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We sat down for breakfast at 8:00 a.m., looking at our phones and wondering how the tariffs would impact all of us. With our bellies full and energy replenished, we were ready to begin our day. At 8:30 a.m., Bishop Silas met us at Distinction Gardens to guide us through our schedule. What a surprising start! The men rode motorcycles, while the ladies traveled with the bishop as we set off toward the equator.
It was a cool 27°C when we left the hotel, but just ten minutes into our ride, we had a minor breakdown. Fortunately, the motorcycle owners, who were traveling in the bus behind us, helped fix a disconnected throttle cable, and we were soon back on our way to find the equator. It was incredible to stand at the center of the world—only 35°C. After snapping some photos, we rode our bikes down to Lake Bob, where we stopped to observe local women selling fish from the man-made lake. Bishop Silas purchased some fish and eels, and then we continued our journey to Seje Christ Glory Academy.
The welcome at the academy was heartwarming: the students greeted us with a song as we disembarked from the bus. Ten students then danced for each of us and presented beautiful bouquets of flowers. After a brief introduction to the staff, we enjoyed some tea. We learned that Christ Glory Academy was founded in 2011 and now has 200 students and 29 staff members, including teachers, janitors, and farmers who grow crops for the school. Felix then took us on a tour of the newly built pig barn. We were amazed by the quality of the construction and the health of the 135 pigs.
Next, Jason found us tasks, ranging from removing an old steel fence set in concrete to mixing concrete for the new posts. We were all sweating, especially the guys who had to wheel concrete a long distance down the road for the new fence. The ladies visited the seventh and eighth-grade classes and helped feed the children lunch. For a treat, the ladies handed out candy to the kids.
Afterwards, we were treated to a delicious lunch by Felix and his team, featuring fresh catfish, lungfish, and mudfish. Refueled, we jumped back on the bus for our widow visits. The first widow we visited, Sarah, could barely walk, let alone cook. She desperately needed medicine, so we were grateful to give some money to her daughter-in-law to quickly buy the medication in town.
Our next visit took us to a hilltop overlooking a marsh and the Yala River, where we learned about a remarkable project. In 2014, the community dug a 2.5-kilometer pipe by hand, overcoming a 1,000-foot elevation to pump water up the mountain. This water serves the community, including Seje Christ Glory Academy, allowing them to raise animals and crops to feed the children and sell surplus food to support the school’s expenses.
We then hiked down the mountain to visit two lovely ladies in need of food care packages. Although the hike back up was challenging, the smiles on the women’s faces gave us the energy we needed to complete the ascent. After a quick bus ride back to the school for refreshments, we took the opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff for their hospitality.
Our final stop was with the fearless pilot Jason, who took us to inspect an old grass landing strip, which could be used by future HFL teams. It was a perfect end to an unforgettable day, seeing firsthand how HFL has made a lasting impact on the lives of so many children and families.
