So one of the things we are doing for ministry this month is working with an english nursery/primary school on Thursdays.
Our first week we only got to spend a few minutes there due to some issues with African timing. Dex had asked me to run point and since we only had about 10 minutes we introduced ourselves, I explained who we are and why we were there, and then we taught the “Lord I Lift Your Name On High” and the hand motions that go along with it.
The kids at the school are very young. Probably between three and six years old and ohmygoodness they are absolutely adorable! I was glad we would be going back the next week.
I did have difficulty though. Before I introduced us I asked the headmaster if he would need to translate for me. He said no because they tried to use english only while instructing the kids. However, it quickly became apparent that they had no clue what I was saying and still the headmaster didn’t step in.
Afterward he told me it was because of my accent which I could completely understand because I typically have a terrible time understanding their accent even though we are speaking the same language. So we agreed that next time it would be better to go ahead and translate even if it was just them repeating the same thing in english.
So a few days ago we went back to the school and I took point with Sarah. When we got there the kids weren’t in the school they were out playing in a field about a 10 minute walk away. They asked if we’d rather call them back or go there and play with them and obviously we chose to go play.
When we get there they were all spread out and it was so cute when they ran towards us because they are so little! Once we had them all gathered we explained how to play red light green light.
We started playing and it worked well for a few minutes and then ended up being more of a chase the Mzungus game. Though still a lot of fun. I had planned on taking a ton of pictures but the first break I took not holding the camera my hands were taken by small children. There were about eight of them all trying to hold onto my two hands.
I know that one thing I am going to miss dearly once I’m home are the smiling faces of the children of the world. Even though I typically get to spend only a short time with them they have the ability to make me feel like a million bucks with their smiles.
Yet at the same time my heart breaks knowing that it may be the only hug they are receiving or the only hand they are getting to hold. I have seen so many children just starving for love.
I worried that a trip this long would eventually cause me to just expect the things I saw, be aware of them, and in a way just numb to it all. However, I consider it a blessing that that hasn’t happened.
Not to say that it’s fun for my heart to break on a consistent basis, or fun to have had to learn this year to hold in my tears and plaster a smile on my face. But because of it I will remember these kids.
Whether or not I’ve left an impression on any of them this year I don’t know. One thing I do know is they have left an impression on my heart. And I’ve left little pieces of it everywhere I’ve been and I’m ok with that.
