The One About ESL
It has been a wonderfully full 2 months! I’ve been teaching weekly classes at our ESL program, and have been surprised by how much I’m enjoying it and how positive the response has been from the students. In this beginner level, the age ranges from 4 ½ to 50 years old, people coming from Syria, Iran, and Palestine, and no two weeks look the same in terms of attendance. The constant change is comical but the students are eager, the challenge is fun for all of us, and the relationships being built are precious. As the weeks progressed, I recalled a completely forgotten childhood memory - my… Read more >>
Opening Doors
The end of August marks my 6th month and saw my first VBS here! It was 5 days of over 100 refugee kids and their moms being loved on and having truth demonstrated through crafts, games, lessons, skits, worship and lunch. I got the immensely rewarding job of co-leading worship. All in the native language, tons of hand-motions, and lots of smiles as I saw not only kids but moms joining in – covered women clapping and singing lyrics like “Jesus is Lord” and dancing along as we shouted that He lives, loves, saves, and is coming back. Explanation for the picture: During VBS, there were… Read more >>The First Month
It's been a month! In the best of ways, I feel like that’s an impossibility. So much has happened; but I guess that’s the way it goes when moving to your new home involves crossing continents. Overall impression from March: "stunned with gratitude". Great teammates and team leaders, fast housing set up, blessings as I start the harrowing adventure of language learning, and an overall smooth transition have blown away fears and expectations alike. It’s not always a flowery walk in the park (though we did have one of those), but this month has seen countless blessings and I’m so thankful… Read more >>Showcasing
There’s a prayer I’ve uttered many times in my life, sometimes more heartfelt than others. “Lord, use my life for your glory.” I’ve been learning that often, God answers that kind of prayer by putting us in situations where we are completely out of our depth. Sometimes it’s a slow wade into the “big kid’s” side of the pool, sometimes it’s a quick cannonball into shockingly cold waters. But it’s there - in that place of sink or swim and it’s totally dependent on God - when He pulls through. It’s more than just pulling through, though. It’s a magnificent sweep when God plays His hand,… Read more >>