Meet John K.

"Enjoying" Ethiopian Food in Entebbe

John K… is a walking, talking miracle.  His whole village and all his family were killed in the Rwandan Genocide (1994).  He was four years old, shot in the leg and buried alive on top of 89 neighbors and family members.  Rwanda was so blown apart and helpless to its people that he lived on the street until a lady smuggled him into Uganda where he’s been ever since.  The lady died three years later, when John was barely in primary school. He lived on the streets of Kampala for a few more years, visiting a local Pentecostal church & singing in its choir.  He had his school fees paid through the church, until it went under, and he was linked to an American sponsor who goes through our little charity, Enough to Spare, to pay his school fees. 

We visited his school, Merryland High School in Entebbe, and took John to dinner in town. In the three years he’s been attending that high school he’s never had a visitor—until yesterday!  We found a little Ethiopian restaurant (Mary: I didn’t think Ethiopians ate.”) and we had a great time.  John was especially happy to have us take him to the supermarket and fill up a cart of things to take back.  We are happy to know John.  He’s 22 and a sophomore in high school.  He said that there was one student from Sudan, aged 35 and with a family, trying to get an education.  Civil wars and violence are so disruptive and have such devastating effects on family and education. We often take for granted what opportunities we have right in front of us.