This month has been busy. In the mornings I roll out of my bed (hurray for mattresses!! Even if they are on the floor) and open up my Bible. I attempt to spend time with God before the hot water gets set out so I can make delicious instant coffee. **I would like to take this moment to thank Nescafé for sponsoring my Race.** I’m not gonna lie, I’m addicted to coffee and have a very hard time functioning without it. And I’m so okay with that. However, it makes reading the Bible and journaling a slight struggle when my eyes roll back into my head… butttt Philippians 4:13 amiright?
Eventually the hot water is set out by “Mama,” bless her soul, and my mind can go to work. I continue to read through my Bible before the others awake- usually just the boys are up at this point, doing the same as me. Unless you’re Jack. If you’re Jack you are literally wired at all hours of the day and coffee disgusts you (I don’t understand some people). Once everyone is “awake” (read: out of bed) we gather as a team for prayer. Then it’s time for our chapati breakfast, which is often paired with the best mango we’ve ever tasted and, in turn, our happiness.
Food in my belly and coffee in full effect, my quiet time gets more productive. Then when 8 comes around we head to school. And by 8 I mean anywhere from 8-8:45 because “Africa Time” is real. Nonetheless, when we get to school we are greeted by the cutest nuggets you ever did see. Sometimes we play games and other times we get straight to work and start teaching.
My squad leader, Cristin, and I get to teach the middle class- AKA the 4 year olds. Our vigorous lesson plans range from numbers, the first 4 letters of the English alphabet, and “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” This may be my favorite part of the day. I love those 11 kids. I love that I can tell them apart and know their names. I love how I know who needs a little more help when it comes to numbers. I love that they run up and give big hugs right when we get there and right before we leave. These kids really do have a piece of my heart- and I’m not sure I’ll ever get it back.
After teaching for anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half we head to school number 2. School number 2 has 920 kids. Said kids all have recess at the same time. We get there when recess starts. I honestly can’t decide if I get overwhelmed by all 900 kids running at us so they can hug us and hold our hands or if I find it endearing. A little bit of both, I think. These kids are really respectful though; unlike some of the places we’ve worked the kids aren’t reaching into our pockets or hitting us. But this school has taught me something that no where else in the world has: the ministry of presence.
School number 2 is hard. Have you ever tried to organize a recess game for 920 kids that speak a totally different language? No? Here’s some insight: it doesn’t exactly go smoothly. Now don’t get me wrong, we make the best of it! We have had races (dang, they’re fast) and played Duck, Duck, Goose with probably 300 of them.
Where are the other 600, you may ask? Attempting to hold one of the “muzungus” (foreigners) hands. Or asking the same questions they’ve learned in class. “What is your name?” “How are you?” “Where are you from?” And, naturally, “What is your marital status?” (Super single, thanks for the reminder, kids!) The questions basically rotate, usually the same kid coming back to you 5 minutes later to ask again. They’re adorable.
With the inability to truly form a game, we are often just left to simply sit with the kids. In some strange way, by doing nothing, I have seen how much God loves us. Sometimes God just wants to sit with us. He doesn’t need us to always be doing something. In fact, he doesn’t even always want us to. It reminds me of my best friends. The ones where we can sit and do absolutely nothing and still have the best time. The friends like Amaris, and Taylor, and Alex, and Julie, and so many others. The friends I don’t have to impress with my works or my words. They just love me because they love me- an unconditional sort of love. And that’s what these Rwandan school kids have taught me. That I don’t need to be teaching them or playing with them to love them. I can simply sit with them and that is plenty. They are happy just holding my hand or playing with my hair.
I can’t help but think of all the times Jesus was just straight chillin’ with His boys (the disciples). The times that they didn’t write about in the New Testament. I bet those look like the times we are with our best friends. The times you’re laughing so hard you might (or did) pee. The times you’re crying so hard that your friend just holds you until you eventually stop (@Alex). The times when you debate if you have a parasite or not. Jesus was in all of those moments. And He still is.
Some days we have to just sit with the Lord and hold His hand. We don’t always have the days like the Great Commission or caring for the orphans and widows. But still, He loves us. He’ll always enjoy just holding your hand. On the Race I have learned the ministry of teaching, the ministry of farming, prison ministry, orphan ministry, and many others. But this month I learned the ministry of presence. I am no longer doing things for the Lord, but with Him. While the Lord has always been happy with just holding my hand, I’m finally learning what it means to be happy just holding His. I’m learning that just my presence makes a difference to these kids in the same way His presence makes a difference to me. The same way He can make a difference to you.
“You reveal a path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures”
~Psalm 16:11
“For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’”
~Isaiah 41:13
