One of my favorite ministries thus far has been working with the girls at the training center down the road.
We were told when we showed up in Rukungiri that one of our ministries would be helping the teenage girls twice a week learn things like knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. So of course, when we heard this we weren’t sure if we were equipped to teach things we didn’t really know, but we were excited to help out and get to know the girls.
We showed up for our first day at the training center last Tuesday. When we arrived we were told that we would be joining the salon class. Now keep in mind, what they might do with their hair here is very different than what we do with ours. All of the Ugandans have very coarse hair and the large majority have it cut very short. Simply braiding their hair was not exactly an option. Therefore, as we were walking in to the classroom we didn’t have any idea of what to expect or how exactly we would be able to help out.
Within the first few minutes the girls introduced themselves and we each paired up with two of them. Turns out their plan for the day is to actually teach us! Our lesson for the day was to learn how to put weave in their hair and do what is called a twist. They showed us an example first and then handed it over to us and told us to try to do it on them. Let’s just say starting a twist is not easy at all! I had to have tried to start it at least 30 times, the girls really got a kick out of us not being able to do it, and they loved that they were able to teach us something. It made them feel proud of what they had learned as they were able to see how far they had come in the past few weeks.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, I have now been shown how to put weave in hair, I have operated a non-electric sewing machine, and I have knitted a scarf with a fancy knitting machine. We work with the girls twice a week, so I can only imagine some of the fun things they will teach us next.
At first, it was hard to understand how we could be helping minister to the girls if they are teaching us. I had expected to be the one sharing skills with them. What I have realized though, is that sometimes being the teacher is just as encouraging as being the one taught. I have loved learning from these girls, and I can see that they all find such joy in being able to teach us what they have learned at their school. They will bring out past projects that they have worked on to show us all of their hard work. They have such patience with us as we learn and get so excited when they see that we have caught on.
God is teaching me that sometimes the ways I think I can best help are not the ways in which He is planning to use me. I have a feeling this will be a lesson I continue to learn on the race.
