As I watched the primary school kids here at our base in Yei, South Sudan study and play, I recalled my primary school days and wondered at my most memorable moments at Ekulu Primary School in Enugu. My work here has led me back into schools, engaging young minds and I can’t but pause to reflect. This will be my world for a while to come.
I’m having two primary school experiences in one life time. In the first one, I played more than I did anything else. The best times of my day were when the bell rang for recess and when it rang again for departure. I thought I was created for such unfettered fun; swinging from one fruit tree to another, kicking one football in any direction with other 300 kids, reading comics, making the girls cry and doing whatever I was warned could be harmful.
In this recent one, I’m praying and weeping more than the regular share. It’s fun too but not always. Times have changes and I’ve discovered what I’m here for. It’s for something more than mere fun.
Primary school here is nothing compared to what I enjoyed in my time, but it’s school and great fun all the same for these kids. Many of them trek several miles to attend; and classroom for some is under a mango tree or in a make-shift grass house or within iron sheets. Imagine those in rainy seasons or when it hits 47 degrees centigrade outside.
But what I see here is more than the poor learning conditions (which can and will be improved); I see raw enthusiasm. I see potentials and opportunities. I see hunger for education and great desire to achieve something more than what presently is reality. These kids don’t want to be left behind.
I’m asking myself, “How can I access this hunger and ply it towards Kingdom exploits?” “There’s something more than school in here, but can they see it?” “How can I show it to them?” “What will be the most remarkable and unforgettable experience for them within the few years they’ll spend here?” “What will it cost?”
In less than 10years from now, most of these kids will be making life-long choices that could affect them, their immediate families and the community at large. They don’t know it yet; they don’t think of the future that beckons, they don’t see the danger of an unplanned and unprepared life. I do. But how do I make the alarm bell sound as clear as the one that just rang for their recess?
“And if the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?” (1Cor 14:8 Amp)
I have many people to thank for investing in my youth. But God used just one man to set my life on the right track. I can be that one man for one kid here today or tomorrow. I must not waste this chance.
A great door has been opened to us in the secondary schools and now, Junior Scripture Union fellowships are spring up within the primary schools here but is that enough? What perspectives do you have for me? How can I be more effective?
I’m praying for God’s help.
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 