This fall, on a Tuesday evening, I watched as excited volunteers prepared for Schweitzer’s first English language class. They anxiously waited for whoever might walk through the door. We had no idea how many students would come, only that we wanted to serve our neighbors who were trying to make a life in a new country and in a new language. We rested in knowing that the presence of God surpasses all barriers, including language.
Our first students arrived, right on time—a group of men from Colombia. They were followed by a woman from Vietnam, apologizing for her “bad English,” though she understood far more than she believed. Soon after, two women and their small children from Honduras joined us. By the time we began, we had ten students divided among three classrooms, each with a story—each eager to learn.
We started with simple introductions, practicing phrases like “My name is…” and “I live in…” But
the class quickly became more than vocabulary drills. We had the opportunity to pray with students, give gifts of bilingual Bibles, and listen to their stories. As they spoke hesitantly, the whole group listened with patience and kindness. We heard over and over that there was something about this place. That they could feel something—a peace.
Toward the end of our semester, we had a party for the group of Colombian men who were returning home. We smiled as a facilitator worked hard to say goodbye in Spanish, laughed as we played games, celebrated small victories, and shared snacks. Each person received a handmade gift, a Schweitzer mug, and a bilingual Bible. Each man stood and made a speech about how grateful they were for the class and the special relationships they had made with their facilitators. The time went quickly, and we said our goodbyes and walked outside the building. I got in my car and, as I looked in my rearview mirror, I saw the four Colombian men with Bibles open in their hands, all intently examining the Scriptures.
Interested in joining us? We will begin a new semester of classes on January 13.