Made another visit to St. Raphael school today...the one for Sudanese refugee children we talked about in Update 35. We'd found a place in Cairo to purchase a few classroom supplies...including laser flashlights, posters, mounting tape, etc..so we came bearing gifts. The English teacher took us to observe in several math classes taught in Arabic. In a religion class, the students had some pretty deep questions for us...How do you know there really is a God??? How do you know what God wants you to do??? We could only give our personal thoughts...and made sure they knew "it wasn't the right answer" necessarily for them. The teacher encouraged the students to think deep.
Back in the principal's office, we spent time with the English speaking teacher showing him several simple teaching activities that he can pass on to all the other teachers. (Headbands, Hangman, Line Game, self correcting flashcards).
The principal had a TV set up in the hall showing a documentary about the UN refugee camp in Sudan that showed them performing their ceremonial dances and traditions. Several parents & older students had gathered there to watch. You could see the longing in their eyes. You could almost feel the homesickness in the air.
The English teacher rode back to RE with us just to make sure we got back safely. He said he hoped to make it to USA but it is extremely hard to get a Visa...might take him 10 years. We wished him luck and gave him our email address....hoping for him for a miracle!!
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