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Adam Gould, US Executive Director at the Kwa Watoto School[/caption]

"God loved her so much." These are the words I heard this morning from Emily, the woman who cleans the apartment where we are staying during our visit in Kenya. My wife, Njeri had asked Emily how her 2 1/2 year old daughter was doing. We had met her darling little girl three weeks ago when moving into the apartment.

We were confused, and then utterly shocked, to learn that what Emily conveyed in saying "God loved her so much" was her belief that her daughter's sudden death was because God wanted her little girl by His side in heaven. Emily's precious little one had unexpectedly and tragically died the previous week. We tried to comfort Emily and prayed with her, but were at a loss for words. What condolences could ever sufficiently acknowledge and respond to such grief?After Emily left, I quickly packed up and drove to Mathare as I was running late to teach class six (sixth grade) at the Kwa Watoto School. What a gift it has been to spend time with this incredibly bright group of children. I first met many of the children seven years ago when they were preschool age, well before eduKenya's founding. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the students and afterward went to Mr. Maingi's office. Mr. Maingi is the head teacher/principal at the school. We discussed possibilities for the future for the children and the initiatives that he and the teaching staff are implementing to give the children the best education they can possibly receive. I was so overjoyed and impressed with the school and where it is headed. At the same time, the death of Emily's daughter was in the back of my mind. I spent some time in the office chatting with a couple of colleagues, then briskly headed back to my car to jump back into the chaos of Nairobi traffic, inhaling a nauseating amount of fumes.In reflecting on this day of contrasts, I thought about how the children and teachers at the Kwa Watoto School are a beacon of hope in the midst of a slum that often appears hopeless. Yet I had also borne witness to devastating grief and senseless tragedy. I recognize that all people in life face struggles of many kinds, but I couldn't help but think about how the contrasting realities and emotions of the day seemed to be a microcosm of this continent. There are wonderful things happening at our school and children are receiving opportunities they otherwise would not have, while at the same little girls die of mainly preventable disease because of poverty, lacking infrastructure and healthcare, and lack of opportunity.A day that had great hope was accompanied by harsh reality. There are many wonderful things happening here in Africa, and I can confidently speak to them, but I can also share about a number of devastating things. My heart leaps for joy, while at the same time it is stuck in my throat. That is the reality we encounter and the battle our staff and students, and many people of Kenya, engage in on a daily basis. Tomorrow we will continue living in the tension that comes from the contrast of hope and anguish found here, being with the suffering while not being engulfed by despair because of the hope that lives within and compels us.