Pelagia

Pelagia Memory Mafudza, age 14

 Pelagia's mother died in 2005, when she was 8, and her father died in 2009, when she was 12. After their deaths, she was placed in the custody of her older sister. Her sister soon got married and moved away, leaving Pelagia to fend for herself. Thankfully, the school learned about her predicament and told Gideon and Jennifer, and she was quickly moved to Peniel Centre. She attends one of the best girls' high schools in Bulawayo, the "big city." 

Pelagia is intelligent, aggressive, and joyful. She acts as a mother figure to the younger kids - a beautiful thing to witness! She can also be very bossy. I believe that is a combination of being one of the older girls and the need for the attention she hasn't received much of in her life, especially in the years between her mother dying and coming to Peniel. Her aggressiveness is one thing that the staff at Peniel are working on with her.

The picture above was taken by Pelagia herself. It was Africa Day, so the kids didn't have school. Jeremy organized a little soccer tournament; but in Zimbabwe, girls don't play soccer, so clearly the best option for activity was taking pictures! I think that day was a bit of a "breakthrough" day for Pelagia. She really opened up with us...which makes it significantly more difficult to leave. 

Pray for Pelagia. Pray that the staff would have wisdom and discernment in dealing with her aggressiveness and that Pelagia would be receptive and willing to alter any negative behaviors. Pray that she continues to do very well in school and has the opportunity to go on to university some day. Pray that she will learn to look for attention in the right places; that she will know her worth.