As I drove home from church this week my mind was anywhere but on the road. It was one of those drives when you don't remember how you got where ever you were going, but you're thankful nonetheless, that you got there safely. My mind had drifted about 9,000 miles Southeast, to a tiny house filled to the brim with love. In that house lives some of the most precious people I've ever met in my life. People I had the privilege of knowing, loving, teaching, and serving over this past year. Family. They are refugees living in Uganda who do not (yet) know the Lord and are at risk of losing their lives if they choose to do so.
When I returned to Uganda in January of 2011, I was given the opportunity to teach English as a Second Language at the Centre of Hope, a center for refugees run by Refuge and Hope International. I'm good friends with the co-directors of Refuge and Hope and I love what their ministry focuses on, so it was a no-brainer for me to agree to work with them. I started off by teaching a reading and writing class... which I had never done before. Sure I was a 6th grade teacher for a year, and yes, I teach Bible lessons all the time, but ESL is completely different.
Have you ever taken a foreign language class? When I think about taking Spanish in high school I remember the teacher speaking A LOT of English. The book we worked out of was as much, if not more English than Spanish. Imagine trying to learn a language from a teacher who doesn't know a word of your native tongue. Not much help can be given if there's a misunderstanding. Sure, full immersion is a great way to learn a language, but it is NOT easy. Also, English is a very difficult language to learn! Grammatically it's confusing and often times doesn't follow it's own rules. Plus, some letters make more than one sound and the rules surrounding that craziness don't always make sense either. I could see a student getting frustrated very easily with English.
As I got into the classroom and became aware of the needs of the individual students I knew that it would not be easy to address those needs individually. Many were there taking every English class available, yet hardly understanding a word. Others had fairly good listening and speaking skills, but when it came to reading and writing they were lost. I quickly learned that my role wasn't just teacher though... it was friend and counselor as well.
The students had numerous opportunities through different assignments to share their stories with me. Some shared with the class, others only wrote them. From the broken English I was able to gather much of what they had gone through in their lives. Many of them have been separated from their families because of war in their home countries. A return to their homes is not likely to occur any time soon, a fact of which they are well aware. As I read through stories and had conversations with the refugees, many relationships were built. There's a trust that happens and is built by love and time spent.
In February of 2011, Refuge and Hope was looking to start a weekly worship service for the students to attend. I volunteered to help get that started. We did worship, gave a message, and prayed. With students from many different cultures and beliefs, attending worship was encouraged, but never required. After a few weeks we had a fairly steady group of about 20 people attending, many of whom were not believers. Praise the Lord! Throughout the year we changed the format a bit, but it still remains a place where people who are seeking can go and learn. It has been amazing to see God move and stir hearts of those same students I taught English to each week. What started as a volunteer teaching job became a ministry greater than I could have ever predicted.
Outside of the Centre of Hope we met for a sports class. I hung with the ladies and we worked on basketball and volleyball skills. Many of the sports students were those same students who sat in my classroom and attended weekly worship. One day, during a silly game of volleyball one of my students (we'll call her Sandy for her protection) collapsed in immense pain. As she laid there crying I held her hand and did my best to communicate with the others to try and figure out what was going on. I gathered from her family members that this was a common occurrence and she'd be fine in a few minutes. A few of them shrugged it off, but a few looked very concerned. Volleyball ended right then and there and I asked her if I could take her back to the Centre of Hope.
With a couple of her sisters and a friend, Sandy and I left the sports field and went back to the Centre. One of Sandy's friends speaks very good English and was able to translate for me. After hearing more of the symptoms, I made the decision to take Sandy to the clinic. After she got permission from her mom and I let Refuge and Hope know, we were on our way to the clinic. American culture dictates that we see a doctor if we sneeze too many times... in Sandy's culture doctors are not visited very frequently and there are specific stipulations that go along with a doctor's visit. Not to mention that going to the doctor means needing money, but when you have 15 brothers and sisters that money needs to go towards food.
We spent about 4 hours at the clinic that day... many tests were run on one very nervous and uncomfortable Sandy. I held her hand, wiped her tears, and prayed over her during that long 4 hour stay at the clinic. My ministry account (thanks to awesome supporters) was able to pay for the visit and the medicine. Sandy had been suffering for a long time, months and months in fact. Her diagnosis could have eventually led to something much more serious, but thankfully the medicine worked and she is pain free.
Thanks to Refuge and Hope, an opportunity to teach turned into an opportunity to share Truth, build a strong, trusting relationship, and even cure an ailment that could have turned to something life threatening. Sandy is healthy and she holds a very special place in my heart. The day before I left Uganda I spent time with Sandy and her family. I had been to their house many times and always very much loved my time spent there. I was well accepted into their family, highly honored to be one of many daughters. Leaving that home that day, saying goodbye to my family, not knowing when and if I'd ever see them again was one of the hardest things I've ever done. We exchanged gifts that will eventually fade away. We laughed. We shed MANY tears. My continued prayer is that -- despite the challenges that could lay ahead for Sandy and her family if they choose become believers -- they would boldly approach the throne of grace and surrender their lives. I look forward to the day when I receive the news of my brothers and sisters choosing eternity... and I look forward to dancing in heaven along side them forever.
The stories like the one I've shared about Sandy are countless as a result of the ministries that God has given Refuge and Hope International. I love Sandy and my life has been changed by the opportunity to serve her and her family. This Valentine's Day would you consider making a $14 monthly donation to Refuge and Hope International on behalf of your Valentine or someone that you love? Any donation made helps keep Refuge and Hope ministries like the Centre of Hope up and running so that we can continue to see the Kingdom being forwarded and lives changed. $14 a month will change a student's life this year. I'm excited to report back to you and share with you how God has changed a life because YOU said "yes" to Him.
Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Refuge and Hope International and to check out the other ministries of this fantastic organization.
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