Today we began the actual service part of our visit to Sir Lowry’s Pass. We came with the intent to get to know the kids better and to have a fun time. Both of which were accomplished with ease.
We brought materials and open arms, and they brought bundles of energy waiting to be spent. We played rugby and soccer, had groups chalking it up on the sidewalks, people outlining murals, and even kids indoors doing arts and crafts. I spent all of my time running around with the children, playing soccer, and giving any kind of lift up the kids requested. The requests definitely got to be creative, I was running around with kids on my shoulders, flipping kids upside down, and even doing straight arm lifts after they taught me how to. Needless to say, I am exhausted and will most likely face the same requests tomorrow, to which I will gladly comply until I’m spent.
Despite the happy overtone of everyone we were interacting with, I could not help but be saddened by a few comments I heard from some of the children. While walking back to our Soup Mother’s house one of the children said to me that they “were so hungry right now.” At that moment, I was a little taken aback and wanted to tell the child to go home and get some dinner or something to that effect, but then I thought…maybe she won’t have a dinner waiting for her back at home? On another instance I talked to was a senior in high school who aspired to be a rapper in the States, he was actually really good if I may say so. We talked about famous people, where I’m from, why I’m in Cape Town, and got to know each other for a quite some time. Then we started talking about goals and dreams, and he says that “a lot of the people here need to know that they can be something, they all need to have a dream of some kind.” Again I had to step back and think about what he said. To me, he implied that the people/children of Sir Lowry’s Pass overall didn’t have any long term goals and aspirations in life which was not something that had ever crossed my mind as a possibility neither here nor back in the states. Both of these individuals taught me to be grateful for the simple things I have and to always be thankful for the opportunities that come my way, whether I earn them or just happen to be in the right place at the right time. I really hope that our time in Sir Lowry’s Pass leaves as lasting an impression on them as they are undoubtedly leaving on me/us.
Signing off, it’s time to rest up and prepare for tomorrow.
--Challis King
No comments:
Post a Comment