Miss Milton

Well, I had heard about it. I just had not seen it yet. They named a school and community after me in Eldoret, Kenya. Yes, Milton Jones is a place rather than a person there. Sure, I am honored. I am humbled. I am a bit embarrassed. But that’s not exactly what I had heard about. And if you have never seen flowers spelling out your name like at Augusta National or Disneyland–it is pretty cool. Still that wasn’t what I had heard about.

A photo of "Miss Milton" taken last year by Keven Snyder.

If you have a school, you have to have a mascot, don’t you? Well, they do. They call her “Miss Milton.” And at key times in assemblies, this little girl who dresses up in silver sparkling material wearing a big straw hat covered in orange ribbons struts out to the cheers of all the students. She has one of those Miss America type sashes that boldly says “Miss Milton.” And she can do a little dance number. I wasn’t sure how to take it. Was it an honor? A joke at my expense? A hilarious and cherished mascot? I kind of wanted to crawl under a rock when she was leading the crowd, but I guess I have to admit, she is pretty funny.

I think that they do it because they love me. I know they do. But it is kind of one of those things you don’t feel worthy of. We started this school about four years ago with Francis Bii and about 30 AIDS orphans It has grown immensely with more students and a great campus. They have even planted over 20 churches in the process.

Miss Milton leading a group of girls in a dance presentation.

As I watched these students perform, I have never seen enthusiasm like it anywhere else. They are talented and have a lot of fun. But they are smart too. In just four years they have become the 9th best school in Western Kenya. And one of the students named Vladimir made the highest grade on achievement tests in this entire region. I am impressed.

They may be poor, but they are enjoying life. They may not have many textbooks, but they are learning a lot. And things are getting better. They just got new washrooms. And in their world, that’s a really big deal. And my friends, Audie Waite and Dave Bartanen, just built them a state of the art (at least in Kenya) kitchen. Wow, are they going to have some good ugali (or whatever they call it).

It was one of those deals with your name where you really just don’t know what to say. So thanks. I am honored to be associated with them. I even placed membership at their church there–the Kipkaeren Community Church of Christ. It seemed like a good place and the thing to do.