Glimmerings of Hope

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Glimmerings of Hope

P R E - P U B L I C A T I O N E D I T I O N

M A T E R I A L I N D E V E L O P M E N T

V E R S I O N 2 . 3 . 1 . P P

12 August 2009



Copyright © 2004 by DL Publicaciones

All rights reserved. Version 2.3.1.PP August 2009

This book was written by Karen Jensen Pollock.

DL Publicaciones

Cra. 101 #11B-20

Cali, Colombia

Email: [email protected]

Web site: www.devlp.com



DL Publicaciones (DLP) is pleased to make available to selected educational

establishments and nongovernmental organizations this pre-publication edition ofGlimmerings of Hope. DLP was created with the aim of disseminating on a wide scale

educational materials that enhance the spiritual and scientific capabilities of

individuals, communities and their social institutions. Most of the materials published

by DLP are developed by agencies operating in different continents around the globe,

each engaged in educational programs to reach diverse segments of the population.

Their materials represent the experience gained by these organizations in raising upindividuals capable of working for the benefit of their families and society.

The present volume is part of series dedicated to the moral and spiritualempowerment of junior youth. The series, still in the early stages of preparation, will

consist of textbooks at three levels of study for the following age groups: 11–12 yearolds, 12–13 year olds, and 13–14 year olds. Each level will have texts in the areas oflanguage, mathematics and science, as well as those focused on the challenges of

living in present-day society. It is hoped that, in its entirety, the series will provide

young people with the elements of a conceptual framework that will guide theirchoices and actions as they mature into adults.

Glimmerings of Hope is one of the entry-level texts in the series, designed for 11–

12 year olds. It emerged out the experience of a group working with young people inAfrica, many of whom are faced with difficult choices in societies torn by civil strife.Over twelve lessons, it tells the story of Kibomi, who embarks on a journey in search

of his sister after the shooting of his parents in their small village. Each lessonincludes a set of questions and activities, and we are eager to receive feedback from

those who use this pre-publication edition in their educational programs—feedback

which will form part of the process of action, reflection and consultation that

characterizes the development of all the materials published by DLP.

DL Publicaciones





Glimmerings of Hope





1

LESSON 1

Kibomi is a boy like many others. He enjoys studying, playing and fishing with his friends.

He is very clever. Kibomi is curious about the world. He has many questions about what he seesand hears around him. He is only twelve years old, but dreams of the day when he can help make

the world a better place.

The country in which Kibomi lives is beautiful. It has mountains and rivers and land so

fertile that almost anything will grow on it. Most of the people in the country belong to one of

two tribes. The Kungu raise cattle. The Adumba cultivate the land. Both are known for their hard

work and hospitality. Kibomi and his family are Adumba. They live in a small, peaceful village.

It is sad that this beautiful country is not a happy place. Problems have been growing for

many, many years. Conditions are not the same for all people. The Kungu are more powerful andhold most of the important jobs. The Adumba are poorer and have fewer opportunities, and they

are angry about this. The two tribes are now at war. There is confusion and violence in the

capital city, and it is spreading. People want to protect themselves, but do not know what to do.

Questions

What does Kibomi enjoy doing? What is Kibomi’s dream?

What are the names of the two main tribes in Kibomi’s country?

To which tribe does Kibomi belong? What is the present situation in the country?

Activities

1. Kibomi’s country is at war, and people are in need of protection. Throughout our lives, weface dangers. In our prayers, we turn to God and ask Him to protect us. Read this prayer and

think about it:

O Lord! Make this youth radiant, and confer Thy bounty upon this poor creature. Bestow

upon him knowledge, grant him added strength at the break of every morn and guard him

within the shelter of Thy protection…

Now try to memorize the prayer.

2.

From what do we need to be protected?

a. We need protection from disease. Health is a gift that we should treasure. How can we

protect ourselves from disease?

By eating without washing our hands



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By trying to eat healthy foods

By avoiding anger and jealousy

By drinking unclean water

By learning more about the causes of disease

b. We need protection from the effects of alcohol. Alcohol destroys the mind and weakens

the body. How can we protect ourselves from getting into the habit of drinking alcohol?

By staying away from places where people drink alcohol

By not trying alcohol, even once

By reminding ourselves of the problems that alcohol brings

By spending time with friends who drink alcohol a lot

By not believing in advertisements that try to sell alcoholic drinks

c. We need protection from ignorance. Ignorance holds us back from making progress. Howcan we protect ourselves from being ignorant?

By blindly following what others do

By trying to understand the reason for things

By learning new things whenever we can

By skipping school

By asking questions when we do not understand something

By not asking questions because we are afraid to look stupid



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LESSON 2

The warm sun shines down on Kibomi as he walks along the path. He is returning from the

river where he and his friends were catching fish. He looks at the two large fish on his rope andsmiles. “Mama will cook a nice supper tonight,” he thinks.

As Kibomi nears his house, he hears noises. There is shouting. Something is wrong. Hestands behind the trees and looks through the branches to see what is happening. There are

several strange men in uniforms yelling at his father. One of them hits his father, and the others

join in. Kibomi’s mother runs out of the house to help her husband. Suddenly the sound of

gunshots rings out. Kibomi watches as his father and mother both fall to the ground. “No!”shouts Kibomi. The men look in his direction.

Kibomi wants to go to his parents, but two soldiers are walking towards the trees where he ishiding. He runs back into the forest and climbs up a tall tree. The men look around for a while,

but do not find him. They shout angry words and leave.

Kibomi’s heart is beating fast. He hears more gunshots in the distance. He climbs higher up

the tree and sees people running and soldiers setting fire to the houses. Dark smoke fills the air,

and he loses sight of his village. He clings tightly to tree and thinks of his parents lying on the

ground. “Mother! Father!” he softly says. His eyes overflow with tears.

Questions

Where is Kibomi returning from? What does he hear as he nears his home?

What does he see as he looks through the branches? What happens to Kibomi’s parents? Where does Kibomi hide from the soldiers?

What is happening in the village?

Activities

1. A terrible thing has happened in Kibomi’s life, and he needs strength. The source of all

strength is God, and in our prayers we ask Him to make us strong. Read this prayer andreflect on it:

O Lord! I am weak, strengthen me with Thy power and potency. My tongue falters, suffer

me to utter Thy commemoration and praise. I am lowly, honor me through admitting meinto Thy kingdom.




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2. We need to be strong physically in order to carry out many of our daily tasks. For which of

the following is a great deal of physical strength needed?

Carrying a load of firewood

Telling the truth

Walking for five hours

Studying for a science test Keeping a promise

3. We also need to be strong spiritually in order to achieve our goals and overcome the

difficulties we meet. For each of the situations below, decide which responses show spiritualstrength.

a. A friend teases you and treats you unkindly.

You get angry and shout at your friend.

You start to dislike your friend.

You learn to tease back.

You do physical exercises to make yourself look stronger.

You show kindness to your friend.

b. Your mother is very sick and has to stay in bed. You are responsible for taking care ofyour younger brothers and sisters.

You comfort your little sister who is upset that your mother is sick.

You complain about how much work you have to do.

You talk kindly to your brothers and sisters, even when you are tired.

You joyfully do what needs to be done around the house.

You exercise daily to get strong.

c. Two youth in the village are about to get into a fight. Several other youth are standing byand cheering.

You join the crowd and encourage them to fight.

You ignore them and walk away.

You show them that you are good at boxing.

You try to talk them out of fighting. You decide never to get into a fight yourself.



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LESSON 3

Kibomi hides in the tree until dark. When he thinks it is safe, he climbs down slowly,

silently, like a cat, and stands behind some tall grass. Suddenly he hears a branch crack and feelsa hand on his shoulder. He quickly grabs the hand and uses all his strength to pull the person to

the ground.

“Kibomi, it’s me!” says a voice that he knows. Kibomi looks down and sees his friend

Chongwe staring up at him.

“Chongwe, you scared me! I thought you were a soldier!” whispers Kibomi.

Chongwe whispers back, “Kibomi, the Kungu have killed everyone they could find in the

village. We must run!”

“I saw them kill my parents!” Kibomi says, holding back his tears.

“Everyone has been killed, and all the houses have been burned down. We must go now,

while it is dark and they cannot see us,” responds Chongwe.

But where should they go? Kibomi thinks of his sister Amina. She lives with their uncle in atown where she attends school. Is she safe, or has she, too, been killed? “I must go to my uncle’s

place in Nangata and find my sister,” says Kibomi. “I will have to walk for many days, but if I

follow the river I will get there.”

“And I will go to my grandmother’s village,” says Chongwe. “I hope we will meet again,

Kibomi.”

The two friends shake hands and start walking. A feeling of loneliness takes over Kibomi.

He looks up at the night sky and thinks about his parents. He will never see them again. “Whyare people so full of hate?” he wonders. He remembers how his father used to talk about the

problems in the world. He used to say, “Kibomi, you are young and you are good. You should

not lose hope because of the terrible things you see people doing. Work to build a better world.

One day you can make a difference.”

“Yes, Father,” he whispers to himself, “I must try!”

Questions

Where does Kibomi hide until dark? Who puts a hand on Kibomi’s shoulder? What does Chongwe tell Kibomi?

Where will Kibomi go? What did Kibomi’s father use to tell him?



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Activities

1. When our lives are touched by pain and trouble, bitterness can enter our hearts and dim theirradiance. In the following prayer, we are asking God for a heart that, like a glass, is illumined

by the love of God. Read and meditate on its words.

O Thou the Compassionate God. Bestow upon me a heart which, like unto glass, may be

illumined with the light of Thy love, and confer upon me thoughts which may change this

world into a rose garden through the outpourings of heavenly grace.


2. What would you think and do in the following situations in order not to become bitter?

a. A close friend of yours dies in an accident.

You pray for the soul of your friend.

You cannot stop feeling depressed and sad.

You lose hope.

You comfort your friend’s family.

b. Your teacher scolds you.

You hold a grudge against your teacher.

You try to understand why your teacher scolded you.

You stop going to school.

You study harder and try to improve your behavior every day.

c. Others show prejudice towards you and treat you badly because of your race, religion or background:

You start to dislike those from a different race, religion or background.

You remind yourself that prejudice comes from ignorance.

You keep in mind that knowledge, love and understanding will eventually remove

prejudice from the hearts.

You keep complaining about how badly others treat you.

d. Your father loses his job and life becomes difficult.

You try to work during your free time to help out your family.

You do something illegal to make money.

You feel depressed and sleep a lot.

You try to encourage and give hope to the other members of your family.



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3. Our world is in great trouble. We see wars. We see injustice. We see selfishness and

jealousy. In the prayer you just memorized, we ask God to give us thoughts that will changethis world into a rose garden through His aid. Which of the following thoughts can help us in

our efforts to make a difference in this world?

There should be schools for all the children in the world.

Schools should teach children that we all belong to one human race.

People who are different from us cannot be trusted.

There is enough food in the world and no one has to go hungry.

I am the most important person in the world.

There is nothing I can do that will make a difference in this world.

God confirms us when we make efforts in the right direction.

We should see with our own eyes and not follow others blindly.

This is a terrible world, and the people in it will never change.

People can learn to live together in harmony.

This world will be secure and tranquil when everyone is trustworthy.

In moments of difficulty, we should not forget that God will assist us.

The harder we work to improve the conditions of the world, the greater will be God’s

confirmations.

Prejudice is the enemy of peace and progress.

There will be no peace if we do not strengthen the bonds of unity among people.

To live a healthy life, we should be chaste.

To make a difference in this world, I should become a powerful person.

To make a difference in this world, I need to be spiritually strong.





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LESSON 4

Kibomi walks at night and rests during the day. He has not eaten for two days and is weak.

As he waits again for dark, he thinks about his parents. Why did the Kungu soldiers kill them?His heart is filled with pain.

Kibomi hears footsteps and hides down in the grass. An old man walks by. He is using atraditional Kungu walking stick. Kibomi is afraid, but he follows the man at a distance, hoping

he might find food.

The old man walks to a small hut deep in the bush. Kibomi sees him go inside the hut and sitdown to eat. His back is to the door. Kibomi picks up a rock and slowly walks to the door. Just as

he is about to enter and hit the old man on the back of the head, the man speaks. “I know you are

hungry, boy. Why don’t you sit down and eat with me?” Kibomi stops with fear. The man speakskindly again, “Come and eat. I will not hurt you.”

Kibomi sits besides the man, but keeps the rock next to him. The old man gives him sweet potato. Kibomi quickly takes the food and eats it.

After a few minutes, Kibomi looks up at the man: “Sir, why are you being kind to me?”

The man smiles and says, “You wonder why a Kungu should be kind to an Adumba? It is

true we are of different tribes. But we are the same inside. We each have a heart, we each have a

soul, and we want happiness for those we love.”

Kibomi pushes the rock away and asks, “Why do tribes fight then?”

“Belonging to a tribe helps us to feel part of a group and also to organize ourselves,” says theold man. “But we must not fight and harm one another because we are from different tribes. We

were created to love, not to hate.” The man stops talking and looks into Kibomi’s eyes. “We allhave choices to make in our lives,” he says gently. “We can work together to build a better

world, or we can hate and destroy each other.”

There is a noise outside and the old man is worried. “It is not safe here. You must go,” hesays quietly. He wraps some sweet potato in a leaf and gives it to Kibomi. Kibomi thanks him

and runs into the forest.

Questions

How does Kibomi feel when he thinks about his parents? Why does Kibomi follow the old man? How does the old man treat Kibomi?

What does he give Kibomi to eat? What does the old man tell Kibomi about the choices we make in our lives?



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Activities

1. The old man is a Kungu, but he is kind to Kibomi. To change this world, we must love all

people and work with them in unity. Read and think about the following prayer:

O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great

purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God,in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to

themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by

Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord.


2. In this prayer, we ask God to unite the hearts of the people. We need to be united in ourfamilies, in our schools, and in our communities.

a. Which of the following might we see in the members of a family who love one anotherand are united?

The husband and wife discuss important matters and make decisions together.

The family makes sure that both the girls and the boys go to school.

Everyone joyously shares in the chores around the house.

The children constantly quarrel.

b. Which of the following might we see in a school in which the students are united?

The students work together to beautify the school garden.

The boys and girls clean the classrooms together each day.

The students make no effort to get to know a newcomer to the school.

The older students help the younger ones with their studies.

c. Which of the following might we see in a community whose members are united?

People of one race have good friends belonging to another race.

Neighbors help each other in times of need.

People from different tribes attend prayer meetings together.

People gossip and talk about one another behind their backs.

d. Which of the following might we see in a country that enjoys peace and unity?

There is equal opportunity for all children to go to school.

Both men and women hold responsible positions.

As part of their education, youth are engaged in community service projects.

Some people are very wealthy, while others do not have enough to eat.



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LESSON 5

With some food in him, Kibomi has more energy and moves faster. When he ran from his

village, he felt mostly fear and anger. Now he is beginning to recover the good feelings he hasalways had about people. The old man was a Kungu, but he was kind and wise. He shared his

food. The words he spoke were beautiful and full of hope: “We have to make choices.” “Wewere created to love, not to hate.”

Kibomi continues to follow the river towards Nangata. After walking for a while, he hears

voices and quickly hides behind a large tree. A group of young men are approaching. They are

speaking the Adumba language. Kibomi is happy to hear his language and slowly steps out from behind the tree. The men are wearing uniforms. They are soldiers of the Adumba rebel army.

Some of them are quite young, and one looks the same age as Kibomi. The soldiers stop as soon

as they see him and hold up their guns. “Wait!” says Kibomi. “I am Adumba like you!”

“What are you doing out here alone?” asks their leader impatiently.

“The Kungu attacked our village and killed my parents. I had to run away,” answers Kibomi.

“Come and join us then,” says the leader. “We must teach the Kungu a lesson. Make them

pay for what they did to your family.”

Kibomi is tempted. He thinks a little and is about to accept. The soldier boy comes forward

and extends to him his hand. Kibomi looks into his eyes and is disturbed by the despair he sees inthem. He hesitates. “I may join you later,” he says with his voice shaking. “But now I must go

and find my sister.”

As the soldiers walk away, one turns and says, “Remember, fighting back is the only way.”Kibomi does not answer.

Questions

What did Kibomi feel when he left his village? Why has his feeling changed after seeing the old man? Why does Kibomi hide behind the tree?

Who are the young men in uniforms that he meets?

What does the leader ask Kibomi to do?

What does Kibomi see in the eyes of the boy soldier?

Activities

1. Kibomi sees despair in the eyes of the young boy soldier who, fearful and angry like himself,has made a choice to fight and kill. We all have moments of sadness and despair. In such



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times, we should not choose dark paths, but should look for the light that restores hope. Read

the following prayer and meditate on its words:

He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful!

O God, my God! Thou seest me, Thou knowest me; Thou art my Haven and my refuge. None have I sought nor any will I seek save Thee; no path have I trodden nor any will I

tread but the path of Thy love. In the darksome night of despair, my eye turneth expectantand full of hope to the morn of Thy boundless favor and at the hour of dawn my drooping soul is refreshed and strengthened in remembrance of Thy beauty and perfection.


2. In the following situations, decide which actions will bring despair and which will restore

hope:

a. You do poorly in one of the subjects in an exam. Hope Despair

You give up studying and spend most of your time playing.

You tell yourself that you are stupid.

You ask another student to help you.

You are patient with yourself and try harder

to understand the subject.

You blame your teacher for not helping you more.

b. You feel lonely and it seems that you do not have any friends. Hope Despair

You keep to yourself and feel sad most of the time. You spend less time thinking about yourself and caremore for others.

You think about the faults of others all the time.

You look for the good in other people.

You take the first step to speak and be friendly to others.

c. You see jealousy and fighting among some of your relatives. Hope Despair

You, too, feel jealous and fight with them.

You try to be more generous to them.

You pray for the members of your family to become united.

You teach the children in your family about love and generosity.

You tell yourself there is nothing you can do to change

your relatives.



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d. A friend does something to hurt you. Hope Despair

You decide to take revenge and hurt your friend.

You forgive your friend.

You decide never to hurt someone like that.

You tell others what a bad person your friend is.

You end your friendship.





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LESSON 6

Kibomi is confused. He does not know what to do. He remembers the old man’s words about

each of us having a choice. “What choice do we have when our families are being killed?”Kibomi wonders. “Maybe I will join the rebel forces and become a soldier.”

As he continues walking, he hears a small child crying. Again he hides in the bushes andcarefully raises his head to look. Through the branches, he sees two young children behind the

rocks near the water. The little one is calling for his mother. The older child has her arms around

her brother. Kibomi understands enough Kungu to know what the girl is saying. “Mother is gone

now. But both of our brothers are big and strong. One of them will come for us. Now we must bequiet!”

Kibomi realizes that these young children, like him, have lost their parents. Everyone issuffering! It does not matter if one is Kungu or Adumba. Kibomi begins to weep. He wants to

scream. “Why do people do these things? Why is the world this way?”

Now the words of the old man begin to make sense. “We have a choice… ” And he

remembers once again his father telling him to make a difference in this world. Kibomi thinks to

himself, “I do not want to cause more suffering. I will not join the rebel forces. There must be

another way.”

He knows the children will run if they see him, so he quietly pushes the sweet potato to a

place where he hopes they will find it and silently walks away.

Questions

Who does Kibomi see near the river? What has happened to the two young children?

Why does Kibomi decide not to join the rebel forces?

Activities

1. Kibomi chooses not to fight and kill. He thinks there must be another way. We all make

choices in our lives that keep us on the straight path or make us go astray. In the following prayer, we ask God to show us His path:

Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my

Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved,and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire!




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2. What we choose to do will affect our lives and the lives of others. Some of the results can be

seen right away, and some will only become clear with the passage time. Try to match eachof the possible results with one of the two choices by putting an “a” or a “b” next to it:

Choices Possible results

a. to drink alcohol ___ the weakening of one’s body

b.

not to drink alcohol ___ the weakening of one’s mind ___ better health ___ loss of control of one’s actions

___ violence

a. to share the good things one ___ increased wealth

has with others ___ increased poverty

b. to keep everything good to oneself ___ a more just society ___ a more united community

___ loss of friends

a. to lead a chaste life ___ meaningful friendships

b. to lead an unchaste life ___ a happy married life

___ a dignified life ___ sickness

___ emptiness

a. to forgive ___ freedom from hate

b. to take revenge ___ freedom from anger

___ spiritual strength

___ a tranquil conscience

___ unity

3. By obeying the teachings of God, we stay on the straight path. Which of the following areamong the teachings of God?

___ loving others

___ fighting with others

___ having racial prejudice

___ preferring others to oneself

___ taking revenge ___ being generous

___ showing forgiveness

___ leading a chaste life

___ serving one’s parents

___ serving one’s community



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LESSON 7

In the morning of the fourth day of his journey, Kibomi reaches a big town. His uncle’s city,

Nangata, is still a long distance away. He is weak from hunger and extremely tired. He wonderswhether he can stay here for a few days, do some work and earn a little money to buy food.

As he walks through the main street, he sees a crowd of people standing outside a stadium.Someone is speaking inside, and the voice can be heard clearly through the loudspeaker. “Our

rights must be respected!” Everyone cheers. “We have a right to education!” Everyone cheers

again. “We have a right to employment. We must have a share in this country’s wealth!” The

voice goes on. It gets stronger and stronger, and the applaud gets louder and louder.

Kibomi agrees with everything the voice is saying. “This man seems to understand our

problems,” he thinks as he listens.

“We must protect our rights,” the man continues. “God gave them to us, and no one should

take them away. There are not enough jobs for us in this country! The Kungu take all the jobsand we get nothing! They are greedy, and it is time to make them pay!” Again the people cheer,

but now Kibomi feels uncomfortable.

“Why do these people agree so easily with everything he says?” Kibomi hears himselfwondering out loud.

A man standing next to him asks, “Do you disagree?”

“The Kungu killed my parents and I hated them,” says Kibomi. “Then I met a Kungu man

who fed me and was kind to me, and I saw two Kungu children whose parents were killed just

like mine. Not all Kungu are bad. Why do people listen to this man teaching them to hate?”

“People are confused,” says the man. “They follow whoever excites them. What is yourname? You are wise for someone so young.”

“My name is Kibomi. I am going to Nangata to find my sister.”

The man admires Kibomi’s courage and tells him to be careful because others may be

listening. “My name is Joseph Mukembi,” he says. “You have a long journey ahead of you. Why

don’t you come and stay with my family. We have a small repair shop and could use your help.”Kibomi accepts the invitation. He looks forward to being with a family again.

Questions

What does Kibomi see as he walks through the main street in the town?

What is the voice coming from the stadium saying? Does Kibomi agree with the speaker at first? Why does he feel uncomfortable as he listens further?



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What does the man standing next to Kibomi tell him about the people who cheer the speaker? Why does the man admire Kibomi? What does Mr. Mukembi invite Kibomi to do?

Activities

1.

During a difficult time, Kibomi finds a true friend who offers him help. When we face

difficulties, we need to rely on God and trust that He will send us His aid and assistance.

Read the following prayer:

Lord! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy favor; poor, bestow upon us a share from the ocean of

Thy wealth; needy, do Thou satisfy us; abased, give us Thy glory. The fowls of the air and

the beasts of the field receive their meat each day from Thee, and all beings partake ofThy care and loving-kindness.


2.

In times of trouble, we should rely on God and not allow ourselves to be filled with anxiety.Reliance on God gives us the strength to deal with problems. Which of the following shouldwe remember when faced with difficulties?

___ God loves me.

___ God will not leave me alone.

___ Difficulties can help me become a better person.

___ God is unfair.

___ God is just.

___ I cannot tolerate hardships.

___ Remembrance of God can heal my pain.

___ I can only count on myself.

___ God will give me strength.

___ Comfort and hardship both pass away.

___ In this life everyone experiences sorrow, as well as joy.

___ God is my true friend.

___ God is more of a friend to me than I am to myself.

___ God’s love is my companion.

___ My prayers will attract God’s help.

___ If I make an effort in the right direction, God will confirm me.

___ My efforts will make no difference in this world.

___ God is the remover of difficulties.



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___ Only powerful people can solve problems.

___ God is the all-powerful.

___ God is my hope.

___ God is my guide and my refuge.

___ The Word of God is the light that illumines my path.





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LESSON 8

Kibomi walks with Mr. Mukembi to his house at the outskirts of the town. It is early

afternoon when they arrive. A small child runs to Mr. Mukembi. He picks her up and hugs her.He then introduces Kibomi to his wife and children. They all greet him warmly. Kibomi is happy

to see that two of the children, Chungu and Lolinda, are about his own age.

“Kibomi is on his way to Nangata to find his sister,” says Mr. Mukembi. “He has been

walking for days and needs to rest. I invited him to stay with us for a while.”

Mrs. Mukembi asks Chungu to bring some cooked maize for Kibomi. “There is not muchleft, but I hope this will hold you over till supper,” she says. Later Chungu lends him some of his

clothes, and Kibomi bathes behind a small grass shelter. The water feels good on his skin, and a

sense of calmness passes over him as he listens to the sound of the children playing on the otherside of the grass wall. The older ones are chatting with their parents while they work in the shop.

Kibomi closes his eyes and thinks of his family. His throat becomes tight and his eyes fill with

tears.

After his bath, Kibomi goes to the shop to help, but Mrs. Mukembi tells him to rest and start

work the next day. He does not feel like going to bed, so he sits in the shade of a tree leaning

against the trunk. Soon he sees a few children gathering around Lolinda and Chungu. “Thereused to be a class with more children and a teacher,“ Lolinda turns to him saying. “But it is not

safe anymore. So now Chungu and I gather the neighbors’ children together and teach them a

few things.” The class starts with one of the girls saying a prayer. Then they sing a beautifulsong. Kibomi is sleepy and beginning to doze off. His thoughts wander. He remembers his father

and then the kind old Kungu man. As he falls asleep, he hears the words that the children are

memorizing: “Ye are the fruits of one tree and the flowers of one garden.”

Questions

What does Mrs. Mukembi offer Kibomi? To what does Kibomi listen as he is bathing?

Why do the neighbors’ children come to the Mukembis’ home? What do the children learn in the class? What does Kibomi think about as he falls asleep?

Activities

1.

Lolinda and Chungu are helping to educate the neighbors’ children. Children must receive a

proper education if the world is to become a better place. Read the following prayer:

O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy mightand the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously

assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity.



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2. Children learn in many places: at home, in school, and in classes for moral and spiritual

education. Which of the following should be taught in these places to children if they are to

make a difference in the world once they grow up to be adults?

___ Not wishing for anyone that which they do not wish for themselves

___ Loving everyone, even those who mistreat them

___ Acting cruelly towards those who are unkind to them

___ Getting back at those who do them wrong

___ Respecting the rights of every human being

___ Protecting their own rights even if they hurt others

___ Understanding that God’s love is like a strong fortress that will protect them from

dangers

___ Taking care of their own needs first before thinking about others

___ Preferring others to themselves

___ Being generous and sharing what they have with others

___ Not taking anything that belongs to someone else

___ Being boastful about what they own

___ Serving all people, without thinking about whether they are friends or strangers, rich or poor

___ Being truthful and not telling even the smallest lie

___ Loving God and obeying His teachings

___ Being humble before God and His servants

___ Showing pride towards others

___ Being considerate and kind towards everyone

___ Cleansing the mirror of the heart from jealousy and envy

___ Finding ways to bring joy to the hearts of others

___ Treating unkindly those who make mistakes

___ Forgiving those who make mistakes

___ Being happy and joyful even under difficulties



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LESSON 9

The next morning Mr. Mukembi shows Kibomi around the repair shop and teaches him how

to fix a few things. Late in the afternoon, Lolinda, Chungu and Kibomi walk down to the nearbyriver. They climb on a large branch that hangs over the water and sit down. “Was it scary

traveling on your own, Kibomi?” asks Chungu.

“At first I was frightened,” answers Kibomi. “But now when I think about it, it seems like I

was being protected.”

Kibomi tells them about the kind old Kungu man, the Adumba soldiers, the Kungu childrenwho had lost their parents and about the way he met Mr. Mukembi near the stadium. “I was

tempted to go to war. But when I saw the Kungu children, I knew I could not kill people. My

father wanted me to try to make a difference in this world. I kept wondering what I should do forour people.”

“In our junior youth group we talk about things like this,” says Lolinda. “We are studying a book called Drawing on the Power of the Word.”

“What is a junior youth group?” asks Kibomi.

“It’s a group of youth our age. We meet every week and learn together and have fun

together,” explains Lolinda.

“I belong to a group, too,” says Chungu. “We are studying another book called Breezes of

Confirmation.

“Are you learning how to make a difference?” asks Kibomi.

Lolinda and Chungu do not know how to answer this question. After a long silence, Lolindasays, “You know, our words have real power, especially when they are joined with pure deeds.

We are learning to use the power of the word.”

“The speaker in the stadium,” says Kibomi. “His words had power, but he was teaching people to hate.”

“Words can be used for good or bad,” says Lolinda. “In one of our first meetings, theanimator of our group explained to us that we should build and not destroy. The book we are

studying helps us to understand the importance of working for the material and spiritual progressof our people.”

Kibomi wonders what material and spiritual progress means. Then he remembers Lolinda

and Chungu teaching the children the day before. His heart is filled with admiration for his two

new friends. “They are young like me,” he thinks to himself, “and they have already begun tomake a difference.”



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Questions

Where do Lolinda, Chungu and Kibomi go late in the afternoon? What does Chungu ask Kibomi? How does Kibomi answer?

What books are Lolinda and Chungu each studying in their junior youth groups? What is a junior youth group?

What does Kibomi ask Lolinda and Chungu?

How does Lolinda answer? What does Kibomi say about the speaker in the stadium? What does the book that Lolinda and her group are studying help them to understand?

What does Kibomi think about when he remembers Lolinda and Chungu teaching children?

Activities

1. Lolinda and the other young people in her group are learning to use the power of the word.

Words are used for good when they get rid of ignorance and help people live in love andfellowship. Read the following prayer:

O Lord! Strengthen these fragile seedlings that each one may become a fruitful tree,

verdant and flourishing. Render these souls victorious through the potency of Thycelestial hosts, that they may be able to crush the forces of error and ignorance and to

unfurl the standard of fellowship and guidance amidst the people.


2. We can draw on the power of the Word of God to increase knowledge and create love andunderstanding. After reading each of the quotations below, decide whether the statements

that follow it are true or false.

a. “It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world.” True False

It is impossible to love people of other races and

countries as much as one’s own people.

We should not love the people of our own race or country.

We should love our own country and its people, but we should love the rest of the world equally

and work for its progress.

b. “Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony,

with friendliness and fellowship.” True False

There would be less prejudice in the world,

if we were taught from childhood thatwe are all the fruits of one tree.



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Although we are all the fruits of one tree,

some of us are better fruits than others,so it is fine to feel superior to others.

People can live together in harmony and peace,

only if they belong to the same race.

c.

“When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a strongerthought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed

by a more powerful thought of love.” True False

The power of war is greater than the power of peace, because war uses weapons to conquer.

If we begin to dislike someone, we should destroy

the feeling with a more powerful thought of love for the person.

We should only love those who love us.





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LESSON 10

Two weeks have passed since Kibomi came to stay with the Mukembis. Their home has been

an island of peace in the midst of a war that is tearing the country apart. The kindness he hasreceived from the family has restored hope to his sad heart. His growing friendship with Chungu

and Lolinda has been a source of comfort.

Kibomi has proven to be a fast learner and has distinguished himself by hard work and

diligence. He still misses his parents and almost every night cries in silence. Mr. and

Mrs. Mukembi often notice that his eyes are filled with tears while working, and they try to

console him through little generous acts of affection.

Every day, Kibomi works for a few hours and then rests in order to regain his full strength.

Since his arrival at the Mukembis, he has observed how active the family is. Even on Saturdaysand Sundays when the shop is closed everyone is busy, and there is a lot of coming and going.

“How can they know so many people?” he asks himself.

Today is Saturday, and Kibomi does not feel the need to rest. He accompanies the family on

a visit to a friend’s home half a kilometer away. Lolinda introduces Kibomi to the hosts, who

greet him warmly. Others arrive and soon the house is filled with people chatting with one

another and sharing news. Then, all of a sudden, there is silence and a woman’s voice, sweet andclear, begins to chant a prayer. This is followed by several other prayers. Kibomi is surprised to

hear both the Adumba and Kungu languages. He is touched by the words he hears: “Unite the

hearts of Thy servants…” and “Make my heart overflow with love for Thy creatures…” Kibomifeels connected.

The gathering ends with joyful singing. Before everyone leaves, Mrs. Mukembi makes an

announcement: “We have several study circles in our community. A new one will start at ourhome on Sunday morning, a week from tomorrow. Anyone who is not participating in one is

welcome to join us.” Several people stay behind. They gather around Mrs. Mukembi and talk toher.

After the meeting, the Mukembis do not return home, but go to work in a field. “This is our

community field,” explains Mrs. Mukembi to Kibomi. “We take turns tending the crop. In thesehard times, we should cultivate as much food as possible. Too many people are going hungry.

When we sincerely serve people and our efforts are carried out wholeheartedly, we are giving

praise to God. Service is also prayer.”

Questions

What does the Mukembis’ home feel like for Kibomi? What do Mr. and Mrs. Mukembi try to do each time they see Kibomi’s tearful eyes?

What does Kibomi observe about the family? Where does Kibomi go with the Mukembis on Saturday? What do the people gathered at the home of the Mukembis’ friends do?



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What is Kibomi surprised to hear at the gathering? What does Mrs. Mukembi announce at the end of the meeting? Where do the Mukembis go after the meeting?

What do they use the crop in the community field for?

What does Mrs. Mukembi tell Kibomi about service?

Activities

1. Kibomi meets a community made up of people from different tribes who come together forworship. They draw on the power of prayer to strengthen their bonds of love and fellowship.

Read the following prayer:

O God, my God! Thou art my Hope and my Beloved, my highest Aim and Desire! With great humbleness and entire devotion I pray to Thee to make me a minaret of Thy love in

Thy land, a lamp of Thy knowledge among Thy creatures, and a banner of divine bounty

in Thy dominion.


2. Imagine a plant that turns to the sky. Rain falls upon it and it grows. When we pray, we turn

our hearts to God and receive His mercy. Below are parts of some of the prayers you have

memorized so far. Decide what are the bounties God bestows through these supplications.

a. “O Lord! I am weak, strengthen me with Thy power and potency.”

b. “O Thou the Compassionate God. Bestow upon me a heart which, like unto glass, may be

illumined with the light of Thy love.”

c. “O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose.”

d. “Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my

Hope!”



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e. “Lord! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy favor; poor, bestow upon us a share from the ocean ofThy wealth; needy, do Thou satisfy us; abased, give us Thy glory.”

f. “O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to

render service to the world of humanity.”

3. Most often we pray to praise God for what He has graciously given us. Read the following

prayers and write down the bounties for which we are thanking Him:

a. “My God, my Adored One, my King, my Desire! What tongue can voice my thanks to

Thee? I was heedless, Thou didst awaken me.”

b. “Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I give Thee thanks inasmuch as Thou hast calledme into being in Thy days, and infused into me Thy love and Thy knowledge.”

c. “O compassionate God! Thanks be to Thee for Thou hast awakened and made me

conscious. Thou hast given me a seeing eye and favored me with a hearing ear.”

d.

“I give thanks to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast suffered me to remember Thee.”





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LESSON 11

In the evening, as they are eating supper, Mrs. Mukembi reminds the family that they will

have to wake up at dawn the next day. “Tomorrow we will visit one of Sani communities,” sheexplains to Kibomi. “We will catch the earliest bus and travel for about an hour. We will then

have to walk about four kilometers to get to the Sani village. I think you are well enough to makeit.”

“I would be happy to go. I have heard of the Sani people,” says Kibomi. “But I don’t know

anything about them.”

“Traditionally, they were hunters and gatherers, but much of their land has been taken away

from them over the years,” says Mr. Mukembi. “Now they hunt a little and also try to farm. They

are a peaceful and noble people. I am afraid that neither our tribe nor the Kungu tribe has beengood to them.”

“We are going there to hold a training session for family health educators,” saysMrs. Mukembi. “We do this once a month with a group of twenty people from various villages,

mostly young women, who are learning to improve the health of their extended families.”

At the Sani village the next day, Kibomi first joins Lolinda and Chungu and a group of youthwho are practicing a dance to be performed in the afternoon. He watches for a while and then

decides to go to the hall where the training is taking place. The participants have finished

reviewing the topic they studied last month, children’s health, and telling one another about theactions each has taken since they met.

“Today we will discuss some of the habits that harm our health. We will begin with a lesson

on the effects of alcohol,” says Mrs. Mukembi. Kibomi sits near the group and listens.

They start reading from a section called “Spiritual Understanding”: “God’s greatest gift toman is that of intellect. He should not consume that which steals it away.” “I had never thought

that alcohol is like a thief,” thinks Kibomi. “But it is true; it robs us of our ability to think

clearly.”

The group goes on to discuss how people lose their dignity and act shamefully when they

drink alcohol. Then, they move on to a section called “Scientific Understanding”. What surprises

Kibomi most is to learn that alcohol actually kills the cells of the brain. He wonders how manycells there are in the brain and how many are killed by each drop of alcohol. The words of

Mr. Mukembi catch his attention: “Why should people voluntarily do something that causes somuch damage to their body and mind?”

At noon, the community offers everyone a simple and delicious lunch, after which the class

starts again. Later in the afternoon, the youth are called in and requested to perform the dance

about addiction to alcohol. They form a circle. In the middle, there is a girl who represents thesoul. The youth around the circle represent the voices that tempt people to drink. The drums start

to beat and the dance begins. With their movements the dancers express what addiction to



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alcohol does to the soul of a person. It imprisons it and gradually drains its vital energy. The

dance ends with the soul liberating itself by refusing to give in.

For the rest of the day, Kibomi is quiet and reflective. His heart has been deeply moved by

the dramatic struggle of the soul to make choices that keep it free. He thinks about all the choices

he has to make on his own, now that his parents are gone. He prays for guidance and protection.

Questions

Where are the Mukembis going the next day?

How does Mr. Mukembi describe the Sani people?

What do the Mukembis do in the Sani village? What do Lolinda and Chungu practice with a group of youth in the village? What does Mrs. Mukembi study with the family health educators today?

What does alcohol do to our intellect? What does alcohol do to our brain cells? What does the dance express?

How does the dance end? Why is Kibomi quiet and reflective for the rest of the day?

Activities

1. Kibomi thinks about all the choices he has to make on his own. It is not always easy to makegood decisions. When our sight is illumined with the light of truth, it can see the straight

path. In the following prayer, we implore God to illumine our powers:

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all myaffairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and

grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor

will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.

O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O

Lord.


2. Knowledge helps us to make sound choices. The sentences in the left-hand column are truths

we should know. Match them with appropriate choices from the right-hand column.

a. All people are equal in the sight of God. __ I will not backbite.

b. Drinking alcohol damages the brain. __ I will not get into fights with others.

c. Justice is the best beloved of all things __ I will cooperate with others and

in God’s sight. help them advance.

d. Gossip is a cause of disunity. __ I will be fair in my dealings with others.



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e. To act like the beasts of the field is __ I will not drink alcohol.

unworthy of a human being.

f. Cooperation is the cause of progress. __ I will erase every trace of prejudice from my heart.

3. To make good choices, we should listen to voices that speak the truth. Decide which of the

following are such voices:

___ You should take revenge on anyone who hurts you.

___ Beware, beware lest you harm any soul.

___ You are not a child anymore; you can do whatever you like.

___ You should do whatever your friends ask you to do.

___ Drinking alcohol is so much fun; it gets rid of your worries.

___ You should smoke cigarettes; most of your friends do.

___ Your heart should be pure and radiant.

___ How good you look brings you friends.

___ You should not say something you will not do.

___ People will respect you if you show you are tough.

___ People will respect you if you are courteous.

___ Erase from your heart every trace of jealousy.

___ True friends help you to serve others.

4. We choose many of our own attitudes and emotions. Make the appropriate choices by fillingin the empty spaces in the following sentences with the correct words from the list below.

friendliness love hope contentment tranquility

encouragement humility patience trust in God thankfulness

I do not want everything for myself.

I choose ______________________ over greed.

I will never lose my hope in the bounties of God.

I choose _______________________ over despair.

I will not complain of things that do not please me.

I choose _______________________ over grumpiness.



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I will not allow hate to darken my heart.

I choose _______________________ over hate.

I do not feel superior to anyone.

I choose _______________________ over pride.

I will not let anger take over me.

I choose _______________________ over anger.

I will not allow fear to weaken me.

I choose _______________________ over fear.

I will not allow prejudice to estrange me from others.I choose _______________________ over enmity.

I will not be critical of others’ shortcomings.

I choose _____________________over intolerance.



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LESSON 12

The next Sunday is a full and eventful day in Kibomi’s life. Everyone wakes up early and

helps clean the house. Kibomi arranges the chairs on the porch for the study circle. Lolinda andChungu have their own study groups to attend in town; they must hurry and get ready. Chungu is

looking forward to introducing Kibomi to his friends.

Kibomi is the first to get ready and sits outside to wait for Lolinda and Chungu, and while he

is waiting, the guests arrive. After they are all seated, Mrs. Mukembi welcomes them. Kibomi

likes to hear her gentle voice and the way she explains things: “We are all walking a path of

service. We want to serve our communities. We want to learn how to educate our children andyouth, how to improve our material and spiritual lives. We begin with simple acts of service, and

as we go forward we learn to take on more difficult tasks. Let us start today by thinking about

our deeds.” Kibomi is curious to know what comes next.

Mrs. Mukembi asks someone to read from the book they each have: “The betterment of the

world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemlyconduct.” A lively discussion follows: “What kind of conduct is praiseworthy?” “What is a pure

deed?” “How can the good deeds of a few people change the world?” Kibomi does not get a

chance to hear the answers. Lolinda and Chungu are ready and the three of them must leave. As

they enter the street, Kibomi suddenly remembers the old Kungu man: “What he did for me wasa pure and goodly deed.”

When they arrive in town, they go separate ways. Lolinda goes to find her friends, andKibomi walks with Chungu to the other side of town. They reach the gate of a house. There, they

are greeted by an older Kungu youth called Benson who is the host and the animator of the

group. As Kibomi by now expects, there are both Adumbu and Kungu youth in the group.

Benson introduces everyone to Kibomi and helps him feel comfortable. He tells him about the book they have been studying over the past two months. “It is the story of a young girl called

Musonda and her friends who learn the meaning of confirmation.”

“Once Musonda sees a yellow bird,” says one of the girls. “It makes the effort, the wind

gives it a push, and it flies higher and higher. This is the way confirmation works.”

“If we make an effort,” says another “God helps us. This is what I think confirmation

means.”

Kibomi understands. He tells them about himself and how easy it is to lose hope. “But once I

made the choice not to follow the ways of violence, I received God’s confirmations.”

The group goes on to discuss a service project they want to carry out before they start

studying another book. Kibomi cannot contribute much to the discussion, but he listens to every

word the others say. He feels he is part of the group and is attracted by the force of unity that

binds them together. “When I settle in my uncle’s home, I will find a group like this” is his firmdecision.



On their way back home, Chungu and Kibomi notice that there are a lot of people in the

street. A Kungu leader has been killed, and there is a great deal of tension. They have onlywalked a short distance when they hear a loud explosion. Shots are fired and people begin to

flee. “Kibomi!” shouts Chungu. “Let’s go back to Benson’s house.” They run, but suddenly

Kibomi falls and Chungu cannot see him anymore. He calls his name and pushes his way

through the crowd. He finds Kibomi lying on the ground, holding his leg. There is blood on histrousers. With Chungu’s help, Kibomi stands up and limps painfully to Benson’s house. Benson

gets his bicycle and takes Kibomi through the back streets to the clinic. Chungu runs behindthem.

At the clinic there is a line of people with injuries waiting to be treated. The bullet has not

done much damage to Kibomi’s leg, and he patiently waits for his turn. The nurse cleans hiswound and covers it with several layers of bandage. “Be sure to keep your leg clean,” she says,

“and don’t put much weight on it for a couple of days.”

Benson rides Kibomi on his bicycle to the Mukembis’ house. Lolinda is already back and

Chungu arrives a little later. Mr. and Mrs. Mukembi are relieved to see that all three are safe, and

they are thankful that Kibomi’s injury is not serious. Once again, Kibomi feels the warmth and

peace of the Mukembis’ home. However, deep in his heart he knows that his stay there is comingto an end. He should continue his journey to Nangata. But his leg has to heal first, and for now

he must rest.

A few days later, Kibomi discusses his plans with Mr. and Mrs. Mukembi. They are sad to

see him go, but they agree that he should try to find his sister. They give him the name and

address of a friend in Nangata who can help him. He also receives what he knows to be agenerous sum of money for the work he has done.

The night before he leaves, Kibomi and Chungu stay up late talking. Chungu gives him a

special gift: his own book of prayers. Kibomi tells his friend how much he has learned these past

few weeks. He knows that life will not be easy, but somehow he is not afraid. He feels thestrength to walk the difficult road ahead. “It is strange,” he says in a calm voice. “Being shot

erased whatever fear I had left.”

When Chungu falls asleep, Kibomi closes his eyes and thinks about the next day. He will rise

early and get on a bus that will take him north. He will be on the road again. But this time he willnot be running away hopelessly; he will be looking with confidence towards a bright future.

Documents

Glimmerings of Hope