Week 12 - Provision and Expectation
- Jan 26, 2018
- 4 min read
I think the precedent of the week was set within the first day – a day full of excitement and lots of plans unfolding for me, amongst true provision and expectation for what is to come in Jaffna for the school, the church and homes being built. I finally booked my flights to Dubai in April, where I will be reunited with my sister (who, I will admit am really missing!), and we will enjoy 5 days of pure relaxation and hanging together which will be so great. Dubai has always been somewhere I’ve wanted to visit, and with all my trips to Sri Lanka the last two years with layovers there, it seemed like the perfect place for us to meet, almost half-way between the countries and a tick on the bucket list.
Alongside this, the sports meet practice for the school sports day began, with Paalam International School and the local C. C. (Government) School, joining for the 4th year in a row, making the competition a bit more interesting. The students were split into their three houses, and given the opportunity to get to know their new team-mates. The C. C. School we have joined with is a particularly poor school, not only from funding from the government, but also the children which attend. The majority of students are from Hindu homes, and therefore would not be sent to where I am teaching - Paalam International School, as it is a Christian schooling system. The families of these children have enough money to get by on, and cannot afford to buy their children new school uniforms, school shoes and the learning resources they require. The Paalam Project are hoping to work again with School in a Bag, to provide much needed assistance to this school in the near future.
A team arrived also this week, who have been working in the church, doing lots of ministry and mission work, rather than specifically working in the school or on a building project. They seem to have had a great time with us, and all want to return another time, which would be fab. So many cool things happened whilst they were with us, including healings of the sick and the C. C. School children and teachers experiencing the Holy Spirit. Amazing stuff!
The students at Paalam International School did manage to spend some time with the team, and they ran an art lesson for the children, making crowns and using glitter, gems and colours to decorate them. Most importantly however, they came stocked up with mini Daim bars, perfect for a hungry Brit, craving normal chocolate! (The students also enjoyed them!).
This weekend we were treated by the team so a great Saturday church service, with an opportunity to spend some time afterwards with Esther and a few of the other children from school; we played games in the hall with the team, relaxed and then all headed our separate ways. I then tried my hand at hand-washing my clothes again, but Jaffna style. Unlike Colombo, where I was able to do it in the privacy of my bathroom, this time my washing was done in the middle of the dusty grounds where I am staying, with people coming and going none-stop. I even had a few people stop and give me advice. Kormatha decided to help me, which was a strange experience, and despite my pleads to allow me to do it alone, she refused. She has a great heart, and I am so fortunate to have someone who deeply cares for me, and enjoys spending time with me here in Jaffna.
Sunday – treat day. This is how it normally goes when teams are here. I am beginning to know the team patterns, and when to be around to share the excitement of these treats! Sunday was church, and then the real fun began – a trip to the beach AND the ice-cream parlour. What more could you want in the hot, sweltering heat of Sri Lanka? The beach trip was so much fun, and this time it was particularly special as I managed to share it with Esther, Janet and Reena as well as all the girls from the children’s home.
We have had plenty of meeting this week to discuss school, students and issues, which has been helpful for me as a teacher, and I think also Angel and Karen. As they have been in Jaffna this week with the team, it has been a good opportunity not only to catch up, and hang out, but also work together to begin to improve the school. I have fed back as much as I can to them, and I can only hope my insights are useful to them.
The end of this week marked my ONE MONTH anniversary of being in Jaffna. I honestly cannot believe how quickly time has flown, and how much fun I am having here. I’ve always known that Jaffna has a special place in my heart, and my life, but it would definitely be easy for me to stay here for longer than planned…
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