Our team has been helping in a local primary school for the past three weeks now. We have helped with a few swimming galas (competitions) and we have been helping with extra classes after school as well as sports coaching (swimming and cricket). The team agrees that one of the most special parts of ministering at the school is connecting with the teachers on a personal basis. We have enjoyed so much being able to assist in their classrooms and getting to share our stories as well about why we have joined the Year of Your Life program. They have also asked many questions about our church and trying to wrap their heads around our whole belief system.
Jump forward to one week ago, last week Thursday. We arrived in the teacher’s lounge ready to cover math books, which has been our assignment for many weeks now. The teachers came in one by one with tears in their eyes. We then learned that a boy in grade 5 (age 10) named Tyler had passed away that morning from crones disease. We knew that at that time we needed to be extra supportive and gentle. We also learned that the memorial service would be held at our church.Tuesday and yesterday two girls from our team and I helped Tyler’s teacher prepare a poster board of pictures and notes to Tyler from his classmates.
Today was the memorial service. As we were preparing for the day and for the service, we sadly learned that yet ANOTHER child, also in grade 5, had passed away this morning. She stopped breathing after swimming class; exactly a week after Tyler. Understandably the teachers were a wreck. Everyone is scared and paranoid. We will be helping with the preparations of the second memorial service as well.
At that moment we decided that we need to claim that ground for Jesus Christ. One day next week we want to stop our program and join in unity to cover the campus in prayer. We believe with all our hearts that it is God’s perfect timing for us to be in this particular school. We see evidence of God at work in the midst of tragedy.
Sisi - I'm so sorry to hear about the loss your community is facing. My prayers are with Tyler and his classmate. Thank you for your generosity during such a difficult period.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness! What a huge loss in your community! Sadly, I am just now reading this...I pray that now alot of the attention has died down from these tragedies...that the Lord is stronger than ever among those families. It's post all the crazy memorial stuff that things can set in and hurt even more since there is more time to process. I pray God's peace and comfort over everyone affected by the loss of these two angels. And I praise God that the community has someone like you, Leah, placed strategically to fulfill God's plan in the healing process. Love you and I hope you are getting much needed rest! Piet too!!!
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