Chitikatira Primary School is adjacent to the Chitikatira United Methodist Church. We had brought a variety of gifts to present to the school, including soccer balls, candy, pencils, and other school supplies.
We pulled in around 9:00 am, and we made our way to the Headmaster's office. Her name was Mrs. Madzima, and I was glad to be there as a guest and not for any disciplinary purposes! She looked like the kind of school administrator who would not put up with nonsense of any kind!
Before too long, the time came for the children to be called together. With the
rapid rhythm of a beating drum, children began to emerge from their classroom buildings. They came in an orderly yet excited manner. This was clearly going to be a special morning.
There were dozens of them. There were hundreds of them. In fact, there were more than 1,200 of them!
They gathered on the assembly ground in front of a concrete platform where the teachers, staff, and other guests--including our VIM Team--were seated. There was a speech by the Headmaster and then a traditional dance done by several of the children. It was energetic, vigorous, and athletic. Each member of the VIM Team was invited to speak, beginning with Kennedy Mukwindidza.
After the speeches came presentation of the gifts and school supplies. They were displayed for all to see, and pictures were taken. Then, all the items were returned to the Headmaster's office for distribution later.
The excitment continued at a high level, with the singing of songs. Then Don Corwin, one of our team members, plunged into the crowd and began to greet children. There was a surge toward him, and I decided to provide some relief by going into the crowd myself.
Children surged toward me, reaching out their hands, greeting me, waving at me, giving me "high fives." There were easily dozens, although I'm not sure about hundreds!
Eventually I looked up to see Don Corwin waving good-bye to the children. Then the surge toward me increased. I thought for a while that I could continue greeting children while making my way through the crowd. However, the surge continued, and I eventually lost my balance and down I went!
I managed to avoid falling on any of the children. About then, a teacher came to my rescue. "You can't greet all of them," she said, as she escorted me through the remaining children.
It was a remarkable way to begin the week--with children, children seemingly everywhere!
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