So, we were able to go to a primary (1st through 8th grade) school yesterday and minister to kids. We honestly had no plan, but this is not really news when talking about World Race. Seriously, do I ever really feel prepared?… NO. Anyway, we left in the morning, not sure at all about what was going to happen. We arrived at the school and soon learned that there were over 600 students. Oh man, what do six Americans have to tell these kids? I’m not really great with kids to begin with, but to be given a couple of hours with 600 of them… I was not that sure. Leadership has its ups and downs, and while I love it, I knew as soon as we crossed the threshold of the school that I was going to have to make some decisions or say something, so what did I do? I did the only thing that makes sense-I prayed.
We were invited into the head teacher’s office and were given the rundown. We quickly learned that these students were not what we were accustomed to. Their ages ranged from about five to fourteen. Luckily, they were divided into six big groups from youngest to oldest. As I guessed, I had to choose who on our team would go with which age group, but having the best team in the world, I knew that they would role with whatever punch.
Something in that office though, made me realize that these were not normal kids that we were dealing with. They had seen hardship that some of us only hear about, and sometimes can’t even imagine exist. We were told about how the upper class girls were often subject to FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) which is circumcision for young girls preferably done between the ages of about12-18. This was the prime ritualistic age and they were usually sought out and pressured into this decision. The head teacher also told us that sometimes after the procedure they would walk up the hill into the city, still bleeding, to prove their strength. The horrible thing was that if they died, their death was celebrated, but their bodies not honored.
And with that, we were given a smile and told to minister. The biggest problem I had at that age was what I was going to wear to the mall on the weekend. The youth in this country are grown up quickly and know responsibility and decision more than most of us have a care. The day was filled with a few songs, random games, and a few brief messages. Sometimes I feel like what I am doing does not cover what they are experiencing. Who am I to be so honored to just sit by these students? I almost don’t know what I wanted to accomplish with this blog except to just bring to light some of the darkness that covers this land.
