This week has been a little different than the usual routine:)
I’ve never tied so many shoe laces in my life.
I’ve never sang so many songs or played so many games.
I’ve never given so many high fives.
I’ve never played with playdough so much.
I’ve never washed so many hands and faces.
The list goes on…
That’s what it’s like at preschool in South Africa.
We met an elderly woman named Martha on the street while evangelizing one day. She invited us into her home, gave us our African names, and fed us. She told us that she works for a preschool and she wanted us to come and see it. So, after calling our ministry host and asking for permission, we got to go!! Each morning, at 6 am sharp, six of us board the preschool bus, overflowing with kids, and stand among the tiny toddlers. For the first hour and a half of the day, the bus driver picks up children all over Shoshanguve. I’m sincerely amazed they all fit.
When we first arrived at the school, we were shocked. Martha had not prepared us for what we saw. We expected a small school like the ones we’ve seen in passing, but Martha’s school isn’t like that. They have almost 600 children and Martha doesn’t just work there, she founded the school. It’s been running for over 20 years, and it’s wonderful.
She placed us into rooms and we did our best to help the teachers out in whichever way they needed. The kids all start the day by practicing their handwriting and writing their names. At five years old, it’s really sweet to watch them spell out names like Tshiamo and Kabelo, in squiggly letters. Then they eat breakfast, but before they eat, the tiny five year olds recite, from memory psalm 23. The children are incredibly obedient and respectful and they call me, “Tea-cha Kar-a”. One of the most precious sounds I’ve heard on the race. After “toilet time”, its story time, and this is when I’ve gotten to tell the kids bible stories. There is so much simple joy in sharing the truth with these kiddos. I have loved loved loved it.
The first day, I bent down and tied one child’s shoe, but when I looked up, I had almost 30 kids waiting with their untied shoes pointed out towards me. I laughed and started tying. These kids all wear laced shoes, yet none of them know how to tie them. The only time I don’t have a billion kids on top of me is when we go to the playground. As soon as we get there, they scatter and go crazy. But every few minutes or so, a kiddo will run on over with an untied shoe, and ask me to help them out. It’s a simple task, and I am more than capable, I smile bend down and tie the shoe, give them a high five and off they go.
Maybe, that’s how the Lord sees us when we come to him with the struggles in our lives, the untied shoes we don’t know how to tie. He smiles, bends down and helps us out.
There is one girl in the class I have been very close with. She immediately stuck close to my side and very attentive. Not to get attention, but simply seemed like she wanted to be next to someone. I later learned that her mother passed away in October.
I am in no way saying I remind her of her mother, but I do think its sweet ive gotten to love her and hold her. Hand, and pay with her hair, and ask her how she is, and compliment her pink shirt. Girl things she may be missing.
I have loved my time at the preschool and makes me seriously consider being a teacher. who knows!!
Im posting this after finishing my treasure expense report and its almost 11 pm and my brain is tired and I woke up at 5 the last 3 days, soooo excuse any and all typos and scatter brainness.
Thank you all, thank you for the prayers and support, i miss and love you guys : )
Much love,
Kara
P.S. I get to see my parents in 30 days when they visit me in the Philippines : )
