Driving to Umlazi, I pulled down my sun visor & opened my mirror to pop on my lipstick. I did a double take & focused on my pearl earrings. I said out load to myself, “Oh Daniyel, what were you thinking? Wearing pearls in Umlazi? Somehow it just didn’t seem appropriate. My mind started running away with me & I suddenly realized they were very appropriate which inspired me on so many levels. (Continue reading to find out why)…
Today was the day we were rolling out a vision, Project 1 at the Mason Lincoln Special School for the physically challenged learners. We received so many donated clothes from the Style Me “Spring Clean your Life” high tea fundraiser for COPT that we decided to do two projects.
Project 1: A COPT Shop where the physically challenged children could “buy” 3 items of clothing with coupons. It was such a treat for them as many of them only own one jersey.
Project 2: Starting up Small Businesses for underprivileged women (still to come).
So you ask, why Pearls Daniyel?
These children have been through so much…maybe the irritation of not being understood, maybe its the irritation of a learning disability or legs that just dont work. Yet, after spending a day with them you can see they have hearts of gold, or could it be “pearl”? Precious hearts that you and I with all the money in the world would not come close to. Like the young man who chose clothing for his grandmother instead of himself. (Selfless). Like the little boy who could take 3 items but only chose one. Like the mentally challenged little girl looking after her friend in a wheel chair and helping her get items for her friend rather than herself. These are all characteristics of a “great price”… a pearl of great price. There is so much we can learn from these children.
This school is a pearl, a gem, in a township where you would think nothing special could be found. Could we also be seen as bringing pearls of “great price” in the form of clothing to these children? It was as if they had found a gem or a pearl when they had found an item which they loved.
“In order to protect itself from irritation, the oyster will quickly begin covering the uninvited visitor with layers of nacre – the mineral substance that fashions the mollusk a shells.Layer upon layer of nacre, also known as mother-of pearl, coat the grain of sand until the iridescent gem is formed.” – Live Science
