A Spiritual Word: Love

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” – Colossians 3:14

I am in love with the people of South Africa. Words cannot completely describe this love. If only I could send the experience of looking into the eyes of one of the children with whom I have fallen in love from the primary school where I volunteered for eight months. Then, maybe you could get a glimpse of this love, because I’ve fallen in love with their souls, and, yes, I do believe that eyes are the windows to the soul. The children at the primary school warm my heart as they glow when our eyes meet.
My eyes tear up as I anticipate leaving the school for the final time; I realize how much I love the children. The week before my last week at the primary school, I try to figure out an additional day I could go to the school. I do not feel ready to say goodbye.
Six months prior, I had been counting the days until I was done at the school. I loved the kids, mostly from a distance; yet, I rarely spent time with them, for in attempting to give the teachers the power to initiate my time in the classroom, on a good day, I was in the classroom for one or two hours. Over my first three months at the school, the educators and I slowly built a trusting and caring relationship as we explored how a young, white, American woman could interact within a rural, primary school environment with older, black, South African educators. Used to the “doing” culture of the US, I tried to keep myself busy with cleaning, organizing and reading educational material, but ran into dead ends with finances and organizing documents in another language. From those first three months, I learned important lessons in patience and how it feels to be trapped from the all-important American virtue of productivity. More importantly, I internalize that my productivity level does not define how good of a person I am. One may do more good by not doing anything physically constructive, but just being. In the relationship-focused culture at my school, I feel a revitalized awareness to the beauty of being.
Furthermore, since January, the educators and I have implemented an agreed upon schedule in which I teach grades one through six, each for one hour over the two days I am at the school every week. In grades one through three, I teach English vocabulary, such as family members or greetings. For grades four through six, we work on English reading. I feel I connect with the students and the educators through the shared process of creating a positive environment in the classrooms. I thoroughly enjoy my time at the school in 2010.
When I first arrived at the school, the children’s eyes seemed to follow me because I am white. At the school, all of the twenty staff are black and, except for five Indians, all of the 420 students are black. Now, I see many kids’ eyes light up when they see me and they greet me or whisper to their friends: “Miss Kate!” I feel that they are genuinely excited to see me because they like me for being me, not based on my skin color or country of origin. Kids giving me a random hug or leaning in the office door, whether to say hi to me or giggle, always puts a smile on my face.
During my last two weeks at the school, I teach the kids the song “Kids of the Kingdom”. On my last day, we tape the children singing the song. It is an honor to be able to give my supporters in the US the best gift of the children singing "Kids of the Kingdom". Additionally, major

supporters taught me "Kids of the Kingdom" when I was the same age as the children, so I am eager to pass the song onto the children and share how I believe they are each kids of God’s kingdom. The school community shares so much of their culture with me; I am thankful for how excited they are to learn the song, a part of my culture. The best part of teaching the song is hearing teachers and children sing “Kids of the Kingdom” as they go about the day.
During my last two days at the primary school, a lot of love is all around. Each grade welcomes me into their class one more time for a time of sharing: thoughts, sentiments and hugs. In the first grade class, I ask the children if they have any questions for me. One child asks, “When are you coming back?” Another child raises his hand and shares, “I love you.” More hands pop up and, one by one, children tell me, “I love you.” I feel humbled by the children’s love. I tell them that I love them all too. Then I offer that they may each share a hug with me. The children amaze me as many eagerly embrace me. Self-consciousness, age, race or any other thoughts of boundaries fail to hold them back. They show me pure love.
The educators and students continue to give of themselves as they perform a closing program in my honor. Amongst the beautiful songs, classes sing about love and a reprise of “Kids of the Kingdom” as well as the educators, including me, singing a hymn in Zulu. Kids in each grade share what they learned from me and one boy speaks on behalf of all the children in expressing their gratitude. The educators present me with traditional Zulu crafts, including a skirt and beaded jewelry. After receiving the material, musical and sentimental gifts, the teachers ask me to respond. In front of the community, I tell them I cannot entirely express my gratitude in words. I thank them for openly embracing me and selflessly giving of themselves; for through these attributes, we have created a strong connection. I share with the students that I believe in and hope the best for them. Finally, I tell them I love them. To close the program, a dozen female students passionately perform a Zulu dance. As the energy of the dance builds, the students gather around the ladies to form a clapping and cheering circle. The spiritual dance moves me.
Later, during the party given by the educators, adorned in my Zulu outfit, I attempt to dance in the traditional Zulu way. The educators cannot get enough of my dancing; they practically roll over one another in laughter and keep asking me to dance more. I doubt my dancing is technically superb, but to see the joy in their faces as I dance makes my effort worth it for every step. Giving the teachers personalized notes and dancing their traditional dance is the least I could do to thank them.
Do not let some of the children’s worn clothing deceive you; the children may not only be clothed in love, as recommended in Galatians, the children embody love. I feel their love demonstrates how everything is bound together by love. The children and I connect. When you genuinely give someone a hug, you cannot see the person’s skin color. When I first saw a picture of myself in front of a classroom, I was shocked by how much I stuck out- my skin looked much lighter than I remembered and I was not wearing the school uniform. Yet, my clothing choice or skin color could not stop love from bringing the children and me together. Love shatters human conceived boundaries.

God, guide us to see your love in one another and to love as you love us. Amen