Monday, November 17, 2008

"Would you love to be ordinary?"


Today was just another day, nothing out of the ordinary. I went to Oasis for most of the day, went into town, had some lunch, and then went home.
Just a regular day, but I guess I would have thought that by now it would feel like just that, an ordinary day, but i swear I just get happy all over again.




Its not an ordinary day, I mean I do the same thing, but I never wake up not wanting to see those kids. Or think it will be the same as the day before.



I sat with Manu, one of the teachers/adminstrative people at Oasis, during their break and watched the kids play soccer and just asked him more questions about them. Where they came from, what their life is like now, what they're like at Oasis when were not around, if theyre really as great as we think they are or is it just an act...




It was sad to hear deeper details of some of the kids stories but I was thinking as we were watching them play soccer and later teaching in class, how thankful I was for them and thankful they have a place to go like Oasis, and that they actually come everyday...

Kevin, I love this kid, he's still on the street but comes everyday and spends extra time asking me questions after math class


Kamao


Moses


Silas on his first day of class


It's already half way through November and February is going to come faster than I can imagine. I don't mean to but I think about it all the time, what it's going to look like to leave. Part of me wonders whether I've made a difference. Once I leave, someone else will come to take my place. Do I mean anything to these kids? Am I attached more then them? Probably, but then I have to remind myself none of that matters. The point is not my gain, but that these street kids, who their whole life have been thrown away and abandoned, feel like they're worth something.
I don't know what to do with all of these thoughts, I guess I have 3 more months to think...
Yesterday we had to say goodbye to Katie and Ryanne. I was sad to see them go. Allison was more sad, rightfully so, they're her best friends, but I loved having them here, they were so much fun.





I've known them both since Jr. High. Katie used to be my small group leader and Ryanne, Allison, and I were good friends. We haven't kept in touch much since I moved to Nashville, but it was great to just reconnect after all these years.
So this post is dedicated to Katie and Ryanne, it was great to have you and you were so much fun. Ry, I hope you had a great first trip and can have a pizza when you get home. Kate, I cant wait to see you back here in February.