Tag: Haven of Peace Academy Page 17 of 23

This is my friend Lauren.  I like her a lot. 

Three years ago, HOPAC was set to have its very first full graduating class.  I wanted it to be special.  Those were my kids, that I had taught so many years ago, and some had been at HOPAC since kindergarten.  They were going to scatter all over the world, and so I wanted them to finish well and have a sense of closure.

Lauren was my partner in crime.  We went to the principal, full of ideas for graduation activities.  He looked at us like we were asking to take kids to the moon.  Why?  Because he was British, and in England (and apparently most of the rest of the world), there is no such thing as graduation ceremonies for high school students.  (As we have discovered about a multitude of other American high school traditions, such as Student Council, Spirit Week, yearbooks, homecoming….yeah…us Americans do things different.)

But we persisted.  We felt it was really important.  He gave in a little; we gave in a little.  We didn’t want our graduation to look American, because most of our kids are not American.  We wanted it to be uniquely HOPAC-ian. 

Since then, Lauren and I have found ourselves forever on the graduation committee.  Not that we really volunteered…it’s just kind of assumed now.  But as we went through our third graduation this past week, we got all kinds of warm fuzzies.  We’ve gotten all the kinks worked out.  Many elements are unique to HOPAC.  It’s super special to all the families and graduates.  Basically, Lauren and I got to help create HOPAC culture.

Getting to create culture is one of the main reasons why I love working there.  Nothing more fun.

This was Wednesday night, at the Annual Family Graduation Dinner.  We finally found the perfect venue.  Truly perfection.  The weather was perfect, the ambience was perfect, the food was perfect.  Celebrating beautiful HOPAC families. 

We even arranged for a lunar eclipse that night, which happened at exactly the same time as the banquet.  (We’re getting pretty good at this graduation planning stuff).

Thursday was the ceremony.  One of the things our principal three years ago insisted on was doing it during the school day so that all the secondary students could be there.  We bucked this at first, because it wasn’t what we were used to.  But you know what?  He was right on.  All the secondary students love going.  It’s inspiring and exciting.  I had never been to any graduation before my own.  I wish I had. 

Way back in the year 2000, I was teaching second grade in California.  I wanted my class to have pen pals from another country.  Since I knew I would be heading to HOPAC the following year, I contacted the second grade teacher and asked her to pen pal with my class.  So we did.  I still remember some of the names:  Ruhi, Sajida, Iksheeta, Yonathan.  How I wish I had saved their scrawly second-grade letters! 

And on Thursday I saw them all graduate. 

This class is remarkable.  Twenty-five students, and out of that group we have students attending Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford.  All from one class of 25.  About six more will also attend university in the U.S., though only 2 are American citizens.  (Well, there’s also Benji, who has an American passport but has never actually been there, so I don’t think he counts).

They wear Maasai cloth scarves.  We use typically-Tanzanian decorations.  And we don’t use Pomp and Circumstance, when we found out it’s a song about British imperialism.  Not exactly a good choice for an African school. 

I got the privilege of honoring Ab with the Service and Leadership Award.  Our wonderful Student Council president who blessed us and HOPAC this year.

Gil was voted the key note speaker by the class.  Of course, he was amazing.

And he got to present our very own Maggie with the Character award.

Parents that day told me, “Just yesterday they were starting kindergarten.”  Eek! 

Once upon a time, there was this guy named Quincy.  I went to college with him.  We had lots of mutual friends, so sometimes we were in the same group that hung out together.  Then we went our separate ways.  But I remember him.

There also was this girl named Heather.  She also went to the same college, but years after me (and Quincy).  I never met her, but we had lots of mutual friends.  In fact, her church missions pastor is married to one of my best friends from college.  Heather felt God leading her to teach overseas, and she found HOPAC’s website online, and she applied.  When her missions pastor found out, he hooked her up with us.  We met with him when we were in the States, and we happily agreed to make Heather a part of our family when she came to HOPAC.

Then, just a couple months before she left California, she met Quincy on a blind date.  And they both knew:  This was It.  But she still got on that plane and came to Tanzania to fulfill her commitment.

And she joined our family, every Thursday night dinner.  An auntie to my kids and an excellent friend to me.  We had a lot in common.  Especially that we both knew this guy named Quincy.

At Christmas, Quincy came out to visit Heather and stayed with us, so we got to see him again after 12 years.  We took them to Mikumi Game Reserve.  Which means we also got to witness this quite awesome event:

Can you see them waaaay back there?  (We kept our distance!)

And Gil got to be the photographer.

Today I just said good-bye to my good friend Heather, who has blessed our family (and HOPAC)tremendously this year.  I got the privilege of telling everyone how wonderful she is at our annual Teacher Appreciation banquet. 

But if we have to lose her, at least it’s to this great guy named Quincy.  Is is too cliche to say that it’s a small world?  Probably.  But when we went to college with Quincy 12 years ago, who would have thought that we would be witnessing his engagement?  In a game park in Tanzania?  To a HOPAC teacher? 

She leaves on Sunday to go home and marry this guy–in just a few weeks!  Love you, Heather and Quincy.  May God continue to bless you, exceedingly, abundantly!

Maggie needed a senior picture photoshoot, so Gil was happy to oblige.  And of course, setting up the lighting meant that everyone else in the house got in on the action as well.  But the focus was on Maggie.

She grew up in a small town in Tanzania, one of many children.  She figured out early on that she was really good at math and science.  And determined.  She went to boarding school from the age of 8, and once she hit secondary school, managed to get herself scholarships to better and better schools, finally finishing her last two years at HOPAC.  And this year, she was offered the ultimate scholarships of all:  full-rides to both Stanford and MIT to study engineering. 

Through an intricate set of circumstances that was one of those God-things, she has ended up living with us since November.  And then my mom came out to visit in February, so Maggie got to know her.  And then she chose Stanford University, which is only 30 minutes from my parents’ house. 

So now, as she graduates next week and is being sent out into that scary world called America in August–her first time out of Tanzania, her first time on a plane ever–my parents will be there to pick her up at the airport.  And help her get a bike.  And find her way around.  And show her how to order a drink at Starbucks. 

Thanks, God!  That is really cool how You worked that out. 

And someday she will return to Tanzania and change the world. 

But for now, I’m just thankful that God gave us this opportunity to change each other’s worlds, just a little bit. 

It’s been such a great experience that we’re doing it again next year, this time with Sam from South Africa.  But more about her later.

When I was young, probably my most favorite thing to do was theatre.  My high school had a phenomenal theatre department with a very talented director, and there was absolutely no place I would have rather been than on that stage.  Sewing costumes, the smell of aerosol hairspray, the hair nets and wigs, building sets on Saturdays, the feel of anticipation when the lights go down and elation during the curtain call…but most of all, the amazing sense of camaraderie that is built when working on a play….not found anywhere else. 

“Steel Magnolias,” VCHS, 1993

“Traveling Light,” Hillside Church, 1996 (this one’s for you, MB!)

But it’s been a really, really long time since I’ve been on a stage again.  So when some good friends at HOPAC announced they wanted to put on a musical, I was thrilled and jumped at the chance to participate. 

It is called “A Few of My Favorite Things” and is an adaption of the best scenes and songs from “The Sound of Music.”  HOPAC rented the only real theatre in town, and we had ourselves four performances of the real thing….the lights, the sets, and of course, lots of hair spray.  What fun it has been (closes tomorrow) to be back on stage again (I still love it!), but even more, what a joy it has been to feel that wonderful sense of camaraderie with everyone who participated…students, teachers, parents, and even board members. 

I played Sister Berthe.  I have never considered myself much of a singer, and have never sung a solo in public since probably…the 7th grade.  But when you are part of a small school, guess what?  Suddenly you are a good singer.  Who not only gets solos but also gets to sing four-part harmony.  In Latin.  Definitely a new experience for me. 

As you can see, our production did not look very Austrian.  Obviously the Von Trapp family became an adoptive family in our case.  But I think everyone got the idea. 

So anyway, since I know a lot of former HOPAC staff read this blog….here are lots of pictures for you.  Enjoy!