After nearly a year, people are starting to ask that dreaded question “so, how does it feel now you’ve been there nearly a year?” If you’re reading this, please note the use of the word “dreaded” and don’t ask the question! The truthful answer is that I’m not anywhere near where I had hoped I might be after a year. We’ve had a few health issues, an unexpected house move, a few more health issues (concussion anyone?) and still a certain absence of that key document I really should have. I hadn’t realised how much a move like this can dent your confidence as you find yourself back at square one in terms of friendships, spheres of service, and having to work out who you are, why you are here and what actually are the gifts that you have been given. I’ve learnt that I still have a long long way to go in terms of many things, one of which is knowing how to say ‘no’. There are all sorts of motivational quotes around about how saying ‘no’ to things frees you up to say ‘yes’ to the right things. That’s all very well when you know what the right things are!
Anyway, one of the things that I have said ‘yes’ and which I do enjoy is spending some time on a Thursday afternoon at iThemba preschool, run by our church, St Peter’s. The children from iThemba all live in disadvantaged areas and spend the day at the school learning English, developing social, educational and life skills, and having a lot of fun. One of the aims is that, because they have had an English language preschool education, they will be able to take up places at some of the better equipped local primary schools. I spend time each week reading stories with five of the children. There is nothing quite like arriving at iThemba on a Thursday afternoon to make me feel loved. There are hugs and cries of “Teacher” from many of them, pleas to “please read with me, Teacher” and smiles to warm the coldest of hearts. I read with a group of three and then a group of two – always the same children each week. Usually we have to chase out one or two others who hope to sneak an extra story.
Even more fun than reading with them, is taking them to the beach! 
A few weeks ago we spent the morning at the beach with the oldest group – 14 lively little characters all wearing lime green t-shirts. The t-shirts are such a great idea. There were two other preschool or creche groups visiting the beach on the same day, and it made it so much easier to instantly identify which were ours. After a few weeks where these children had been forced to miss school because of rioting, it was good to take them out for some fun.
One of the little boys told me he had never been in the sea before and that he had been very scared, but still went in. (A great opportunity to talk about how being brave is about being scared, but doing the scary thing anyway.) Once he was in, it was hard getting him out! It wasn’t the warmest of mornings, but a run down the beach helped warm them up after their splash in the sea, followed by a lot of fun on the playground and then… ice cream! Nobody eats an ice cream quite as slowly as an iThemba child, so the green t-shirts had a lot of brown splodges. Nothing that a soak in our bath and a trip through the washing machine couldn’t fix – the sight of 14 little lime green t-shirts swaying in the breeze on our washing line was very sweet.
Is children’s ministry my gift? No. But it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon a week and it encourages the staff at the preschool, most of whom also live in the nearby township area. And it’s a great excuse to break out the camera….
This young lady sure knows how to work for that camera!
Beaches are full of interesting things, like shells with things living in them… and we put those on our noses. Nope, no idea why.
This is the little guy who had never been in the sea before. The first little while, this slightly puzzled look was his fixed expression. Then, as you see, he got into the sea and well into the whole idea – including splashing his teacher. And yes, the trousers half way down your bottom is a global fashion phenomenon….
My first reading group… he is smart, bright and has an amazing personality. The girl on the top is warm, sweet and funny. The other girl is a pretty feisty and sassy young lady.
Reading group two. He’s a real character who has a very cheeky streak. She has the poise of a supermodel and a serene beauty about her, along with a very sweet nature.
Neil’s cap made it to the beach too – a great English lesson opportunity as we talked about the difference between “lending” and “giving”. Some people can roll their tongues and some of us can’t…
African Crossroad 