The Maun city school has several hundred kids.  Of those, some have special needs.  Some have Down’s Syndrome, some have more severe issues.  We traveled to the school and met the headmaster.  She told us we were late, and they had panned for us to take the kids for 3 or 4 hours.  I secretly thought to myself, “how in the world could we manage a work with the class that long?  The headmaster was very polite, but clearly the schedule for our planned visit was not corect.  We would however have time for about 90 minutes with the kids.  After many introductions, the headmaster took us to a classroom with about 12 kids.  The children were sitting at tables.  Many were smiling at us.  Some were looking down.  They seemed about 10 to 14 yrs old.  I took a deep breath.

Then the headmaster led us to another classroom, with another group of even older kids.  After another set of formal introductions with the classroom instructor, we were shown a final room, with yet another set of kids.  The headmaster informed us that some of the kids were 25 yrs old, because the country had no place to put them.  She also apologized for how the kids looked.  On Fridays, the kids are allowed to dress themselves, and so they were not wearing their “proper uniform”.  She then proceeded to combine the 3 classes.  Soon we have about about 42 special needs 10 to 25yr olds sitting in a room awaiting our instruction.  Beth Bounds (OneWay Intern), Hannah, Emily, Jake Johanik Derek Johanik, and Cynthia, Ray’s wife, looked at each other.  The headmaster and the 3 teachers looked at us.  Emily whispered to me “what are we going to do?”.  I said, “I don’t know, I’m still praying”.

We started with a Bible story, with exaggerated hand motions.  I REALLY exaggerated.  We got the students doing the hand motions, soon the room was laughing and cheering.  The teacher translated.  The headmaster was smiling.

Emily told me later the headmaster then turned to her and said “I’m heading back to my office”.  Then we started telling David and Goliath to the students.  Once again, totally overacting the parts, Jake Johanik (at 11 yrs old, he makes a good David) and I (Goliath) started acting while Beth Bounds narrated and one of the teachers translated.  The headmaster then turned and said “Maybe I’ll stay a bit longer” :-)

I snorted, and I growled, and I flailed my arms.  I stomped.  At one point, after a narration setup by Beth Bounds, I said “Isn’t there anyone brave enough to fight me?”.  4 or 5 of the students’ arms shot up as volunteers, not waiting for the translation to Setswana.  The room erupted in laughter.

We spend the rest of the time doing craft activities with the kids.  It was tremendously rewarding.  The kids were so sincere.  Our hearts went out to them, even if we only had 90 minutes in their classroom.  Below are some of the pictures of our new friends.

PS. “Wofa” rhymes with “Sofa”. It means “Uncle”, and is a term of endearment. Friends here call each other “Wofa” when they are like a family member.

Also, tomorrow morning Emily and I head into the bush with our LandCruiser with a tent on top. We have 3 nights camping in the Moremi game preserve in the Okavango Delta.  Wikipedia can tell you more

I will try and set up the Satellite internet for some experiments, but can’t promise anything. If you don’t hear anything, don’t worry. Tech is fragile, LandCruisers are not.

-Pete