There Was He, And He Was I

Today, for the first time in my life, I got to witness, and be blessed with complete and total trust from another human being. It wasn't trust that I was openly striving to receive. It wasn't trust that came from an exchange of words, or even really actions for that matter. Trust though, I have no doubt that it was.

As the new school year has begun and new faces have become a part of my daily journey at Keromang E.L.C, i've found myself feeling somewhat paralyzed. In many ways I feel like I just arrived here again. Routines and rituals I had formed with students, who have now moved on to primary school, have been replaced with confused looks and shy expressions from nearly all of the faces I see before me now. Ive gone from the silly, fun, "Pick me up!", Uncle Rapula, to the unnerving, unsure, big, and for the most part scary white man. Until today.

For nearly a week now, I have been helping feed one little boy during meal times. On day one you could tell he wasn't particularly sure he wanted help from me, but was the only one willing and that didn't come to tears at my presence. The only words exchanged between the two of us have been, "Jaa" and,"Metsa". "Eat" and "Swallow", both coming from me, with no real verbal responses from him. But then today, not only did the food seam to disappear faster then usual, once it was gone he remained standing closely in front of me. I found the behavior unfamiliar, but didn't put much more thought into it.

Roughly ten minutes later as I lay on the ground looking up at the ceiling waiting for other kids to finish their meal, I suddenly felt like someone was close to me. I looked up to find the little boy, once again standing closely in front of me. As I raised myself into a sitting position two little arms found their way around my torso, and a small little head onto my chest. As I lay back down onto the floor I could feel the tension leave his nervous little body. I wrapped my arms around him and simply lay there soaking in the moment and the peace that this little angel had brought to my heart as he slowly fell asleep.

Peace

*written January 20th

Tears, Fears & Growing Up

Today was a big day all across the country, for some a bigger day then others. As schools reopened and kids moved on to new classrooms, you could see many different emotional responses written on the students faces. Some were excited, some nervous, others indifferent and others scared to the point of tears.

The story was no different at Keromang Lutheran ELC today either. Some kids returned for another year at an already familiar place, and others walked through the gate for the first time. Some were quick to make friends and start exploring, others spent the day with tears in their eyes. There were even certain times during the day that I felt more like a jail guard then anything else, as I caught multiple escape artists midway through there master minded attempt to return to mom's embrace.

The proudest moment came today though as a big brother as I watched my little sister stroll out the gate this morning off to her first day as I primary school student. Smiling from ear to ear and with a skip in her step she was gone, never to return to the creche life I had come so accustom to together.

-Peace

*written January 15th

Lets Have A Conversation

In recent weeks though I have been receiving more then abundant nourishment from my community in regards to the holiday season and being welcomed into a family, i've still had a small sense of something missing.

My faith and spiritual life were going through a bit of a cold spell. The more I thought on it and broke down why this might be the case things started to become much more clear. I myself was the one to blame. I hadn't realized what a good job i'd been doing of neglecting the spiritual practices that have become such important parts of my life and who I am. Since restarting old practices and once again being very intentional about staying diligent to them, I've began to feel much better about my faith life again.

Tonight at Youth League was no exception. We broke into small groups and prompted conversation with the question,"What's the difference between conversation and prayer?" Discussion went on for well over an hour. It felt so good to be engaged in faith discussion with my brothers and sisters in a time when I so desperately needed it.

So, the conversation continues. Or maybe the prayer continues…….

 

Peace

"Bachelors"

As holiday time begins to come to an end here, I can't help but have some things come back into my mind from before it all started. One in particular is that starting next week Moruti and myself are on our own again with Kiki. Mmamoruti will be returning to Mafikeng on week days again to continue with University. As this came to my mind the other day I couldn't help but chuckle inside.

Before the holiday season was upon us last year and Mmamoruti was still attending University during the week, Moruit and I had developed quite the team. There really is no way around it when two men are living together. With the absence of Mmamoruti lets just say household chores sometimes went to the wayside through out the week. Yet, it never failed that the house was clean for Mmamoruti every time she returned home.

The memories of me and Moruti frantically cleaning the house, doing the dishes, the laundry and whatever other chores we had put off until that point in the week will be ones that I forever cherish. Two "bachelors" scrambling every Friday to please the woman of the house is quite the scene. There is some unknown incredibly profound power a mother and a wife hold over her house, and quite frankly I love it.

So here is to the soon return of franticly racing to prepare for Mmamoruti's arrival on Friday evenings with my partner in crime.

 

Peace

 

*written January 9th