Hello, or rather Sawubona (Sah-woo-boh-nah) from Swazliand
My new team arrived to our new home in Swazi a couple weeks ago. We along with another team on my squad are living together and working with the Adventures in Missions (AIM) base here in Manzini, Swaziland.
In the first couple of days we were here, we went through orientation learning about their close partnership with Children’s Hope Chest as well as their mission and accomplishments.
One of the biggest operations and ministry here is CarePoints. A CarePoint is a place where children go after school to receive a meal and for some locations, discipleship. We learned that together AIM and Children’s Hope Chest have over 40 CarePoints in which they feed 7800 kids weekly! For some of these kids, it’s their only meal of the day.
Eight of us including myself are working at one of the CarePoint locations, while a few of my other teammates are helping with maintenance and media.
The CarePoints that we are working at also function as preschools in the mornings, so our role for ministry this month is helping out in the classrooms.
After coming off of an amazing month working with kids in Lesotho, I was excited about working at a preschool. The excitement quickly turned to apathy, and it only took two days and a day without my teacher to realize I would never want to be a preschool teacher!
First Day of Ministry
When Elyssa and I arrived to our CarePoint the first morning, both classes were together singing songs and reciting the days of the week, months of the year as well as colors. I thought it was absolutely adorable, and I was pleasantly surprised and impressed.
Afterwards, our classes separated, and I stayed with the younger group of four year-olds. For the next hour the kids colored in their workbooks, a new letter of the alphabet with a picture that corresponds to that letter. They also had to trace over their dotted name and capital and lowercase letters for that day.
To my surprise, most of the kids struggled with the task. I walked around the classroom trying to help a few of the kids or pay them compliments and words of encouragement to continue working.
Then after a short snack break, the kids played outside for nearly the remainder of the day. As soon as I stepped outside to join them, I heard “Teacher, Teacher” no less than a thousands times. Several swarmed me, holding onto my legs not allowing me to move.
The next hour and a half consisted of the kids yelling from all directions, “Teacher, look” as they swung, hung, jumped from the playground or slid down the slide.
On the one hand it was sweet how they desired my attention, but on the other hand it was a bit chaotic and overwhelming.
Just before the end of the day (noon), the preschoolers went back inside. Elyssa and I were asked to lead some songs and games. Despite being put on the spot, I thankfully had some up my sleeve from ministry the last couple of months. To close, the kids prayed and we headed out.
The first school day was long but went by fast at the same time. Truthfully, I left feeling a little disappointed in my role and unsure of my true purpose for being there.
I later learned my teammates working at other CarePoints had a similar experience and feeling towards their day and ministry role. As a team we discussed ways we could be more impactful and of more help to the teachers, which rekindled my discouraged spirit.
Second Day of Ministry
The second day of ministry looked almost identical; however, to bring lift to my teacher, I asked if I could prepare their workbooks with the next letter and drawing for tomorrow’s lesson. She gladly accepted my offer, so as kids were finishing up their work for the day, I took their notebooks and dotted their names, capital and lowercase J’s and drew a jeep in each one. While it was time consuming, I enjoyed the work and knowing I was alleviating a tedious task for my teacher.
At the end of the day, my teacher informed me that the following day she would not be there. I thought to myself, “No problem, the day will go just like the last two! I already prepared their notebooks, so the kids will be able to continue their work. Then we will play outside and end the day with some songs and games.”
The Third Day of Ministry or Rather The Day I Almost Lost My Mind
Besides the rain, the day started out as normal, both classes were together singing songs, reciting the days of the week, months of the year, seasons in the year and pledging allegiance to the Swazi flag, Christian flag and the Holy Bible. After, our classes separated, the other teacher helped me pass out the workbooks to the right kid. I passed out the crayons and they “got to work”. Because my teacher was absent, Elyssa, ended up joining me in my classroom.
It took all about 5 minutes before total chaos assumed. The kids were yelling, hitting each other and running around the room. I tried to settle the kids down, break up fights and command them to sit and do their work, but it only fueled their fire. I discovered I had ZERO authority over these kids, and I just about lost my mind.
Because it was raining, I couldn’t send them outside to play right away. Eventually it was so out of control that I had to grab the teacher to ask for help. As soon as she spoke, the kids quietly sat in their seat. This was bittersweet. But, of course once she left, they began to act up again. I decided to pull the “Do you want me to get the teacher?” card, which helped to some extent.
Finally, the kids finished up their work, ate a snack and the weather cleared up for them to go outside. I avoided going outside right away to catch a break, so I decided to clean up the room and sweep up the mess. When I went outside, I engaged as best as I could, but I was counting down the hour and minutes before school ended. TGIF was all I could think and what kept me going.
Long Story Short
It’s safe to say this month of ministry hasn’t been the easiest or the most fun. While there are kids and moments I enjoy, everyday I have to check my attitude and make the conscious effort to be engaged and put forth my best effort for the kids. I have to remind myself that God has me working here with the preschoolers for a purpose. He had this ministry planned for me before I was born. So, every child I pick up, catch, hold hands with, or allow to touch my watch, bracelet and my hair with their dirty, sticky hands and snotty, running noses I am doing it unto the Lord!
“Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.” Colossians 3:23
