Shining Stars
by Taylor Van Duinen, International Field Coordinator
The Grade R (kindergarten) class recently finished a unit about their homeland, South Africa! They covered a huge array of South African tidbits: the geography, important figures (like Nelson Mandela), the world-renowned wildlife, the sports (like rugby and cricket), the colorful flag, and the money (rand). They also learned about all the different kinds of businesses that are available to South Africans. As a grand finale, we took all 20 of them on a field trip… We traveled a whopping 10 miles to town… some of the kids had never been that far from home.
The line-up for the day would bore most American children to tears: the post office, the mall and KFC. Our kids on the other hand, could hardly contain their excitement. Could they really be going all the way to town?! First stop: the post office to buy stamps and mail letters to their sponsors. We were lucky because there was no line, and the postmaster that attended to us was an absolute gem. She interacted with each child like a real, albeit mini, customer, and I don’t think the smile ever came off her face. We brought a stool for the kids to stand on as they stepped up to the counter, one-by-one, and purchased a stamp with two coins. After all the stamps were licked and pressed on, the kids filed by the dropbox outside, and slid the envelopes through the slot.
Off to the mall. We started at one end and marched single file past every store, pausing here and there to make observations about what was for sale, who was working and who might shop there. It was sort of like a parade, because the flock of 20 pipsqueaks with yellow shirts drew all the employees to the storefronts to gawk and take photos. We were a sight to be seen, and the kids loved every second of it. The kids also received preferential treatment along the way. A kind beautician at the make-up kiosk offered to smear lip gloss on all the girls. Each one chose their color, sat in the tall chair with lips puckered, then gazed at their fancy lips in the mirror.
At another store they gave each child a balloon, just in case we weren’t enough of a scene already. Halfway through the mall, one boy tripped and popped his balloon. A passerby must have reported it back to the store, because the manager came looking for us with a new balloon. How sweet is that?! We just happened to be escorting the kids on an escalator ride, so he got a good chuckle about that. This simple thing that we don’t think twice about was revolutionary and a little bit scary for some.
We aren’t condoning taking candy from strangers, but three different shop owners offered the kids candy throughout the journey, and of course they couldn’t refuse. (Don’t worry, it all came out of sealed bags.) Sensory overload hardly describes the experience for our little ones. Their eyes were wide all day, and their smiles even wider, but they were wiped out. They had seen so many things, walked so many steps and interacted with so many people!
The last stop was to refuel with the highly anticipated kids meals. Half the class ordered KFC, and half ordered McDonald’s. They inhaled every last bite, and tottered back to the van in a food coma. Back at school, each child shared their favorite part of the day. Mine was definitely watching them being watched. Everyone was blown away that we would bring these township kids to the mall, and that their behavior was top notch, and that their observations and remarks were so clever… largely because their teacher is a super star, and they’re following in her footsteps, but also because they’re just good kids. Naledi Christian Academy fulfilled it’s name today—its Grade R representatives were shining stars.
Taylor also maintains a personal blog of her experiences in South Africa which you may enjoy at tnvd88.wix.com/immeasurablymore.
Keep it up and Shine!
by Tessa Sharr, Volunteer. We are blessed to have Tessa and her friends Rebecca and Samantha serving with us and providing support to Taylor for a month on her way to serve in Uganda.
This week marks the half way point of my time here in Ikageng and I have no idea where the time has gone. I wish that every single one of you could have the opportunity to come visit the school property, laugh with the teachers, and play with the kids. Here at Naledi Christian Academy, the place is always buzzing… and I mean always.
We arrived during a holiday break for the school so the students weren’t on the property, but there was still plenty to do. We spent that week meeting with the teachers, washing classrooms, organizing donation bins, exploring the township, and eagerly awaiting the children’s arrival. I personally love that this is a 24/7 kind of ministry. It makes the work that we do here feel like an actual investment in the growth of people, not just a work week to get through. If I’m being honest, we probably spend most of our down time talking on and on about the kids and what crafts and activities we have planned for the rest of the week. If you had the opportunity to come meet all the kids you would understand why it’s so hard not to think about them all the time!
I’ve been spending my time with the two year old classes, and I enjoy every minute of it. They’re at the age where everything is exciting to them, and they’re like little sponges soaking up new stories and songs everyday. I love that the two year olds have the opportunity to be taught about the Bible and to learn and grow with loving teachers from the very start of their education. I know God has big plans for each of them, and I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a part of their lives right now.
I’m also very thankful that I can give you a personal account of what your prayers and support have done for this place. This ministry is a place of growth and encouragement, not only for the students, but also for the staff, teachers and volunteers. I hope that all of you will be encouraged knowing that your involvement in this ministry is important and appreciated by everyone here in Ikageng. If you ever get the chance to come visit, please take it! I promise you won’t regret it. That’s all I have to say for now, so I’ll end with my favorite Naledi Preschool chant: Thank you! (clap, clap, clap) Very much! (clap, clap,clap) Keep it up! (clap, clap, clap) and SHINE!
Blessings
by Rebecca Lynnleigh Willett, Volunteer. We are blessed to have Rebecca and her friends Tessa and Samantha serving with us and providing support to Taylor for a month on her way to serve in Uganda.
It’s often when you least expect it, that many little blessings come your way. Like when you go on a missions trip and pray that you will be a blessing to those you meet, and in return you’re the one that ends up being blessed. That’s exactly what my time here has been. One blessing, after the next, after the next. And when you think there’s no way you could be blessed anymore, more just keep coming. Blessings come in all different forms here, such as, a perfectly painted sunrise, twelve beautiful staff women pouring their hearts out to children, eighty adorable, little faces greeting you in the morning, kids who live on the property to say hi to everyday, or working alongside two God-fearing and loving missionaries (who you can tell love doing what they do). It’s a humbling experience to have blessings constantly occurring from sunup to sundown, but when you’re staying at a place that all began because of God, blessings are bound to happen.
Rebecca is also maintaining a personal blog of her experiences in South Africa and Uganda which you may enjoy at http://rebeccawillett.blogspot.com/
Fun to watch the lives that are being changed. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for your kind words Cindy, it’s a real blessing for us as well!