It is Africa Day at school today. A colleague and I have organised a day of cooking, story telling, music, language learning, geography and art - all around the theme of Africa. In the afternoon, we're having a coin drive and teacher auction to raise money for The Tumaini Fund, a charity which supports AIDS orphans and widows in Tanzania.
Great fun.
Yet it has taken nearly nine years for me to be able to even contemplate taking part in something like this, let alone initiating and organising it.
Pain.
Remembered pain, referred pain, projected pain. Selfish pain.
At least, now, I can introduce children to the uniqueness of Africa. To give them a glimpse into the continent and begin to explore its riches.
Without pain.
Friday 29 May 2009
Tuesday 26 May 2009
Airports and waiting
I've waited a lot in airports over the years.
In Abidjan, waiting hours for a plane to arrive so I could leave Africa for, or so I thought, the last time.
In Nairobi, waiting for a plane so I could leave Africa for, or so I thought, the last time.
In countless other airports, waiting to leave.
Yesterday, I waited for an arrival.
Cat, home from uni.
I waited only an hour or so, while her plane circled overhead, unable to land. The airport firefighters, after months of difficulty - don't ask me what, they weren't even negotiating - finally downed tools and refused to work. (I won't say 'went on strike' because I don't know if that is the official term for what they did. It would be in my book, but we're into the complex and incomprehensible world of industrial relations here.)
The airport - airside - shut down. Planes stood on the tarmac, loading vehicles were abandoned by their drivers. Nothing moved out there.
Inside the terminal, people sat, stood, wandered, walked, argued, complained, chatted - as much on mobile phones as to each other, drank coffee, and gazed out at the silent runway.
I prayed. The option for Cat's plane was to return to Stansted. Her option was to go back to Norwich and be stuck in England for the next few days. I prayed.
Her plane was diverted to Jersey. Sadly, by two minor medical emergencies, precipitated by the long wait in the air. She was put up in a hotel and is enjoying a tiny mini-break. Staying in hotels isn't something that students usually do.
She's been desperate for a holiday. She's getting one now! I'm glad, even though I long to see her.
In Abidjan, waiting hours for a plane to arrive so I could leave Africa for, or so I thought, the last time.
In Nairobi, waiting for a plane so I could leave Africa for, or so I thought, the last time.
In countless other airports, waiting to leave.
Yesterday, I waited for an arrival.
Cat, home from uni.
I waited only an hour or so, while her plane circled overhead, unable to land. The airport firefighters, after months of difficulty - don't ask me what, they weren't even negotiating - finally downed tools and refused to work. (I won't say 'went on strike' because I don't know if that is the official term for what they did. It would be in my book, but we're into the complex and incomprehensible world of industrial relations here.)
The airport - airside - shut down. Planes stood on the tarmac, loading vehicles were abandoned by their drivers. Nothing moved out there.
Inside the terminal, people sat, stood, wandered, walked, argued, complained, chatted - as much on mobile phones as to each other, drank coffee, and gazed out at the silent runway.
I prayed. The option for Cat's plane was to return to Stansted. Her option was to go back to Norwich and be stuck in England for the next few days. I prayed.
Her plane was diverted to Jersey. Sadly, by two minor medical emergencies, precipitated by the long wait in the air. She was put up in a hotel and is enjoying a tiny mini-break. Staying in hotels isn't something that students usually do.
She's been desperate for a holiday. She's getting one now! I'm glad, even though I long to see her.
Friday 22 May 2009
Whoop whoop!
What a week! Thought I was busy a few days ago, but...
Anyway, in the Easter holidays I spent a couple of days - and I mean days, not hours - of work putting together an application for an award to develop the conservation area behind our school garden. I'm not a graphic designer or even have artistic talent, so it was quite a challenge to create a digital map of our school garden, with accompanying photos. The plans included putting up nesting boxes, creating all kinds of habitats for insects, planting shrubs and climbers, planting a boggy area... the possibilities seemed endless. So I put it all together and sent it off hopefully.
To my delight, we were shortlisted. A large group of conservationists - I lost track of all the different organisations they represented - came and looked around, took photos, interviewed me (on camera!) and then said they'd be in touch. We were invited to the awards ceremony a week later.
Much to my delight and surprise, we were awarded the prize jointly with the other shortlisted school - £1000 to spend over three years. Not only that, but the conservationists gave me an even more exciting idea - put up owl boxes on two of our tall trees. Might even get kestrels. Wow!
Anyway, in the Easter holidays I spent a couple of days - and I mean days, not hours - of work putting together an application for an award to develop the conservation area behind our school garden. I'm not a graphic designer or even have artistic talent, so it was quite a challenge to create a digital map of our school garden, with accompanying photos. The plans included putting up nesting boxes, creating all kinds of habitats for insects, planting shrubs and climbers, planting a boggy area... the possibilities seemed endless. So I put it all together and sent it off hopefully.
To my delight, we were shortlisted. A large group of conservationists - I lost track of all the different organisations they represented - came and looked around, took photos, interviewed me (on camera!) and then said they'd be in touch. We were invited to the awards ceremony a week later.
Much to my delight and surprise, we were awarded the prize jointly with the other shortlisted school - £1000 to spend over three years. Not only that, but the conservationists gave me an even more exciting idea - put up owl boxes on two of our tall trees. Might even get kestrels. Wow!
Tuesday 12 May 2009
Busy
My days seem so full that, when I look back, a day seems as long as a week. I can hardly believe that so much can happen. I feel both like the child who says, when asked what she did at school, answers 'Nothing,' and yet the lines of the poem are also true: A day to childhood seems a year, a year like passing ages.
Today was an example.
Today, I...
ordered 40 clipboards.
edited an article for our school magazine.
scanned some children's work.
received an invitation to an awards ceremony.
issued invitations to the same ceremony to a group of children from gardening club.
marked English, History, Geography and maths.
attended a staff meeting.
worked on a cross-curricular day which one of the teaching assistants and I are organising in a couple of weeks.
tried to borrow a tent for the same day.
emailed our PSHE advisor about changes to the curriculum.
set a date for a publicity event for our new school garden.
emailed the headmaster of our link school in a remote area of Tanzania.
emailed a parent about an absent child.
met with another parent, concerned about her son missing some lessons.
discussed a discipline issue with a boy.
laughed over a small boy's antics: in his haste to get to lunch on time, he catapulted out of the changing rooms, tie loosely around his neck but completely separate from his shirt collar, shirt untucked, hair awry after a hurried change, just avoiding cannoning into a wall.
and TAUGHT SOME LESSONS!
and checked my diary through very carefully - so much happening in the next few weeks.
Not like today, then.
Today was an example.
Today, I...
ordered 40 clipboards.
edited an article for our school magazine.
scanned some children's work.
received an invitation to an awards ceremony.
issued invitations to the same ceremony to a group of children from gardening club.
marked English, History, Geography and maths.
attended a staff meeting.
worked on a cross-curricular day which one of the teaching assistants and I are organising in a couple of weeks.
tried to borrow a tent for the same day.
emailed our PSHE advisor about changes to the curriculum.
set a date for a publicity event for our new school garden.
emailed the headmaster of our link school in a remote area of Tanzania.
emailed a parent about an absent child.
met with another parent, concerned about her son missing some lessons.
discussed a discipline issue with a boy.
laughed over a small boy's antics: in his haste to get to lunch on time, he catapulted out of the changing rooms, tie loosely around his neck but completely separate from his shirt collar, shirt untucked, hair awry after a hurried change, just avoiding cannoning into a wall.
and TAUGHT SOME LESSONS!
and checked my diary through very carefully - so much happening in the next few weeks.
Not like today, then.
Sunday 10 May 2009
Praying through the beatitudes
I came across this in an article in Discipleship Journal by one Steve Hawthorne. I struggle a little with the language - not quite 'everyday' enough for me, but I love the idea. Thanks, Steve.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Request: Shake, sift, and sort their lives. Expose what is worthless. Exalt what is of lasting value. Grant courage that they may declare spiritual bankruptcy in order to receive Your kingdom.
The Blessing: We speak upon them heaven's best treasures: deliverance, joy, and peace under the kind kingship of Father God.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
The Request: Embrace them in Your arms. For every sorrow, show Your even deeper grief, that they may not turn bitter in their own self-pity. Grant them a taste of Your goodness and greater joy.
The Blessing: Upon them we speak peace upon anger; solace upon anguish; and God's own presence to unlock the prisons of loneliness.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The Request: Grant them new humility. Empty them of self-made grandeur and false pride.
The Blessing: We speak upon them the boundless destiny of God's family: generous contentment, safety, and significance in His increasing dominion.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
The Request: Impel them onward whenever they yearn for a right life before You. Enlarge their appetite to see the world made right in Your time and way.
The Blessing: We speak upon them a share of God's own satisfied delight in inner-heart goodness, and a clear view of God's justice.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
The Request: Unlock closed hearts to forgive. Lift the binding patterns of iniquity. Set off a chain reaction of mercy in their homes.
The Blessing: We speak upon them Your mercy, that Your prevailing love would interrupt the course of events brought on by circumstances or sin.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The Request: By Your finished work in Jesus' death, launder their life from inside out.
The Blessing: Blessed are the eyes of their hearts, that cleansed inside they may see their entire world filled with Father God, illumined by the light of the greater days to come.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called [children] of God.
The Request: Grant them wise authority to quench the escalating rage of evil and bring forth heaven's peace.
The Blessing: We call them now what You would have them be: Father God's own children, marked by His character.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Request: For those harassed because of doing and pursuing right things with Jesus, grant patient wisdom to follow Jesus throughout the days of trouble.
The Blessing: We would give them open ears to hear heaven's pleasure, the applause of Father God's joy in those who live like His Son.
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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Request: Shake, sift, and sort their lives. Expose what is worthless. Exalt what is of lasting value. Grant courage that they may declare spiritual bankruptcy in order to receive Your kingdom.
The Blessing: We speak upon them heaven's best treasures: deliverance, joy, and peace under the kind kingship of Father God.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
The Request: Embrace them in Your arms. For every sorrow, show Your even deeper grief, that they may not turn bitter in their own self-pity. Grant them a taste of Your goodness and greater joy.
The Blessing: Upon them we speak peace upon anger; solace upon anguish; and God's own presence to unlock the prisons of loneliness.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The Request: Grant them new humility. Empty them of self-made grandeur and false pride.
The Blessing: We speak upon them the boundless destiny of God's family: generous contentment, safety, and significance in His increasing dominion.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
The Request: Impel them onward whenever they yearn for a right life before You. Enlarge their appetite to see the world made right in Your time and way.
The Blessing: We speak upon them a share of God's own satisfied delight in inner-heart goodness, and a clear view of God's justice.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
The Request: Unlock closed hearts to forgive. Lift the binding patterns of iniquity. Set off a chain reaction of mercy in their homes.
The Blessing: We speak upon them Your mercy, that Your prevailing love would interrupt the course of events brought on by circumstances or sin.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The Request: By Your finished work in Jesus' death, launder their life from inside out.
The Blessing: Blessed are the eyes of their hearts, that cleansed inside they may see their entire world filled with Father God, illumined by the light of the greater days to come.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called [children] of God.
The Request: Grant them wise authority to quench the escalating rage of evil and bring forth heaven's peace.
The Blessing: We call them now what You would have them be: Father God's own children, marked by His character.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Request: For those harassed because of doing and pursuing right things with Jesus, grant patient wisdom to follow Jesus throughout the days of trouble.
The Blessing: We would give them open ears to hear heaven's pleasure, the applause of Father God's joy in those who live like His Son.
NavPress
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