Africa - Through the Eyes of a Child

Our Kids in Africa . . .

“I think African kids are the cutest children in the world!” quote from one of our summer missionaries. And yes, African kids are pretty darn cute! When you work at a preschool filled with 75 kids ages 2-6 they keep you smiling (though there are a few moments when your ready to tie up the whole lot of them). When we first pull up in the car they swarm through the gate chanting and shouting our names as they clamor for attention. They love to shout, “Look at my style!” and then go through their antics of acrobatics, making silly faces or strutting about in their new shoes. After a day at the school we interns pile in the car a bit disheveled and tired but swapping fun stories from the days activities.

Here is how a few of our conversations go:

After a long day in the squatter camps I was spending some time with the kiddos when they came up to me and said, “Teacher, you smell . . . you have a big nose . . . what are those spots on your face?!” Oh joy. But then they make up for it by saying things like, “Teacher, your hair is like the sun!”

Today I walked up to 4 year old Tebogo and asked him,

“Tebogo, where does Jesus stay?”

He replied intensely, “Jesus is POWER STRONG!” While pumping up his little arms.

“Yes He is … but where does He stay?”

He thought a moment and stretched his little arms out, “On the cross”

“Remember Tebogo? Jesus didn't stay dead on the cross, He is alive!”

With that Tebogo broke out in song, “Alive, alive, alive forevermore, my Jesus is alive . . .”

When I am teaching in the classroom Emely seems like a typical 5 year old. Outside of the classroom she practically raises her baby sister, walking around the squatter camp with her strapped to her back. I was holding Emely on my lap (which all the kids love) during Bible study when her little sister started to cry, Emely promptly jumped down and placed the baby in my lap saying, “You can hold the baby”. I was touched by her selfless act of love … she is only 5 years old!! Sometimes I forget what some of these kids go through . . . Raising their siblings, mommies being beaten at home, daddies leave and never come back, they run around dirty and uncared for at the mercy of whomever (the rape rate is high in the squatter camps), some kids are hungry and wear clothes 3 sizes too small, young teens are having children of their own, the list goes on. When I look at the grand scheme of things I thank God that we are able to love on these kids, and even better, pour God's truth into their lives. I love seeing the change the happens along the way. A hug, a listening ear, hands to tie shoes and wipe tears, someone who loves them and knows their Creator and how He loves them is what brings change.