A: Good Morning Class!
B: Good Morning Teacher!
A: How are you today?
B: I am very well teacher, and how are you teacher?
A: I am very well also.
This is the recited greeting that has begun my morning each day for the past two weeks, in my role as a preschool teacher at the Ngwane Park Care Point in Swaziland. Yes, you read that correctly . . . preschool teacher! Trust me, it shocks me just as much as it probably does all of you that this is where the Lord has placed me this month. Teaching preschool is something that I honestly never expected to do, but I could say that about many things that I have done on this trip. I just see it as another example of God’s sense of humor!
For those of you not are not familiar with the term, a Care Point is essentially a safe place designated to meet the needs of children. More specifically, the Care Points that we are working with provide education, food, a safe environment, loving guidance, and spiritual direction to children in the communities that they serve. AIM is partnered with “Children’s Hope Chest” to manage over 30 Care points in Swaziland and the girls on our squad have the opportunity to work with 4 of the Care Points around Manzini while we are here this month. The Care Point that I am working with in Ngwane Park has 40 children in the preschool program, serves over 100 meals each weekday (prepared by volunteer cooks), and holds bible club 2 afternoons per week.
It is such a blessing to be able to serve the children, teachers, and cooks at this Care Point this month and to be involved in some small way in a ministry that is meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of these Swazi children. In a country where 40% of the population is under the age of 14, it should come as no surprise that children are a focal point of the ministry efforts here, and the Care Points are a practical and sustainable way to facilitate that effort.
Through my work at the Care Point over the past two weeks, I have learned about that aspect of the ministry effort here as well as the people and culture of Swaziland . . . but more than that I have learned a lot about what it means to be able to do ALL things through Christ.Working with children is not my gift or my passion, but I am able to be used effectively in this capacity because of my willingness to allow God to do His intended work through me.
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Let me close with my favorite chant from our preschool class that is used for peer encouragement and that the children treat me with when I make it through a lesson . . .
clap*clap*clap*clap*clap
Ahh!
clap*clap*clap*clap*clap
Ahh!
You _ the best _ the very, very best!
After all, we can all use a little encouragement now and then!
