I spent a few hours this week reading to and teaching these two boys (and others) at a home for street children in town. They were both noticeably small for their age, very eager to learn but also very easily distracted. And of course they wanted me to teach them kung-fu.
Our friend Hilkka who has volunteered with poor children in Mwanza and other parts of Africa, warned me that it can take years, if at all, to see "progress" with these children. One student she taught would continually forget how to write the days of the week even though they had been practicing for 3 years!
Isn't it all a waste of time then? Why bother at all? It's tempting to wonder. Wise Hilkka reminded me that even though we might not ever see these children "progress" as we'd like, being a consistent, caring adult presence in their life, being someone who shows them that a different kind of life is possible is most certainly not time wasted.
"When people care for you, and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul." ~Langston Hughes
Powerful, Jen (both the post and the quotation at the end). I needed that reminder - its application extends across age, nation, and people group boundaries. Thanks!
ReplyDeletethank you Rachel! hoping you are well in the UK!
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