Anesu.
Daisy.
Mpo.
Kaylie.
Baba.
Ian.
Diandre.
Thapelo.
Devine.
Thabelo.
Nyabo.
These are their names.
And these are their faces.
These are the children who have wrapped their tiny hands around my heart and taken it captive.
And to think, two weeks ago I wanted a different ministry. I wanted to work with adults. I knew that I would do well with children, but I wanted something different for once.
and then I fell in love.
They sing. They play. They eat sand and pee on me. They thank Jesus for everything. They pry my mouth open with their bare hands out of curiosity (“do mulungus look the same on the inside?”) They snuggle up in my arms, bury themselves in my hair, hold my hands, and dance with me. They babble away in Zulu and Sutu and Shona and teach me words. They point to different parts of my body and say, “Thees ees a finga! Thees ees a foooot!” they squeeze my nose and are fascinated with my watch. They climb all over me like little monkeys.
I leave ministry every day covered in dirt, food, and love.
I wake up every morning, thinking, “I can’t believe I get to do this.”
Theo and Lena, my sweet teacher friends
my little monkeys
This is my life, and it is beyond words.
thank you for sharing the journey with me.
-Anna
