We visited a few schools concentrated on the inclusion of the peace idea throughout the school program. They are called peace schools and always had a signs of “Zone of Peace” or “Peace Zone”. People working there are devoted to the work they are doing and their true understanding of the involvement in those kids’ future lives as the missioners/planters of peace.
I found myself visiting school and its children which hundreds of running towards our group, excited, happy with big smiles. I felt frustrated at that moment in time and a little bit lost. I have never seen so many kids running into my direction to look at me and to talk to me. It turned out to be that they were shocked as well, one of the locals explained, saying they have never seen foreigners.
Today we visited another school; it was totally mind blowing and made my heart melt. As our group entered the schoolyard we became engulfed with children. There was almost a 1000 elementary school children dressed in their cute uniforms. Girls wore hijabs and some of the boys wore taqiyah on their heads. Then one of the teachers signaled to them and they started to sing a prayer song. After that followed one more song and an oral presentation by a few students on the stage. I had a strange feeling filling my heart, which made me smile. Then I began to feel a lump in my throat and I cried. Was I crying because of the words, because of the melody, because of the realization that wars and conflicts push children to face the reality without any preparation? Violence, something created by human beings. The resources of violence are different some were raised in violence and some raised violence in themselves. Violence is a blind, senseless, deaf monster devouring everything on its way. Just watching the children praying to God in asking to bring, not for their baby wishes to come true but for peace in Mindanao is heartbreaking.
