And the shadows darkened the door...

By Jennifer Hinton

It sounds like the start to a good chapter in a suspense novel. Something dark and dreary is sure to happen but in this case each time the shadows darkened the door, there were hushed squeals of delight as small throngs of Vincentian children fought for viewing space of the mural that was coming alive on their library wall. Each time a class passed by for PE or there was a break time or lunch, faces would peer in through wire-covered windows or the library doorway to catch a glimpse of the progress on the artwork. Bert, one of the grade 6 students who loves art but often receives little praise in that area, drew most of the mural with Ashley, one of the Wesley Students. He has been granted permission to spend his Friday painting side-by-side with us, making his space theme creations come into a colorful view. I especially enjoyed watching Noah do a short video interview with Bert about his artwork and how and why he was chosen for the project. While he'd been quite reserved with me, he was proud to tell Noah he was a good artist and a capable choice for the job.

Honestly, I 've enjoyed watching my kids with the Vincentian kids immensely each day. One boy-only a year older and just as skinny, has decided Noah needs a "big brother." Another told me that he and Noah were "conducting business" the other night when they were discussing beautiful girls. Autumn has enjoyed the attention of a few of the quieter girls who like to read with her, and of one little boy who is at our campsite each evening nicknamed "Little Man" who will run circles and play board games with her.

Back to the library painting, which is serious business. Along with Bert's mural, I got a Vincentian flag on another wall and Co-Co bordered a door in Victorian curlicues. By the end of the day, after we had enjoyed a wonderful potluck luncheon from the teachers at Layou Government School, we could then clear all of the shelves and other furniture out of the room. Jay, Kimberly and Noah stayed to help three of our Vincentian friends--Tony, Gosnel and Joel--paint the floor. Our hope is that by Sunday we can have the floor dry so that we can touch up our paintings, replace the shelves and fill them with all of the books that the group has sorted by reading level, stacked, labeled and stamped. Sarah is going to have a group of grade 6 students manage the library and hopes they someday will have money for a computer and bar code system so student will have a more sophisticated (Dewey decimal) system for searching and checking out books.

What I really love about the new library space is that it is to be an encouraging space where each student is to be uplifted and respected. Sarah is hoping to make it a place where only positive reinforcement is utilized-- a safe haven for learning. As we've poured over the books that are about to go onto freshly painted shelves-- both the old classics that were there and the new paperbacks that were donated- we often gushed with delight about the joy reading has brought throughout our young lives. My school and hometown libraries brought me sanctuary and took me to exotic places like St. Vincent-- all within a mile of my home. I pray this library is both the sanctuary and exotic escape I loved-- for these children, I now love also.