by Miriam, from Germany
When I returned to North Africa for the second time, my desire was to serve among the poorest and most unreached people group, the Nuba Sudanese children. In addition to managing on a comparatively smaller financial budget and facing a lack of basic education, they and their families are at risk emotionally and psychologically; this relates specifically to perceptions regarding being unloved and unaccepted. Therefore, my question was, “How may I best serve without speaking their language and not having benefitted from training in their particular context?” With all this in mind, I got involved, and this is what I experienced.
The work was completely different to my job as a teacher at home in Germany. Over 40 children, ranging in age from two to 12, study crowded in a small, temperatures in the street outside are often close to 40°C. In Germany, my students enjoy a good space, but start to complain regarding the heat when it reaches 28°C. I experienced my first surprise on entering the classroom at the Centre of Hope, as my gaze was met with interested and curious faces. This encouraged me to do a good job.
The lesson started with some songs about the hope that one may have in the Saviour. The kids imitated my movements to the songs and their eyes began to shine. In these moments, they are just normal kids having fun while they are dancing. After that the English lesson began, during which I taught them colours. To make it clearer, I used balloons in a variety of colours. Some of the children I met are very smart and it was obvious to me that they were absorbing every word I said.
These children know that education is their key to a better life, but, while teaching is important, hope and unconditional love are the best gifts one may demonstrate and teach to them. So, I used the colours to spread the Good News of the gospel with the wordless “Book-a-Book” laid out in colours.
Each child was given a book that they could work on, in order that they could remember the story of hope. In this little chaos of 40 students enjoying handicrafts, a girl approached me and stroked my hair. That moment is indescribable; through her simple gesture, I got a glimpse of her heart.
We can, and we should, always spread love; this may be done without words, if necessary. At the end of the lesson we sang our songs one more time and, once again, I was touched by the joy of the kids.
Following this lesson, I left the classroom tired and overheated, much more so than I had ever experienced in my life, but with a heart full of happiness and satisfaction.
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18).