Someone Special to Me

Pang and me during the summer we met in 2008.

"Can you correct these for me?"  Pang asked as she handed me a paper.
"Sure. I'd be happy to."

Correcting students' practice English writing is nothing new, especially in exam season.  What I didn't expect in correcting this paper, was to be reading about myself.

Someone Special to Me
Julia, who is from U.S.A is my special friend.  She is around 25 years old.  She is pretty with her oval face pointed nose and her eyes are brown.  In addition,  her personality is friendly humble, casual and fun to be with.  She is study Thai Language, and right now she can speaking read write and understand Thai Language and Thai culture very well.  Fulthermore, she is pay attention with anybody who is around her.  Usually she and I we are spend time together by go to noodles restaurant place.  And sometime we go to night market.  While she always help me with my English homework.  She is very kind woman and she is very special of me.

There's plenty to correct, but Pang clearly communicated her point this week, and it made me feel special. :)

God's Schedule

"I ran quickly."

"I run quickly."
"I will run quickly."

"I took out the trash." 

"I take out the trash."
"I will take out the trash."

"They borrowed the car."

"They borrow the car."
"They will borrow the car."

English tutoring was going on as usual when Ben walked in. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but can anyone translate for me?  I would like to pray for my friend who is visiting." 

Kwa, the student I was tutoring, just looked at him.  Then he asked her, "Do you speak English and Thai?"
"Yes." She responded.
"Can you translate for me?"
"Okay."

We quickly finished our lesson, and I double checked with Kwa.  "It's okay if you translate?" 
"Yes." She replied.

When we joined Ben and his friend, he explained that he has been studying the Bible.  We chatted for a while using all of our combined English and Thai, and somehow communicating most of what we wanted to say. 

The whole time, Kwa visited, listened, and seemed to enjoy herself.  

That's when I laughed at myself.  So often I want to control situations to keep them comfortable for everyone.  But when I step back and trust God to take care of the situation, I am often surprised.  

Kwa is a Buddhist.  If I had gone with my first instinct, I would have discouraged her joining the conversation as the translator.  But on second thought, I figured it couldn't hurt anything, if she was willing.  

So much of ministry is living life with people, living a life for God and allowing others to observe and be involved.  Some of our students still consider themselves Buddhists, but am encouraged when I see them joining us in worship, prayer, inviting others to hangout, and saying, "I thank God for..."  

Is God working in these students' lives?  Most definitely. 

  

Later that day, Kwa joined us to bake brownies.  That lead N to teaching us how to make butter cake.  Having left over eggs and being hungry for "real food," we made omelets and rice.  Late in the afternoon, Kwa said she had to go home.  A two-hour, tutoring session turned into a day of spending time together, just what I love to do. 

Not Just "Doing Ministry"

 After School Tutoring Kids

After many months of:

• Tutoring kids after school three days a week
• Cooking dinner for the kids three days a week
• Giving small gifts to teachers every holiday
• Helping at school events
• Volunteering for field day
• Teaching ESL classes
• Picking up kids for church each week
• Meeting with parents
• Providing teacher breakfasts on occasion
• Sponsoring special classroom projects
• And giving time in numerous other behind the scenes ways...

In one day, God reveals how he has been working in many hearts:

•  "So what do you guys believe?" asked a teacher at the school.
• Two of the girls from tutoring that I pick up for church each week said they want to know Jesus personally.

Sometimes I wonder if all the time spent "doing ministry" makes a difference.  And then God reminds me what it's all really about--testifying of Christ through our words and our life so that people come to know our beautiful Lord and Savior.

The After School Tutoring Whirlwind

3:45-We arrive at Ruthie’s house to begin setting up for after school tutoring. Tables, chairs, and jars of pencils must be placed in the living room and extra bedroom.
3:50-Small hands bang on the front door of the apartment. “10 more minutes!” Ruthie yells.
4:00-The doors are opened and kids run inside, each getting a squirt of hand sanitizer before they get too far.
4:05-Kids from 3 to 12 years old work on homework. The little guys and anyone who finishes early draw on colored paper with crayons (at least that’s what they are supposed to do…however, it’s more common to see the kids running from room to room chasing each other, singing songs at the top of their lungs, or fighting over who gets to use the glitter glue.) Between 2 and 5 adults help with homework and try to keep the kids from destroying the house.
4:10-I begin dinner: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese, 3 cans of roast beef, 3 cans of mixed veggies will be combined to make a hot meal for the kids.
4:20-Tino and Lizet help pass out fruit snacks and cups of juice.
4:45-We start encouraging kids to clean up and find a seat for dinner.
4:50-Dinner is served. The older kids help pass out bowls of food and refills of juice.
5:15-All the dirty bowls and forks are in the sink and the kids gather, sitting on the floor in the living room, to hear a Bible story.
5:30-Ms. Paula leads the children in some songs with hand motions about the love of God and how he knows each of us by name.
5:40-The kids work on an art project, today they are painting small piggy banks.
5:55-Everyone begins to clean up, gather homework, jackets, and art projects to take home.
6:00-"Goodbye!"  Some kids walk home, others get picked up by Mom.
6:05-Visit with Moms for a few minutes and help the stragglers get out the door.
6:10-We clean up the house.  Ian and Ruthie live here, so we put away the art supplies, vacuum, wipe off and put away the tables and chairs, load the dishwasher with all the dishes from dinner, and take out the trash.
6:30-The house looking respectable again, we head out the door, "See you tomorrow!"

Can we come to church with you?

"Can we come to church with you, Ruthie....pleeeaaassseee???"

Susan and Estray had been asking Ruthie the same question every day during after school tutoring for a couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, space in Ruthie's car had prohibited them from getting a ride.  With my vehicle now included in the carpool caravan, there would be enough space for the girls to come too.

After tutoring one day my roommates and I walked Susan and Estray home to meet their mother, Lila.  With Susan translating for us, we inquired if we could pick up the girls and take them to church on Sunday.  Smiles formed on the girls' faces as Lila responded affirmatively in Spanish.  Dark brown pigtails began flying in the air as the sisters clapped their hands and jumped up and down in excitement.

I am looking forward to getting to know Susan, Estray, and their parents better through this opportunity.  My prayer is that Jesus would become real in their hearts.  And that even at a young age (5th and 3rd grade), the girls would understand the truths of the gospel, and Christ would begin to transform their lives.

 

Susan, Estray, and me in front of Open Table Community Church

Unexpected Opportunity

Trusan dropped off her two children at the upstairs room of the apartment leasing office, also known as the after school tutoring program. As the kids began getting their homework out of their backpacks, Trusan lingered. My roommates began helping the kids, and I looked toward their mom. She hesitated, then said, “I need to fill out a job application.” “I would love to help you.” I responded, and it was the truth. This was the first time Trusan and I met, but what better way to get to know someone than by learning about their life?

We sat down at one of the computers along the side of the tutoring room. Trusan’s bronze skin and dark wavy hair glowed in front of the screen. For the next 3 hours I had the privilege of learning about Trusan’s life. Learning she came to Atlanta as a refugee from Afghanistan, although she was born in Iran. Learning she has lived in the United States about two years and recently got laid off from her first job here. Trusan went to a university in Turkmenistan. (She graciously had to show me on a globe where that is located.) With a masters degree in biology and an emphasis in anatomy, we were filling out an application to a clothing store. Her daughter is in third grade and her son in first grade. She is very grateful they can come to the tutoring program and wants them to excel in school.

It is amazing how easily the Lord expands our heart to love someone. It is incredible how much you can learn about someone in a few hours if you just take the time to ask and listen. This week I am looking forward to getting to know Trusan and her children even more and sharing the love of Christ with them.