The greatest gift our new buddy, Chris, brought to St Jude鈥檚 was his magnetic presence.聽
Chris鈥檚 passion for fighting poverty through education shone through smiling eyes and a radiant grin.聽
The family-man from Indiana had never been to Africa, but Chris was right at home from the moment he landed on St Jude鈥檚 doorstep. It was a two week trip that changed his life.聽
鈥淚 read a quote about Africa once that said something like, 鈥榯he simplicity and the complexity of the culture, the interactions you have, will draw you in and get inside you, and not let you go. You鈥檒l always want to go back.鈥�
That is absolutely true,鈥� Chris said.
鈥淚 looked at the website before getting here and thought, 鈥榯his is a unique school, it鈥檚 something I鈥檇 like to see, understand and experience.鈥� It grows on you,鈥� he shared.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 just amazing. This was one person鈥檚 dream for kids in Tanzania, funded by people in another country, and now by people around the world 鈥� including the Unites States! Unbelievable.鈥�
鈥淵ou see students here that are extremely happy: drumming in music class, dancing, smiling鈥� being 100% present and confident in themselves. 聽Being able to touch a part of their life is fantastic,鈥� he enthused.
A visit to a student鈥檚 home opened Chris鈥檚 eyes to reality beyond St Jude's blue-and-gold gates.聽
鈥淭o really understand it, you have to experience it. You only get a snapshot, but what it鈥檚 really about is an exchange of ideas and finding common ground,鈥� he said.聽
鈥淚 asked the student鈥檚 grandmother how she made the tea she was serving. She showed me some grass the family grows outside. It looked just like prairie grass! It was a really great thing!鈥�
鈥淚 kept thinking about going home and growing the same stuff. Then, the whole family started laughing at my friend who didn鈥檛 want sugar in his tea! It was awesome,鈥� Chris laughed. 聽聽
As a teacher, Chris appreciates the role of education in guiding young people towards a future of joy and prosperity.聽
鈥淪t Jude鈥檚 has had three graduating classes. I鈥檇 say the next 10 years will be really interesting. We鈥檒l be able to see how the graduates progress through college and in their lives. So many will flourish as Tanzania鈥檚 leaders!鈥� Chris predicted.聽
Chris plans to keep his flame of inspiration burning brightly, and share it with students in the States.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to show them pictures and say, 鈥榳e鈥檝e got a lot to learn from St Jude鈥檚. Don鈥檛 look at these students as if they don鈥檛 have much. In some ways, they have more than you 鈥� they understand so much about life.鈥欌��
鈥淪t Jude鈥檚 students are growing their own food! They wash their own clothes. They are inventive. They take responsibility. To think of where they鈥檝e come from is mind-blowing.鈥�
Although his visit is over, this is the beginning of a long-time friendship between Chris and St Jude鈥檚.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 just like that quote I read; yes, my shoes are dirty. My hair has dust in it.
Tanzania is stuck under my skin. I鈥檇 come back here in the snap of a finger. It doesn鈥檛 get any better than this.鈥�
Our students and staff love welcoming visitors. What are you waiting for?聽Come and see St Jude鈥檚 in action!
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