papers and problem sets I have to get to, and the never-ending waves of exams, but the fact that this is my biggest challenge right now is such a blessing. Education is one of the greatest gifts that we could ever receive and this humbles me.
I have been looking over the bios of students that we sponsor, students who are looking to be supported so they could go to school. Reading Janet D’s bio made me smile because she loves to read. To her, it is the ideas that she gets from reading that make her love it so much. She is sponsored by our partner “More Than Me” whose mission is to get girls off the street and into school in Liberia. This organization points out that educating children helps reduce poverty. School is a place of support and it empowers a child to have a voice in society.
Janet’s father once said-
“We feel that if the family can struggle to go to school now, our life will be better later and we leave the rest up to God. During the war, we suffered a lot; we had nothing going for us. We never had time to rest, young boys who had arms took the little things we had including food and then they’d beat on us. The war is over now, but our war to survive in this struggle continues. We are blessed to have life, but we reach for something more.”
Education is the cornerstone of “more.” It is what will pull a family from poverty to prosperity. It is what encourages us to build a life for ourselves but also live to give to others.
I pray that we could become people who care. I pray that we would take the time to step back from being frustrated at the tiniest thing, and instead realize how much we have. I pray that Janet will continue to read, and be able to go to school and become a strong and empowered woman who will positively change her community.
Click here to learn more about More than Me