This week I have had the privilege of attending a course with 14 care workers from the rural community of Bushbuckridge. This particular training teaches care workers how to develop an intense level of trust with the child, how to recognize signs of abuse, as well as the importance of allowing a child to tell her story in her own way. This process centers almost entirely on building a relationship with a child and equips care workers with counselling tools. These tools enable them to walk a child through any sufferings or losses she has experienced which in turn helps her start recovering from the emotional wounds she has.
Each day I have been humbled and quieted by the stories told by the care workers. Stories of abuse, rejection, loss and pain. Some, their own stories and some, the stories of the children they care for. I am quieted because I can now see clearly how raw and real their wounds are; I am humbled because I know that everyday each one of these men and woman make the choice to walk the dusty roads of their communities and carry the burdens of hundreds of children on top of their own.
It is these men and woman who demonstrate what it really means to serve...they are the “beautiful feet who bring good news and proclaim peace.” How blessed I feel to learn from them each day; how honored I felt to kneel in front of them and wash their feet. And as I enter the last week of this course, I am both encouraged about the healing that is taking place in the hearts of the care workers and expectant of the healing that will take place in the hearts of the children they care for.
Each day I have been humbled and quieted by the stories told by the care workers. Stories of abuse, rejection, loss and pain. Some, their own stories and some, the stories of the children they care for. I am quieted because I can now see clearly how raw and real their wounds are; I am humbled because I know that everyday each one of these men and woman make the choice to walk the dusty roads of their communities and carry the burdens of hundreds of children on top of their own.
It is these men and woman who demonstrate what it really means to serve...they are the “beautiful feet who bring good news and proclaim peace.” How blessed I feel to learn from them each day; how honored I felt to kneel in front of them and wash their feet. And as I enter the last week of this course, I am both encouraged about the healing that is taking place in the hearts of the care workers and expectant of the healing that will take place in the hearts of the children they care for.
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