Living here at the School for the Blind, I am daily amazed at how much I am learning from them. Not only are they extremely eager to teach us their hobbies, they are so welcoming to us and want us to participate in every part their daily lives here. We have gotten to see and experience so much with them and we have only been here a few days. These people are incredible. I don’t think I have ever felt so instantly loved by people I have just met.
From the moment we arrived, one of the girls ran up to me screaming, “Stephanie!!” as she reached to shake my hand. My heart melted. I looked at my teammates and said, “She remembered my name!!” I realized how much it meant to me to feel known, to have someone remember me by name. Just moments later we were walking hand in hand to go share a meal of ugali together.
What if we made each other in the body of Christ
feel known as my new friend Morine did the first day I met her?
(this is Morine)
That same day we joined the students for tea time in the afternoon. One of the boys, Ian, came up to me to introduce himself and ask question after question about me. He has very little eye sight, yet he went to wash out his cup in a hurry so that I would be able to enjoy some tea with him and his fellow classmates. In this moment, I learned the importance of giving and how much we can make someone feel loved and welcomed if we are just willing to give…even if it is giving the only thing we have in that moment…like a plastic tea cup. He guided me hand in hand to go get tea then took me to sit and listened intently to every word that came out of my mouth. Far too often, we think that giving has to be a physical gift….but what if we began to give more of our time.
What if we learned to give more than just our time, but gave the gift of intentionally listening and investing in people in that time that we have with them?
Spending a day with the girls was incredible. They taught me how to clean in a way that was completely foreign to me. I was not the best at it, but I got to learn how thorough and quickly cleaning can be done! These girls were down on their hands and knees scrubbing the floor with soapy water and a broom-like utensil. I was amazed. They cleaned with such joy.
What if we took our every day tasks that we grumble and complain
about and do them in such a way that is
thorough, productive, and joyful?
(this is Stephanie cleaning)
On Sunday, we got to attend two services. At the high school, I got to see how talented these students are. Literally I could not wipe the smile off my face as I listened to the beautiful voices and watched them as they danced, played instruments with passion, and sang their hearts out! In this moment, I got to learn what it looks like to live passionately for the Lord and use your gifts, whatever it may be, for HIS glory. I started to wonder…
What it would look like if I praised the Lord with such passion like they did?
In the second service at the primary school, I got to witness these sweet young kids reciting memory verses. This is something I constantly slack in. They recited multiple verses from heart.
What if I learned verses , let them sink into my heart and be able to recite them like these kids?
About thirty minutes into the service, there seemed to be a commotion behind us. When I turned around, I saw three small children, all probably under the age of eleven, carry a boy having an epilepsy seizure out of the row and into the aisle. They didn’t even need the staff to help them, they instantly assisted him by carrying his seizing body out of the chapel and across the school grounds to the dorms to receive the medical attention he needed. I was speechless. I had never seen anything like it. Here are children who are all physically impaired in some way, yet they act as one and assist each other so selflessly.
What if we rallied around our brothers and sisters in Christ when they are in need like these children did?
The day the boys taught me brail, I learned what it felt like to have guys want to teach me something with no other agenda other than to spend time with me and share their knowledge with me. They were SO excited to be teaching ME something. It was so fun to learn something I had never even thought of learning before. They spent almost an hour writing the letters down for me, taking the time to make sure I understood how to use they brail machine, and letting me practice as many times as I wished. They gave me so much life and I left that classroom feeling so joyful and filled!
What if we taught others our own knowledge and shared with each other as selflessly and intently as these boys did when teaching me brail?
(Mishek and Jay)
Tonight it stormed here. We were invited to eat with the teachers before attending their closing ceremony since the school is closing and the kids are about to head home for break. After sharing a meal with them, we walked in the rain to the dining hall where the ceremony would be. One of the teachers, John Mark, was walking alone. He almost walked straight into a stream of rushing water. We quickly went to assist him. He welcomed our help and excitedly walked arm in arm with me dodging puddles until we made it to the dining hall. In those few minutes we had the most wonderful conversation. John Mark taught me to welcome help. So many times, we avoid correction or guidance of fellow Christians. We push them away, get offended and often run from the help extended. John Mark saw the help as an opportunity to be guided through the storm.
What if we welcomed the help of our community and saw it as an opportunity to grow and make it to our destination without falling into the obstacles of life?
I was sick today. I had to go run an errand with the Captain after morning assembly. As I sat on a bench outside of his office, Ann, came up to me. We had never met before. She stood in line waiting to meet with the Captain. She began running her fingers through my hair. How did she know I needed some “physical touch” loving?! I swear this is one of my new love languages. She played with my hair and giggled as she told her friends how silky it was! I thanked her for the compliment and we got to talk and get to know each other. Even when we weren’t talking, she kept gently playing with my hair, letting me know that she was there. Ann cannot see at all. I appreciated her just being there, loving on me by playing with my hair. She didn’t even know that I was not feeling well or that I needed to feel loved that exact moment, but because she was bold enough to walk up and just start playing with my hair, I felt so loved. When the Captain walked out of his office…she introduced me as her new friend!
What if we loved people so boldly like Ann did?
What if we were more like the blind?
I underestimated these student’s strength and ability to make the absolute best of each and every moment. We have only been here seven days, yet I have learned lessons for a lifetime. What if we had that kind of impact on each person we met?
I am usually really against asking the question “What if?” But in these past few days, I have found myself thinking deeply after each moving moment I have had with my new friends here. I have wondered what I would be like if I lived my life more like they do.
I want to spread the joy, the love, and the light of Christ like the blind have done in my life.
“Tough times don’t last but tough people do”
-from a poem written by Jay (a student here)
