A New Angel

As Patricia and I walked over (more like ran, since of course we were already running late) to Our Lady of Grace this afternoon, we could tell immediately that something was happening. The campus was silent, and everyone was in the dining hall. Usually when everyone is packed in there, it is loud, happy, and full of excitement. Last night, we had an amazing night with the girls learning how to do a liturgical dance for a special mass tomorrow. Everyone was laughing and having a really great time when we left.

When we walked in to that same space today, we found a sad group of children and faculty. They had been praying a special rosary when Sr. Remia received the call that no one wants to get.

Wycliff, a 7th grade student at OLGS who has been fighting aplastic anemia for a number of years, went home to God this afternoon. He had stopped by a few days ago to say goodbye to his friends and went to stay with his grandmother. He went very peacefully, and Sister Mary and Father Martin were there with him. He's been suffering for so long that it's good to know he's at peace, but tonight was a sad one here in Kisumu.

While we didn't get to know him as well as some of the other kids because he was in the hospital for much of the time we were here, Wycliff's spirit and presence at school were known to us. Wycliff's bone marrow stopped producing platelets almost a year ago, and has survived since then on transfusions. It's amazing how long he was able to survive, and he touched so many lives during his too-short time here on Earth. He was frequently discussed by the other kids, and he always encouraged them to keep going. He was a wonderful person, and he will be missed so much.

I know he'll always be with the kids and faculty here at OLG, and he will always have a special place in my heart. I have no doubt he is smiling down on us right now, a new angel (and I hope he says hi to Nick for me!).

In other news, Patricia and I are mid-mandazi making! We probably have about 100 made, and a lot more to go... we are now experts, however! The power was out until a few minutes ago, which made it an interesting experience... cooking by candlelight! Our slideshow/movie of all of our pictures will be shown tomorrow in the dining hall for everyone to see, featuring a really great photo of Wycliff that we found.