This week, our trip is serving at SRVS Preschool, an inclusive preschool for children of all able-ness, and at Knowledge Quest, an after school program that serves the underprivileged kids of South Memphis.
1) Laughter is a universal language
Before we speak, we mumble, before we mumble, we laugh. We speak with our emotions before anything else. We cry and we smile and we frown and we laugh. Some people, never develop past communicating with emotions. They stay in that state, and for those who develop past them, it seems awkward to regress to communicate. However, I have two stories to share with you that might make that awkward wall a little more appealing to climb.
My first story begins with a little girl named Amari. She cannot speak, and it is difficult for her to move. She cannot see but five feet in front of her, and she hates loud noises when she cannot see what is making them. When our class went to the gym to play, she stayed in her stroller while the other kids played. She was soon forgotten and left with her thoughts and her five feet of vision. To a visitor, one might think that Amari isn't mentally there at all, and doesn't need attention at all. Luckily, Sophie knows better and came to the rescue. While Amari sat there, Sophie spoke to her. She talked to her about movies and about anything that came to her mind. Amari's smile spread all the way across her face. Whether she was laughing about what sophie said or she was just happy to have a friend, I personally don't know, but later that day when her daddy came to pick her up, the teachers told us to lock our gaze on Amari for "the show." Amari's dad walked in and said her name, and the amount of happiness that crept through her body can only be described as bliss. The love and laughter we all shared in that moment was enough to give me goose bumps.
My second story is about a boy named Liam. This little boy who has Down syndrome has such a sweet heart. I was lucky enough to witness a intimate moment between Hannah and Liam speaking to each other in sign language. Liam has a hard time communicating what he needs sometimes, but he knows a few signs to express certain words. Hannah took a sign language class, and when she signed to Liam, his eyes lit up, they signed about cats and birds and shoes. He laughed and clapped and would nudge Hannah when she looked away. She then played head, shoulders, knees and toes with him so many times. At first it looked like he didn't even care, but then you could hear his voice going along with her and could see his hands mirroring hers. He laughed so hard and smiled so big that my heart smiled bigger than ever. He leaned in and clutched onto Hannah so hard with the biggest hug and wouldn't let go. I like to think that was him thanking her for being patient and treating him like any other child by fighting those communication barriers. Laughing is a universal language.
2) Everyone fights a unique battle
The two sites we served at where vastly different. All of the children had various needs and different backgrounds. At Knowledge Quest, the children's socioeconomic status is incredibly low. They are high risk kids who need a safe place to go after school. Some walk home, some don't get dinner, some get straight A's and some are very sassy. At SRVS Preschool, the kid's levels of able-ness varies all across the spectrum. From autism to down syndrome to speech delays to no delays, these children where each so different. They all came from different places and faced different struggles, but all communicated and needed one thing. Love. Love was needed for those who had trouble communicating to know you care. Love was needed to know that life gets better. Love was needed to plug ears for bullies and open up to self love. Love was needed to share experiences and find passion. And that really puts it in perspective, doesn't it? Everyone comes from somewhere different. We all experience different things and perceive moments differently, but we all respond to love.
3) Service brings people together
On day 1, we each hopped into a car with people we'd only previously spent a couple of hours with. Here we are on day 5, each of us knowing that we now have 9 new, incredible friends. You might be wondering how this could occur so quickly with a group of 10 diverse women. Well, the equation goes as follows: sleep deprivation + excessive consumption of caffeinated beverages + card games = 10 slap happy, service-loving friends. Together we shared 1 big room, cooked nightly meals, explored a foreign city and shared the common experiences at our 2 sites, which has allowed us to bond in ways we never could've imagined. Although we'll arrive back in Columbia on Saturday and return to life as usual, we know these friendships and memories will last a lifetime.
4) Don't forget to dance
In the past two days, a few of us have learned some new dance moves. The nay-nay and the whip among them. None of us identify as good dancers, but the sixth graders teaching us a routine, and the second graders teaching us moves spoke the language of dance. They glided from move to move and created rhythm that inspired us to join. We moved out of our comfort zone to join in. When we did, we created bonds, connections and smiles on both sides. Cultural barriers were nonexistent; stereotypes folded to the pressure. They laughed at us, and we laughed along feeling comfortable as a minority. We learned dance moves before names and shared smiles before stories. We danced like no one was watching, and we were seen in our truest form.
5) It only takes a little bit of time to make a big impact
From about 3:30 in the afternoon until 6 pm we spend our time at KnowledgeQuest working, playing, and learning with the youth of South Memphis. We have come to realize that in this short amount of time it is difficult to get to know all of the children, especially since we've also been rotating between 3 different locations. However, the children that we have been able to interact with have made profound impacts in our hearts, and we hope that we have reached them to that extent as well. Whether it's been playing basketball with them, dancing, or helping with homework, we've strived to give them the one-on-one attention and love that they might not usually receive. Spending time with these children has challenged us to view hardships from their perspective and embrace diversity. Although at 3:30 we were all strangers to each other, by 6 O'Clock it was evident on both ends that a vital impact had been made.
That's all for now, until next time,
XOXO, MAB Memphis 2
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