(Monday, July 20)

Juvi has gone from good to bad to better to worse and back to good again. It’s exhausting.

Today was good.

We have almost twenty kids now, some of whom should be in secondary school and some of whom can barely add numbers or write. One of the Finnish volunteers has decided to work with the struggling students, while the other is going to create more challenging work for the advanced students. I am left with everyone else. And really, this is a good thing. The kids are learning. They’re opening up.

Today when I told one student he did a good job (nzuri sana), he gave me a hug. He’s barely spoken to me before today. So while I am feeling like I have so little to give, I realize that these kids aren’t asking for much. They just want someone who will pay attention to them. I can do that.

And I am pleased to report: there’s been no further talk of Finland.