Self-Sustaining Enterprises Blog

Today was Bible Study Fellowship, a free educational ministry for men and women that operates internationally.  Jos has five classes per week; women’s morning and evening, men’s morning and evening, and one for youth.  I’ve been attending the women’s day study since September, going through the book of Acts with forays into corresponding epistles.  It’s been excellent.

It was my first class back since we traveled, and after working hard to get the homework done I learned with dismay that it was my small group’s turn to help in the children’s program.  (I’d been secretly hoping this would occur while I was gone.)  Since it was cold I put black leggings on under my Nigerian dress, which turned out to be inspired.  I reported for duty and was assigned to the four and five-year-olds.  When told I must participate in everything the children did throughout the morning I thought, “Oh no.”

I have always been an awkward play-er.  Brian could sit on the floor and enter into anything our children did with ease.  I, on the other hand, could bring everything to a grinding, no-fun halt.  Eventually I learned to simply read aloud when they wanted time with me.  I could narrate the same book twenty times in a row, which Brian could never do, so we each had our strength. 

When I reported to the classroom I met the three teachers.  Three members of our small group were also assigned, so ten small Nigerian children were definitely well-supervised.  From the schedule written on the white board, we were in Free Play.  I settled down beside two little girls and watched them build a palace for a plastic princess with Duplos, and then helped fix the hair of the grandmother of three baby dolls.  (Their mother was Minnie Mouse.)  Once we had cleaned up our toys, we marched outside to the bathrooms, making noise like a choo-choo.  Fortunately I did not have to use the training potties.

We were told to hold hands on the way back and one little boy shrank from mine.  I showed him the back and he said, “White!” I turned it over, palm-side up, and he said, “Pink!” Once he’d decided it wasn’t too creepy, he gingerly took it. 

We heard a Bible story which turned out to be what I had studied that week; the history of Paul, Silas and Timothy’s first visit to Thessalonica.  We discussed the lesson, sang some children’s hymns, and had a snack.  During finger play I did fine with “Where is Thumbkin?” and “Where is Pointer?” but was shocked and slightly embarrassed when Middleman came out.  Then we stood in a circle and did dance solos.  I could not believe what tiny break-dancers the boys turned out to be.  Interestingly enough the girls were far more inhibited.  When it was my turn I gave them a rendition of “The Pony.” (If I’d had my wits about me I would have chosen something less strenuous.)  I was actually relieved when it was rest time and we all lay down on mats and blankets on the floor.

Although the morning left me exhausted, I was happy to know these little ones have such an excellent pre-school program to attend.  Maybe I won’t even dread my next turn in the children’s department.

Live from Jos,

Karen