truly was hoping it wouldn’t happen. I mean, yes, I’m a teacher and I like kids
however, I teach big kids and little kids are a totally different ball game.
I’m not used to being around them, I don’t know what to do with them, how to
talk to them, what to say to them, how to play with them. I babysat once in my
life and didn’t really have any younger siblings or cousins or children around
growing up. So this is just awkward and I’m so not cool with it! Everyone else
loves it.
One of the girls on my team, Jessica, does a fabulous job
with children. So much so that I had asked her last month in Kenya if I could
come and do Sunday school with her so I could watch her and learn from her.
Things changed and another team mate led the Sunday school that Sunday so I
didn’t get to watch her. I knew God would put me in this place that I didn’t
want to be in and so I was hoping to prepare myself for it. Guess God didn’t
want me to be prepared.
When
I originally wrote this blog it was day 1 of our arrival here but now, we have
been here for a week. This is what I’ve learned….
Children
give the best and biggest hugs all the time. They love to play pranks and
almost locked me in the bathroom (thank you Laura for needing to go and coming
and unlocking me). They love to touch my hair, my face, take my glasses on and
off, hold my hands. They watch anything I do (mostly because I’m white). They
love when you just smile at them and wavy.
There is a very precious little girl named Asanti which
means “Thank You” in Swahili. She is the daughter of one of the ladies we cook
with. At first she had no expression on her face but wanted to be around us
always. She never wanted to go to class but wanted to hang out with us. Now, in
the morning, when I go to get milk, I see her and her mom walking and she comes
running full force to hug me.
Ironically, it gives me just as much joy as it gives her.
I’m still uneasy about being around the children. They still
make me uneasy however their smiles bring me joy. They are innocent and full of
life, curiosity, joy (even though they have almost nothing). I know they have
much to teach me.
In one day I have witnessed the power of childlike faith as
I watched children heal someone with the power of prayer and also deliver
someone from demons! All, in one day!
Matthew 18:3-5 “And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless
you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name
welcomes me.”
