But I did not go to sight see. I went to connect with the people of South Africa. To learn more about the struggle for jobs, education, families, and children. To work side by side with people who have given their lives to see injustice be righted. To pray for women, mostly mothers like myself, who have been hospitalized and long to take care of their families. I was given a chance to open my life to people miles and miles away from me and begin a connection that will never leave my thoughts and prayers! What a gift! What a joy! To push aside things of little importance in my life and make room for people I now care deeply for!
There are so many amazing stories I walked away with and amazing people I interacted with. When Justin and the boys picked me up from the airport he asked me how I felt about South Africa, all I could say was "I feel so encouraged"! For many years when I thought of Africa my heart sank into my stomach. The only things that raced through my mind were AIDS, unclean drinking water, dirty children, orphans, drought, and down right sadness. Now, in one trip, to one piece of that Nation, new and wonderful things have begun to become a part of those thoughts! It is not that those things are not a large part of Africa, but rather, they are only a part of the story over there. I have seen incredibly gifted people working to right the wrongs of South Africa. I have taught children of that country and seen their insatiable appetite to learn and grow and be leaders in the future. I am blessed to now be a small part of the hope and light in South Africa! And let me tell you God is huge in that country! The adults praise Him, the children praise Him, even the mountains stand in His glory!
Now down to the nitty gritty...
This is the Preschool class that I taught for the week. The town that these children live in is Kayumundi the school/orphanage is called Kayusu "light on the hill". The town of Kayumundi is called the fatherless town by the locals. They have 80% unemployment rates which leads to large amounts of disease, alcholism, and unrest. Kayusu does so many things for that community. It feeds the children, provides free schooling, offers training on automobiles and building works, and has an amazing performing arts program. For me I got the chance to work with and teach the 2 to 5 year olds of that community. WOA!!! It was a gift and a frustration. First the frustrations. So many children and not enough resources for them to all partake in coloring and writing thus affecting their ability to grow in their learning and knowledge for continuing on in school. So many children that one teacher can not possibly control. And the personal side for me was the communication factor. They speak Xkosa of which I was equipped with four words - no, sit down, what is your name, and go! If they are bad, which I saw was throwing rocks at one another, wrestling, or hitting, I was informed to tell them to go. Which happened more than I wanted it to:( But onto the gift side. Children are children no matter where they live. If you touch a child and take the time to look into their eyes you will reach their heart!!! What a gift! To walk around the classroom as they colored, touch their shoulder, look into their eyes and tell them how beautiful their picture is...awesome! The smiles that escaped from their faces in turn touched my heart! Their eagerness to repeat any English word that came from my mouth that I used to describe their picture blew my mind away! To anyone who works with children and has children you can picture exactly what I am writing about. The immense warmth that can fill you and you walk away knowing that you have been touched by joy. I will forever think of the children who's names I could not pronounce, and giggled at me each time I tried, for the rest of my life. They have a place in my prayers just as my "biological" children do. The gift for me is that my heart has enlarged and was filled by children who laughed and called me teacher for a few days! It far outweighed the frustrations. Although I am now aware of the very tangible ways to help these children. Our high school students are now sending them coloring books, crayons, paper, textbooks, and best of all shoes! Things that will make a huge difference in the future of the Kayumundi children!
I have been changed and now, it is time to bring it!
Bubbles for the children at the end of class. A highlight:)
A few of the "teacher helpers" for me to communicate to the children. They were just wonderful! They loved taking our sunglasses to wear and posing for pictures. They also wanted to talk about Rhianna and Chris Brown...hilarious!
Again I'm well versed in the abilities for this lion to destroy me thanks to animal planet:) This was a very thin electric fence between me and Mr. Massive Lion here! I had to ask the man working at this lion rescue if the electric part was strong enough to kill him if he attempted to lunge through it at the humans just staring at him! He assured me yes!
The prison cell that Nelson Mandela spent his years during Apartide. Another highlight for me. We were able to go our last day of the trip. I had read a biography on Nelson Mandela before the trip and was eagerly anticipating being able to walk through this historic prison. To see first hand a place of great injustice and be reminded that remarkable change took place there and evil things had been brought to an end! Our tour guide for the prison was a former prisoner during Apartide...amazing man! Beautiful life story that he was willing to share with us!
Thank You for all of you who prayed for me and helped to support me in this journey! Beacuse of you I have this experience and these stories to share!
I have been greatly encouraged to work with wonderful organizations doing BIG things for the people who need a voice in that country. Please join me now in praying for the children they impact and their future in our world!
3 comments:
Thanks for this, Michelle. Really fun to get a glimpse of your trip. Please keep sharing reflections as they come...
Michelle, thanks for sharing your experiences. Maybe some of the kids you went with will end up being full time missionaries.
Loved reading this and learning more about your trip. Thanks for sharing.
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