HEY, COME FOR COFFEE!

This morning I had what will probably be our last brunch with the women I have tutored in English over the last three years.  While we were eating, I came up with a variety of topics that would generate conversation among us.  We talked about what they miss most about the countries they call home, and what they like about the US that they might like to take back with them if they could.  We talked about summer plans and what they had been doing since we last met.  But what I most wanted to hear from them was this: How has English tutoring helped you?   

It was so encouraging to hear things like:

·       I’m more confident to speak English with Americans

·       I want to keep on learning so that I get even better at speaking English

But the best comments of ALL were these:

·       Studying ESL made it possible for me to visit an American home for the very first time!

·       Being in your home, I learned about American people and culture.

·       You always cared about us.

I don’t know what my fellow tutors do, but right from the start I wanted to share more than just English with these women.

In the book of 1 Thessalonians in the Bible, chapter 2, the Apostle Paul talks about his love for the Thessalonians and he says this in verse 8:

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you have become so dear to us.” 

That’s what I wanted for my ESL students.  I wanted to share my knowledge of English, and American customs and culture, but I wanted more than that, I wanted to share myself with them and maybe be able to communicate to them how much God Himself loves them.  And so, I invited them into my home.

Most of the time we met in the public library which sponsors the ESL program and connects volunteer tutors with students desiring to improve their communication in English.  Since our town is in a suburb of New York City we get people from many different nations settling here due to job opportunities in the city.  

In our “official” ESL classes at the library, we read and discussed articles from Easy English News and then began to read a book together called, “Seedfolks”, which generated lots of conversation. I loved meeting with them every week, but my favorite times – and theirs too - happened about every six weeks or so, during the brunches at my home.

It was not difficult to host them.  I set a simple table and they volunteered to bring food!  I made my own contribution of waffles or muffins or a cake and I’d put on the coffee and we’d share food and conversation.  I didn’t teach them grammar (most of them probably know correct English grammar better than I do!), we just talked.

Sometimes I would host them around a holiday, or celebration unique to American culture.  So we met before Christmas and Thanksgiving to talk about traditions; how to make a juicy turkey and what went with it; how to set a Thanksgiving table; what to eat for St. Patrick’s Day; how to celebrate the 4^th of July with its parades, fireworks and barbeques. 

Most of the time they just responded to conversation starters, like:

·       What have you been doing since we met last?

·       How did you meet your husband?

·       What kind of food do you like?

·       How do you celebrate birthdays in your country?

·       Tell me about your children.

·       What was your favorite subject in school?

·       What’s the hardest thing about being a mom?

·       Where did you go on your honeymoon?

·       What is your favorite place to vacation?

It was those times at my home that forged more than tutor/student; student/student relationships.  They became friends – with me and with one another.  So it was that today it was talking about the impact of coming to my home that started the tears flowing.

So, maybe you’re thinking, “how heartwarming”.  I didn't write this to warm your heart!  I have a purpose in sharing it.  Within the next few months I’m moving to Florida.  But YOU, my friends here in northern New Jersey, are probably not!  Women like the ones I tutor undoubtedly live right next door to you, or down the street.  They may be the moms of your kids’ friends, or teammates.  And they are DYING for American friends!   

Maybe you think, well, there are so many people from (fill in the blank with the nationality living in your area) who live here, they can have plenty of friends who speak the same language.  That’s true, and it’s great when they can have friends from their home country, but they don’t just want to befriend the people they can mingle with back home – they want to be friends with Americans too! 

And what about those folks who come here and find few other immigrants from back home?  Where will they find friends?  Whether or not those living here from other countries have people from home to befriend them, they would love it if YOU, my American friends, made a move toward them in friendship.  They would love to be invited to a barbeque for the 4^th, or over for a birthday party, or a holiday celebration. 

And what about us Christians?  As a tutor under the auspices of the library’s ESL program, I didn’t feel it was my place to share about Jesus, but today, since we met in a home and it was my last day as an ESL tutor, I did share about how much Jesus loves them.  I shared that because Jesus lives in me, the love they felt from me was Him, loving them through me.  I don’t know how much of what I said they understood, but I know they knew that I loved them.  And maybe one day, they’ll make the connection that Jesus DID love them through me and they will want to know Him too.

I’m leaving this area, but YOU probably are not.  Let me encourage you to ask the Lord to help you identify one family from some other nation that you can invest yourself in and with whom you can share the love of Jesus for them.

You will NEVER, EVER regret the time invested in the lives of the wonderful people living among us!  You will be blessed far more than you will bless.