The Work, Anxiety, and Piggy Back Riding Math Equations

What gift do I have to give to the work of this orphanage? 

I am not quite sure, and quite anxious about it.  I am not a trained, licensed teacher or social worker, or a librarian, like many of the other volunteers.  I don’t have the experience like Meredith to know how to just help run the place like she does.   

The Art of Pilgramage author Phil Cousineau believes that one important aspect of being a pilgrim is to make offerings, sacrifices, to those you find on your way.  He writes, “As is often the case, the perennial truth of the idea is rooted in the word itself:  sacrifice comes from the Latin sacri-ficium, which means “making sacred.”

So, at the end of the first evening in the orphanage, I have come to a hope.  I hope that the experience with Nicola, his very realness and being, his offering of himself to me which became a sacred moment for me, will be enough for them as well.  All I have to give is me.  No special training or insight or education, just me, a youth minister for some, a father to three, a husband to one, a friend to a few.  These are the only things I know, this is all I have to give, its all I have for my offering of sarcrifice.  We’ll see how it goes.

We have been given assignments now.  We all take turns rotating helping the Mamas (the Tanzanian house mothers who run one of the 3 living quarters).  Each house has about 12 children.  We help serve breakfast and dinner, or you help at bathtime, rotating days and houses.  I am working bedtime in the boys room tonight. 

The first day and night is a constant fighting back tears from being overwhelmed by the reality of the area and the stories of the children, along with the paradox of the beauty, love and warmth that exudes from every moment and experience. 

While putting the boys to bed, and being proud of myself that all are under the covers, I begin to leave, and its Nicola who cries out, “Sam, hug goodnight!”  I soon find out that every night, every child expects a hug, a butterfly kiss, and warm words of some sort. 

Then, during the day, we have other work.  Jeanie is teaching a group of teenagers from the surrounding workcamp villages how to use a computer.  These are kids who have finished mandatory primary school, but their families don’t have the means to send them off to secondary school (essentially, High School, which is all boarding schools, and taught in English).  Primary School is free, but you do need to own a school uniform.  Many cannot afford this luxury, so the Orphanage has provided uniforms not only for the orphans living here, but for ALL children who attend this neighboring school.  The orphanage has just signed a contract with the government to be given oversight of the school  This is the first time this has been granted in Tanzania.  There are big changes and plans coming to improve the school, all incremental.  The first will be to rehab one of the buildings in order to start the kindergarten there.  Kindergarten is mandated to all the schools by the government, but many like this one, can’t afford any teachers, so it isn’t done.  It will now. 

Already, the orphanage is running a Pre-K and Kindergarten program.  Sharon Bowen is volunteering in the kindergarten, helping set up a curriculum, doing assessments, and teaching.  She is so patient and skilled in there.  It’s a joy to watch her.

School is only half day.  So those children at the orphanage who aren’t at school receive tutoring one on one during the day.  This is what I have been assigned.  My first kids are Christina, and Happy (Nicola’s sister.)  Again, the children have a way that washes away all my worry and anxiety.  They are SO ANXIOUS to learn, when you walk over to the house, they come RUNNING to you, asking if you are working with them today.  The want to do math, they want to read, they want to learn letters, spelling, everything.  They have a hunger to learn that is unquenchable.   They are sad and moan at the end of an hour of work.   

In the afternoon, I have my first experience with my soulmate, Mole’.  Mole’ was born July 14 2000.  His father is unknown and his mother died in childbirth in 2003 (as did the unborn child.)  After the death of his mother Mole’ and his younger brother Boaz went to live with their grandmother.  The grandmother was unable to take care of them and took them to her older sister where the situation was no better.  The two boys were left to live in a mud hut with no roof and no one to take care of them, so Mole’ at age six was caring for himself and his 4 year old brother, until they were discovered and placed here at the orphanage. 

Mole’ has an infectious laugh, a million hugs to give, and Mole’ loves to learn, and won’t stop asking how to spell words or be given math equations.  On Saturday, a day off from school and full day of playing, I am giving Mole’ a piggy back ride, and he leans over and whispers in my ear, “ask me math.”  I said, “Mole’, its Saturday, we should just play!”  He instructs me, “Sam, we can keep playing, but I want to learn too.”  What am I to do?  “Ok, Mole’, what is 4 plus 6?”  and off we go, piggy back riding math testing!  This is life at the Rift Valley Orphanage.  I can't believe I am here.

Comments

[Brit]

Jambo, Bwana Sam. You are the ultimate TruthSeeker. I was camped just to the east of Mt. Kilimanjaro 39 years ago today, although one would not of called our shooting safari a pilgimage, and I was clueless enough not to understand the idea of life's journey. I was strictly day to day. But what a beautiful sight to emerge from our tent and see the sun turning the snow pink on Kilimanjaro; is there any snow there now? Keep up the good work at the orphanage, and thanks for including me on you blast list.

agape,
Brit

[susan]

Love you Honey! So cool to have met Mole' via webcam and be able to put a face with your post. An infectious smile and laugh! Talk to you soon.