This past semester was my first opportunity to be one of the teachers for the Free English Class offered by the International Student Ministry (ISM). One exciting moment for me was when I invited my students over to my house for a BBQ lunch over the weekend along with Jesse and his students. We had roasted chicken along with a side of asparagus and pasta with two different types of sauce. I’m not sure how accustomed they were to our American portions or taste but they expressed their thanks and much appreciation to me later on. That lunch was a very fond experience for me because it was after that event that one of the attendees really began to connect with me. He has since been coming out to our ISM Friday Forum events and is very well plugged in with many of our members.
What is more amazing is that this scholar had English teachers back in his hometown that had ministered to him for a year before he came to the states. That is why he has been so curious about church. I just think about the odds of this individual hearing parts of the gospel message and now being connected to our ISM group through an ad he saw about our English class that was posted near his housing complex. It’s so amazing to get glimpses at how God orchestrates incredible circumstances in peoples’ lives.
I recognize that many of my English students are top-notch, cream of the crop, stellar scholars from around the world. Being able to hang out with them and to share an occasional meal was a real treat to me because it has been through these times that we were able to bear witness of Christ’s love through our actions of love toward them – and if all it takes is some pasta, then sign me up again!