From Sister Clémentine Mukampabuka in Oran, Algeria
In my catechism class, there are around twenty children, aged 6 to 12. For the most part, these are children born in Algeria to parents in an irregular migration situation. For catechism, the most advanced join the youngest to form a single class.
During a session, I offer them the opportunity to pray out loud. One of the prayers caught my attention:
Lord, I ask you to release my dad from prison and give him a lot of money to come home to us!”
A concrete prayer: I recognized this child. He is only 7 years old. He was born in Algeria to a Nigerian and a Cameroonian.
I ask myself
Where is home for him?”
I visited his father in prison. I can list many things that I recognize; whatever, the Lord knows him. He answers our prayers, especially those of the little ones.
One day, in the same class, I gave a session on the call of Samuel—a biblical story that always fascinates the little ones. On this occasion, we learned the song: “Here am I, Lord, like a child.”
The following week my program had to be modified following questions, including this one:
Sister, what happens if I refuse to do what God wants?”
Inspiration was then given to me and I told them the story of Jonah. The entertainment and attraction were so great that the following lesson was not difficulty to prepare: we viewed the story of Jonas, told to the children, in a YouTube video. A wonder!
The children themselves found the answer to their question:
We are free to give a response to God’s call.
He always manages to get his message across. But will we wait until we are in the belly of the whale to obey it or, following the example of little Samuel, we always say:
Here I am. Speak, Lord, your servant is listening!”
It is always a joy to share the Word of God with little ones. Let us sow without counting. He goes before us into Galilee!
