Paper Airplane Prayers

 
Today was beautifully full. I woke up to a warm Nairobi morning and headed with Jennie into the school to attempt to teach around 50 kids for an hour and a half about the Bible. Initially we didn’t know what to do but after deciding to wing it and pray we started off with a prayer and then gave the kids a chance to ask us questions about the Bible…instead of presenting stories and lessons to them. We wanted to know where they were at. What followed was a beautiful time of questions ranging from Jesus’s ancestors to the cause of HIV/ AIDS and Heaven. I was challenged by their questions and refreshed by their honesty. When was the last time I actually thought about those big questions of life…or looked close enough at the text to want to know the meaning of Moses’ name, the number of miracles Jesus performed, or contemplated what integrity looks like? I was humbled by their curiosity and willingness to ask.

After that time was break and the area around the school filled with shrieks of laughter, thundering footsteps, and balls made of bags filled with dirt and rocks and layered in plastic bags flew through the air. Yesterday I taught class 4 how to make paper airplanes so there were a few lying around the school and they quickly added to the chaos of play. One other part of the daily life at the school is the numerous children from Kibera who hang around and play in the dirt with anything they find lying around because they don’t go to school or because they are already on the short winter break. Today was no exception, as my kids played and threw airplanes the others looked on longingly. As I refolded old and made new airplanes I couldn’t help but notice the group of boys shyly looking over, attempting to fold old newspaper into an airplane, and their embarrassed smiles when we made eye contact. I shared the fact that I wanted to make airplanes for those boys too with the line of students waiting  for repaired or new planes, and several generous kids gave their own paper so I could make more for the boys. Walking with a fistful of planes I wasn’t sure what to say (especially since I speak kidogo Swahili) but all it took was a smile and the gesture of throwing it for the boys to smile, mutter thank you or asante sana. I looked on as they tested out the planes and giggled with joy.

Paper airplanes. They seemed so insignificant, like such a small thing. But nothing is inconsequential—these little gestures are bridges. They are a miniscule way of mirroring Jesus’ gift, of showing love.  Just like Jesus I want these kids to come to me that they might somehow see Him, and come to Him. Eventually the planes needed refolding and as they chattered in Swahili and looked on, a few attempting to follow my folding, I realized that this is significant because it is a symbol for me and brings tangible joy to them.  I recalled how a friend back home makes planes out of receipts and writes verses on them and leaves them at restaurants. Similarly these paper planes are a way of ministering for me. I cannot feed all these hungry children around me, I cannot replace their tattered clothes or mend their broken homes…but I can pray to the One who hears the cries of the poor and Saves them (Psalm 34:6).  So tonight, I am thinking of my “paper airplane boys” and lifting them up in prayer. That they may know Jesus- who is the bread of life, clothes us in righteousness, and is our Perfect Father.

Friday Jennie and I head to visit some friends at a ministry for orphans…it’s going to be an awesome weekend in Maasai country celebrating the birthdays of all of the kiddos at the school/orphanage in one big party. I can’t wait to see another part of Kenya!