Why Bulembu?
- Just a Teacher
- Jun 9, 2023
- 3 min read
As we sit in the lovely Atlanta Airport waiting to board our 15 hour flight, I feel the need for a story.
So, here we go.
In 2009, Maurice and I were visiting churches after moving to Richmond. This particular Sunday, we found ourselves at Westland Baptist. They had a group that was about to leave on a mission trip to some tiny country in Africa. That's nice, but no thank you. There are lions and jaguars in Africa and I don't run that fast. Welp, then they shared what they would be doing. They shared the story of this little mountain community on the other side of the world whose one and only purpose was to raise and support children who, by no fault or choice of their own,found themselves alone. I looked at Maurice, tears in my eyes, and he knew (even if I did not) that I would be making that trip sometime in the future.
Two years later, I was part of a startup church with some of the individuals that went on that trip in 2009. I needed to go. My heart has always been led to the child no one sees. The hot mess kiddo that drives everyone nuts. I used to be that kid you see.
God has a sense of humor my friends. I DO NOT like to fly. I did not have a passport. The entire content of Africa scared me because to me it was one big Lion King movie. And I am an introvert. And I am allergic to paint fumes and most of what the groups do there is work projects. But God.
I did a lot of praying and it became very clear that I needed to make this trip without the security of Maurice beside me.
Flash forward and I am in Bulembu. I am going to be honest, I felt like an outlier in the group. Comes with the introvert territory. I prayed and prayed. I kept tellin God, "I am just a teacher. I do not have a crafty bone in my body. I am allergic to paint. Do you realize you brought me here to fail???"
And God said, as he always does. " Woman! Will you just wait? I know what I am doing?!?!" (Okay, I may be paraphrasing, but anyway). And he did.
On Monday morning our group was on a tour of the town. Part of the school was the Primary school (similar to our elementary). I peered into the window of a 4th grade classroom and thought, "Now God, this I could do. These are my people." (I had just finished my first year as a 4th grade teacher. I thought I was all that and a bag of chips. Ha!). One of the group leader's wife was next to me and I told her I really wish I could work at the school. Well, that sweet lady slipped off and before I knew it the tour had continued and I was standing in that 4th grade classroom with one of the most amazing teachers I have ever had the privilege to coteach with, Mrs. Masuku. Those amazing boys and girls were just like my kids at home. Smart, stubborn, naughty, talented, just...kids.
I have been blessed to go back many times and serve in that same school however they need me.
God puts us in situations that make no sense and seem all wrong. And yet... And yet He always has a plan and I am so blessed that He haS allowed me to be a part of the Bulembu plan.
Side note: That first year I did tell the kids that I thought a lion was going to chase me off of the plane. They thought that was HILARIOUS!
To learn more about the amazing town and mission of Bulembu, Eswatini, please visit:
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