I Am Boxes

I was reading a women’s magazine some time ago and came across an article that stuck with me.  It was a story about a professional therapist that was doing research on displaced children of war in Africa.  Most of the children were completely abandon, and many were too traumatized to even speak.  She came up with the idea of taking old suitcases in various sizing and giving each child one.  Over time in her therapy sessions she would sit next to the children as they decorated the suitcases.  The suitcases became works of creativity and individuality that “told” the story of the child’s life through pictures, and personal art.  I thought this was a great idea and fabulous tool, but I knew there was much more to it.  I could not shake that there was something the Lord wanted to do with our local children through a project like this.  I committed a day to fast and listen, and by that night I had the whole picture. The Lord was no where in this story, nor was there any real healing other than self expression, and remembering tragic events.  I knew the Father wanted these children healed, whole and their identity redefined.  He showed me a picture of a simple wooden box, the outside of it to be decorated by the child as they told their story of what their life had been, their memories, and their pain….telling the story is the beginning of dispelling pain.  He reminded me of how much the children love to look at themselves in our digital camera, and even our car bumper…they are fascinated by their own reflection because they rarely get to see it.  It was then that I envisioned the boxes opening up, and on the inside of the lid would be a mirror.  Over the top of the mirror we will write their God-given SiSwati name and its meaning.  Underneath the mirror would be the life verse (that we prophetically listen for the Lord) to show us.  On the inside of the box we will place an age appropriate, language appropriate Bible.  The “I am boxes” will represent the individual stories, the truth of their lives, and the Identity given to them by the Lord, and the TRUTH of who they are called to be.  The idea is dispelling shame, healing, and speaking truth and life.  The children will also actually OWN something that is exclusively theirs to hold their minimal treasures, including their most important treasure, the Word of God.              

 ~ Lisa-Marie Black

 

Where & When?

Do to our current location in Nsoko and relationships with the children, we have not yet started to do the “I am boxes” with the children. A local businessman has offered to donate all of the wood for the boxes (he will even have all of the pieces cut and ready for us to assemble). We are going to have one of our co-workers in Swaziland to do the “I am boxes” with local high school girls that she has been working with over the last year first before we start doing the “I am boxes” with the children in Nsoko in early to mid 2008.