The Chance of My Life, by Joy Huldah Moraa
Thank you Rhode van Gessel from Connecticut for your donation to Lenana Girls High School in Kitale, Kenya. To show our appreciation, 13-year-old Joy Huldah Moraa would like to share her essay, “The Chance of My Life.” Joy writes about her family’s struggle to achieve an education, how they broke from tribal customs and left everything they knew behind in the hope for a better life.
The best chance for young girls in Kenya to gain an education is through boarding schools, where they are housed, educated, and protected from cultural traditions such as early marriage (at the age of 12 or 13) and Female Genital Mutilation. Lenana Girls High School empowers the next generation of African women by providing high quality education, personalized mentoring, and rigorous leadership development. Thank you, Rhode, for helping to give bright girls like Joy the chance of their lives.
Joy, thank you for sharing the story of how you made it to Lenana. You’ve been through many hardships, but I’m sure you know how fortunate you are to have a father who believes in your education and to have found a sponsor to cover your fees.
I believe with your dedication and hard work, one day you will be in the position to sponsor a worthy student like yourself. Keep up the good work and keep writing!
Sara
Dearest Joy,
Surely your parents named you correctly. Not only are you a joy to them in hard and evil times but a joy to people like myself who are inspired and made thankful by your thoughtful and honest essay.
You are Joy — in the NIV bible Joy is mentioned 218 times! Like
“Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”Romans 15:13
I will keep you in my prayers along with my own son — keep up the good work!!! and know you are loved.
oxox
Rhode
Dear Rhode Van Gessel,
I never that an essay of a life full of hardship and sorrow could inspire people but thank you.
Through life was not fair on our side, we still had strong faith that we would be lifted by God if we humbled ourselves as it is written in Hebrew 4: 10. ” Humbled yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you”. Thank you for motivating me.
Joy.
Dear Sara,
Thank you for believing in my ability and hard work. I also thank God for giving me the father who understands the value of education and my sponsor who has the offered to pay for my school fees.
I believe in helping because I have learned a lot from what our director, Mr. Joshua Machinga is doing and receives God’s blessings. I will keep on writing so that I can be one of the best authors.
Regards,
Joy.