Watching his restoration has been so sweet. He has warmed up quickly and I've noticed he is not a shy little boy. He just needed out of the environment he was in. He and Elisha get along great. I'm lovin it and would adopt him as our own if it were God's will! But we will be transitioning him into house three THIS Friday! Along with the other children that will call house three their home. Sunday morning we took Dom to church with us. Bud noticed he didn't know the words to the most basic Swahili worship music. Come to find out, it was his first time to ever go to church. He loved it though and we found him dancing in a circle of Mattaw boys, dancing and clapping. He was home.
There's been quite a bit to teach him. The basics of asking for something if he wants it, like food or toys. Saying please and thank you. Putting his plate in the sink after eating. Flushing the toilet when finished. Ha. He learns fast though. He's such a joy to be around!
In other news, Elisha will now be going to Mattaw for school 2-3 times a week! He absolutely loves it too. Monday I went out to rescue Dominique and left Elisha at Mattaw. Bud put him in school and he did amazing. We were shocked. And thrilled. After all, we do desire our children to be raised in this culture and learn the language, knowing the Mattaw kids are their brothers and sisters regardless of tribe.
A bit of my history: I've grown up around younger kids my whole life and love them, my mom was a pre-k and kinder teacher. I started out going to college to be one too. Even before having my own kids, I always desired to home school. Not thinking it's bad to send your child to public, but to each is own. I desire this scripture to be true in how we raise our children: Deut. 6:5-7 says “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Homeschooling seemed the easiest way to make it happen, to me. Luke 6:40 states “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." Which teacher would I want him to be like?
I've gotten into it here recently and love to teach Elisha. I have found and confirmed what I already knew, that I'd be a mom that enjoys it and looks forward to the next day to school my kids, challenges included. No doubt I look down this road and question how I'd get it all together, where time would come to do this, if our children will be socially awkward, and doubting my ability to teach. It's a ministry and it's really helpful to have a vision for it.
But then God began to reshape this little vision of mine. And it's still in process, I have tons of questions. And this might just be this year, who knows. As of right now though, we will put Elisha in school at Mattaw from 8-1, 2-3 times a week (we're still adjusting). He'll then eat lunch with the kids and come home. The time I would spend teaching him on those days, I'll now spend helping around the Mattaw school, implementing teaching tools that are not found in typical public schools in Kenya but that are very normal in America. For example: I have calendars coming from the states this weekend that we'll put up for them to review everyday what day it is, whats the weather like, ect. You know those charts found in EVERY kindergarten class in America? Just simple stuff to help our children get a visual and interaction. Then introduce crafts and ideas for our teachers that go with what they're teaching. Elisha already shared with me yesterday how he likes Madam Winnie. (in Kenya, children refer to their teacher as Madam, not Mrs.) And I'm so proud of him for how well he obeys her. He does so well in a classroom set up. I peeped in the other day and saw him with a ruler pointing out the alphabet on a chart while all the kids in his class yelled out the letter. So precious!
We desire Christ-centered and excellence in every aspect of Mattaw. School included. And if we wouldn't put our children in it because of lack of education or lack of Jesus, something is seriously wrong. So we're going down a new path, open to whatever God has for us!
2 comments:
Oh Kim, so happy to hear about Dominique and his homecoming!
I love that you are open to changing the way think about something even though it isn't what you always pictured! Glad about how good you feel about your decision and that Elisha is enjoying it! Sounds perfect!
Great post Kimbali !
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