Lou Peters volunteered at a South Afrain school this summer. He helped students with their homework and said they helped him appreciate the important things in life. Submitted photo
EMILY SCHMITT KNIGHTLIFE EDITOR
A short-term missionary trip helped Lou Peters see how people appreciate the things that are most important in life.
After May Term, Peters flew to a small, rural school in South Africa. He spent the summer helping the students with their homework and learning from them as well.
“I’ve never taught any material before. Trying to teach a kid geometry when it just kind of comes and clicks for me, it’s difficult,” Peters, an engineering science major, said. “But they caught on so quick, they were so smart.”
While visiting his hometown earlier this year, Peters started talking with a girl at church and learned about the South African school. She is a long-term missionary who has taught there for ten years.
She suggested he volunteer there over the summer.
Peters considered the option and knew it was something he had to do.
“It had come down to the point where I needed to go somewhere, no matter where it was,” he said.
His family supported his decision and his dad helped him arrange the trip. His church was also helpful financially.
A friend from his hometown made the trip overseas with Peters. They arrived at Dayspring School, not quite sure what to expect.
Peters said he was under the impression they would be living in grass huts with no running water.
But he was surprised to see stone buildings equipped with running water and lights that were somewhat reliable.
“A mountain range sits right on the edge [of the schoolyard] so we could walk up the mountain whenever we wanted,” he said.
Dayspring rents property from a chicken farm, located in an isolated area of South Africa. It has a school building and several dorms. Nearly all the students live at Dayspring during the week and go home on weekends if possible.
One student lived more than five hours away, while a few were able to commute the few miles to school each day on a bike.
Dayspring, which educates about 60 students, relies entirely on donations so low-income children can attend the school at minimal cost. The eight teachers are volunteers. They receive monetary gifts when there is extra money.
“Most of the teachers live off what the school gives them from month to month,” he said. “It has to be like $30 or $40 a month. It’s impressive.”
Peters volunteered in a classroom with 20 students, ages 10 to 18. It was an English-speaking school, which Peters was thankful for.
Each student had their own textbooks and worked at their own pace, so he walked around the classroom and helped individuals with their homework as needed.
Peters said he was shocked at the simple life at the school. They didn’t have the distractions of computers, Internet, cell phones and television. Water was considered valuable and electricity wasn’t always reliable. The school owned one rickety car, although it was barely used.
Dayspring owned one soccer ball, one rugby ball and one old basketball. But Peters said students were satisfied with what they had. Soccer was the game of choice, and he spent many hours playing soccer games in the dirt.
“Their heart and their goals are set on the most basic things,” he said. “I was talking with these kids, and they don’t regret not having things. Of course they want to see America, they want to see what things are like.”
During his stay, Peters asked several students what their goals in life were.
“They just want to love someone and love God,” he said. “And from 6 years old to 18 years old, every one would say that the most important thing in the world is God.”
He said a relationship with God is the most important thing and was shocked to learn the students had figured out their need for God at such a young age. He said it took him nearly 20 years to understand.
As Peters’ stay neared its end, he had mixed feelings about leaving Dayspring. He learned so much about himself and life, he said, but was ready to see his family in Iowa.
In mid-August, Peters stepped off the plane and was swallowed by the humidity of the U.S. He had been used to the dry heat of South America and was shocked by the humidity at home.
“I’d like to go back, but there’s a lot more places to knock off my list,” he said.“It’s just way simpler, and just perfect,” he said.