Love Our Only World

Mar 15th Lessons, Friendship, and Prayer

How much fun can learning English be?  Hiya and I are finding out!

A few examples from our most recent lesson:

“Put the old woman in the teacup.”

“Put the elephant in your ear.”

“Put the baby on the old man’s head.”

Hiya is relaxed and smiles a lot during our lessons, and she is growing in confidence that the language that has eluded her for the past several years is finally within her grasp.  And the fun of English activities is growing into the joy of relationship.

Hiya and I met at a Christmas party for refugees sponsored by a volunteer organization.  My husband and I sat at the table with her and her husband and some of their six children.  Her husband was a well-drilling engineer in their home country, but since fleeing to a refugee camp during the war, he hasn’t had steady work.  They’ve been in California for about three years.  Life has been hard, but their kids are all doing well in school and making friends.

Hiya has been unable to attend English classes regularly because of chronic back problems.  A few months ago she had major back surgery, and her recovery has been slow.  She has appreciated having English lessons at home when I come to visit.

When she was young, she didn’t have the opportunity to attend school, so she never learned to read and write her native language.  Most English classes use a lot of reading and writing, which is discouraging to her and limits her learning. Our lessons, which are based on listening activities, fit her learning style much better.

Of course, Hiya’s culture is known for its hospitality, and I never visit without eating a meal and taking food home for my husband!  Somehow they are making life work in a two-bedroom apartment as a family of eight.  And I never leave without praying for her, for healing for her back, for God’s hand of blessing on her family, and for peace in her homeland.

Posted in Uncategorized by Lisa