Ithemba

I’ve just recently started going with Nicita, one of the
Firehouse girls, to a place called Ithemba once a week. Our team went there once
before for family ministry and I loved it then, too. Ithemba is a special
school for kids in the township with disabilities. The kids are precious! A
large number of them have Down’s syndrome, several are in wheelchairs, and
others have additional physical disabilities. Some of them cannot speak, or
just speak with a grunt or a tug. A lot of the kids lack a lot of muscle
control and drool constantly.

The day starts off with morning assembly. They sing a few
songs and have a prayer before departing to their classrooms. They have grits
for breakfast, and then spend some time doing puzzles or legos. Today I played Memory
with a few of the kids and they did surprisingly well! They do drills and
lessons for part of the day, as well. Part of those drills includes brushing
teeth and washing up. I remember the first time we went as a team, the children
got into a line and started reciting the months of the year one by one. After
each one had recited them, they would applaud them. They did this all on their
own. There was no teacher to tell them to get in a line and start learning; she
just sat back and watched as we did!

Being with disabled children is a really spiritual
experience. I feel so close to Jesus when I am with them. They are so precious
and I can just feel the way Jesus must absolutely adore them. All I wanted to
do was sing over them. I was probably singing most of the day today. I was
reminded of Zephaniah 3:17 which says, “[the Lord your God] rejoices over you
with joyful songs.”

I always say that I have no maternal instinct and that I
probably won’t ever have kids, but these kids are so amazing. They are in need
of someone to help them do just about everything. They don’t care who you are;
all they want is devotion. I have always had a heart for the poor and the
helpless because I understand the heart of God when I look at them. His heart aches for them. I just know it! And I’ve
heard people ask why God would create people with disabilities, but you know
what? They are so perfect in His eyes. They are precious, beautiful, and
perfect. And maybe He created them so that we may feel closer to His heart.