ABC's of Passion for Learning

Words cannot begin to express my deepest apologies for not updating this like I promised. I have been swamped with last minute projects and just trying to soak everything in before leaving, which is scarily in less than two weeks (12 days...). Don't get me wrong, I'm stoked to come home and see all of you - my family and friends - but leaving the friendships I've made and experiences I've had is going to be absolute torture. Plus, whenever I've thought about blogging I've either been extremely busy or not in the "blogging mood" and would rather wait for a quality blog than quantity. But more on that later. Tomorrow is my last day at Tembaletu and today we gave a presentation during Monday Morning Assembly. Dan and I made 20 dozen sugar cookies as well as a slide show for the school to show our appreciation. Both were a hit. 


I got back from Poetry Nite (a small gathering of incredible people at a local restaurant that come together and appreciate/read poetry every Monday from 8-10) a little while ago and still have tons to do before tomorrow. But I wanted to share with you a poem I came up with that I read tonight and I hope you all enjoy:


A, B, C...E
I...Q...J?...T
T.
T....
Her eyes dart wildly back and forth
Her tongue unsure of what to say
From peer to peer her gaze begs for help
And then she turns my way


The third learner to struggle, to stumble,
To be stranded of all speech
Overwhelming was her potential
And all within her reach


Three months ago we locked eyes
And I knew what I had to do
Now, she stands before the class
Showing off what she knew


It's miraculous the power 
Of a simple little song
To ignite the passion of learning
Inspiring all to sing along


"Miss Janelle! Miss Janelle!"
Every morning is greeted anew
"ABC's please please please!"
And I knew just what I had to do


"A b c d e f g
H i j k lmnop
Q r s
T u v
W x
Y & Z
Now I know my ABC's
Next time won't you sing with me?"


The room explodes with sound
Of not thirty but one voice
And though imperfect the pitch, the rhythm, and even some letters
They had the courage to make the choice


The choice to listen to this white girl
Who'd never left her country until five months ago
And laugh as she stumbles over her Xhosa
And teach her all that she needed to know


About the masquerade of poverty
And the face of disease
That grasps the lives of these children 
And how a smile could wipe away the wrath of these demons, with ease


Yes, a smile, a simple smile
Was all it took to break their mundane routine
Of struggle to fight the judgment, pain and disadvantage
Of their disabilities


So smiles we shared
No words need be explained
The beauty of a disabled child
Smiling through her pain


I am not a teacher
Simply a learner who longs to learn
And has been forever touched
By the hearts of her learners whose hearts of passion burn.

Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
Hosea 7:6


Passionately yours,


Janelle