T.Dabo

This post started and was erased many times and took several hours believe it or not cause I don't want to write something and not have it do justice, I decided to walk away for a second, grab my devotional book and I read it, cried, and there it was part of what I needed to write this post. The devotionals that I am quoting are from 'Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence' by Sarah Young --- the book is amazing, and today it was exactly what I needed...

"I am creating something new in you: a bubbling spring of Joy that spills over into others' lives. Do not mistake this Joy for your own or try to take credit for it in any way. Instead, watch in delight as My Spirit flows through you to bless others. Let yourself become a reservoir of the Spirit's fruit..." 

I do not feel worthy to have a sense of accomplishment after today, and I am beginning to struggle with having to leave Talibo Dabo for now. While the students smiled when we were around them it still doesn't fill in the gaps that I feel as my days approaching my departure from Dakar. And while I cannot agree with all the practices or lack there of taking place at the school I have been working in I would like to take the happiness those kids have embedded into my heart and soul and display in it this post...

Our departure today meant we came baring gifts and the three of us who have been working at Talibo Dabo decided to bring fruit and a jug of water. I was an advocate for filling their bellies with something of nutritional value and something that might sustain longer than a sugar buzz. The result of our gifts was fulfilling while the sight was as though someone has dropped something sweet on the floor while ants devoured the food before anyone had a chance to clean the spill up. Of course the spill in my class was of feeding the kids bananas, but it was nuts we could not get the bananas unpeeled fast enough and while pouring glasses of water the kids chugged the water faster than we could pour it, a ten gallon water jug was gone in less than ten minutes of hungry and thirsty children whose first meal was probably provided by our three dollar purchase from the vendor across the street from their school. I will never forget the sight it was as if we had the last jug of water and there was to be no more after the last drop was served. Heartbreaking, yet it was humbling. There was no greater feeling than satisfying a handful of starving bellies for a split second, the water went right through them all soon after their snack we keep dismissing to the potty, but nothing else mattered during those three hours spent at Talibo Dabo this morning.

After snack and potty time it was time to conclude our lessons with the kiddos with a Ipad lesson using the story 'Little Hen' that read the story in French so that the kids could understand it, it was absolutely adorable all the students were surrounding me as I held the Ipad and there were fascinated by the story being played from the Ipad and how you could touch the screen to make the next part play, followed by the story we allowed the kiddos to draw their own hens on construction paper -- it was a chance for them to express their creativity and be praised while doing it!

And while I cannot take all the little lives I hope that I can take the little snapshots and voice clips with me forever. I will never forget the voice of my students saying "Amina." "Madame" and repeating the silly English phrases we said and they repeated back with their accents, adorable. Each child is different regardless of their abilities or disabilities, no child is ever the same and however regardless of where we call home or how much or how little we have we all know how to love, smile, laugh, dance, embrace the lives we live. That is something I will always cherish, that and all the pictures I will be framing of those smiling and resilient faces.

"... Your part is to live close to Me, open to all that I am doing in you. Don't try to control the streaming of My spirit through you. Just keep focusing on Me as we walk through this day together. Enjoy My Presence, which permeates you with Love, Joy, and Peace."

 "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 

                          John 3:8

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."   

                                 Galatians 5:22-23

I do not have all my feelings sorted out, I have seen things, felt things, and heard things that tear my heart up and those things were to be expected and as I begin to sort through all the emotions and feelings I realize I have to let go and give all my concerns and unanswered question to the man upstairs. Because for right now I am at peace, their bellies were filled, their thirst was quenched, their smiles shined, their hugs were embraced, their voices were listened to, their hearts were seen and loved by me and Sarah, Adriene, and Emily. I will carry their spirits and smiles with me forever, and for right now that is enough and that is putting my mind at ease and in a place of peace.