In a final story that I will share about our preschool children, teacher Adriana told of participating in a planning meeting with Ana, the program coordinator. “I have just been told that we will be receiving a girl with Downs Syndrome. Are we prepared for this?”

Adriana said “We were all pretty scared. I prayed a two-part prayer: first, that I would not be assigned the child. Secondly, if I was, that God would prepare my heart to receive her.” Adriana had no experience with special needs children, and little desire to gain experience in the area. Later that day, looking at her list of students, her heart sank: Natila, the girl with Down’s Syndrome, was going to be in her class.

On Natila’s first day, Adriana was deeply affected when Natila’s mother handed her daughter over to her. When Adriana inquired about any special care, the mother just said “No, Natila is a very sweet girl. She will not give you any trouble.” It was as if the mother could not admit to herself or anybody else that her daughter had any special needs, seeing only a perfect little girl. (Later Adriana discovered that Natila’s real mother had abandoned her when she saw her condition, and this lady had taken Natila in as her own).

Over the next couple months, Adriana developed a growing fondness for Natila. She described how excited Natila gets over the smallest things, and of the special love and care Natila receives from her classmates, who even help her brush her teeth every day. When left alone, Natila sits and builds blocks by herself, and as it turns out, really is no trouble. When she gets mad at somebody, which is rare, Natila pouts “Bobinha. Bobinha.” which means “Fool. Fool.”

Now, Adriana says, her former apprehension has been replaced with a new fear: how empty her classroom will feel next year, when Natila moves on to be with the older children. Looking back, she now realizes who the true “Bobinha” was: she herself, for imagining that Natila was anything other than a perfect little child.

What impressed me the most in hearing all of the preschool staff sharing stories was how strong their faith is, and how much they depended upon the Lord in their daily routines. I have little doubt that their faith is planting seeds in the hearts of the children we serve. I like to imagine that at the end of every school day, we are sending 450 tiny little sparks out into the community….