My days here in South Africa are filled with yelling, singing, dancing, kicking, hitting, laughing, crying, and every other action that comes with taking care of twenty-five 3&4 year olds. I work in a kreshe (a preschool of sorts) in a community named Ocean View.
Ocean View is the place where the government sent a vast majority of the blacks during the Apartheid. It's a rough area, a place that is in the process of healing the hurts and anger of its country's recent history.
You can only imagine the things the little kids have been exposed to here. The fights they have seen, the drugs they have seen their parents do, and so much more.
Just the other day one of my 4 year old boys told me his uncle died and when I asked what happened he put his hands around his neck in a choking hold and said this.
Generally, kids imitate what their surrounding environment shows them. These kids are no exception, they like to fight, they don't like to listen, and they take things from each other.
I have come every day absolutely exhausted.
But then this past Tuesday we were playing outside on the playground and I was helping the kids jungle (go across the monkey bars) and my little Tamia looks at me and says I can't jungle Auntie Ari. I was surprised because Tamia is the smartest kid in class and can do most things. I honestly didn't believe her, I thought she just wanted me to help her like I was helping the other kids. But when I let my arms fall from her legs she was terrified and wouldn't move.
So I decided to try and teach her to jungle.
We started with me supporting some of her weight while she went across, time and time again. Then I just had my arms in a loose circle around her legs, ready to catch her if her hand slipped or she got tired. And then when I thought she was ready I stepped away without her realizing it and when she reached the end she looked at me watching with a shocked look on her face.
And then she smiled the biggest smile and yelled, "I CAN JUNGLE!".
The rest of outside time she went back and forth jungling by herself and yelling I can jungle, I can jungle.
This is the moment when Jesus told me, "And this is why you're here Ari.".
I am here to pour on these kids the outrageous love my sweet Abba pours out on me every second of everyday.
I am here to teach Tamia how to jungle.
To rub Seadan's eyes so he'll fall asleep peacefully instead of crying.
To kiss Jayden's cheek when he comes running into class in the morning.
To raise my eyebrows up and down when I catch Toufeeq's eye across the room to make him smile.
To sing them all the songs I know, to dance with them, to kiss their owees better, to tie their laces, to let them sit on my lap or play with my hair, to do puzzles with them, to color with them, and so much more.
I am here to love them with the love that Jesus has put in me to love them with. I am here to be their prayer warrior, to fight for them. He has also given me an unreal amount of patience, grace, tenderness and love for these little ones. He has given me the eyes to look past everything and to see the children He absolutely adores. And when I am mentally and physically, He never fails in filling me up again and again.
There is a trust and respect that has started to form between the kids and myself which stems from the love that is ever growing and increasing between us. It scares me that I already don't want to leave them. They have completely captured my heart.
So I choose to live in the moment and not to think about it and to trust Jesus with them now and forever.
This article is so well written and touched my heart. I love you too Auntie Ari!
yes! praying an increase of favor over you as you continue to pour out over these kids. they will so see the love of jesus – because it radiates out of you, arielle.
ahhhh. cannot wait to hear how he shows up!
Wow! I love the way the emotions flow through your writing. So proud of you and maturity you are continually stepping into. I am glad these 3 & 4 year-olds have you loving them on a daily basis.