Loving One Another

Last night was our final night for our spring semester of ESL (English-as-a-Second Language) classes. What a joy it is to be used by God to help improve the lives of refugees, immigrants and international students. As we teach English we reach out with the love of Christ to those who are often marginalized or isolated in our society. When we are faithful in loving one another, God accomplishes great things through our obedience.

Several of our students obtained jobs and others received job promotions due to their increased English proficiency and the dedicated efforts of our ESL teachers. The children entered the building each week with joyful enthusiasm, barely containing themselves from running down the hall to enjoy their time with our fun-loving childcare volunteers. Our "ESL Angels" brought in healthy snacks, which nourished our students and their families both body & soul.

One student took time to write a thank you letter stating, "In this school, I found a group of friendly and generous people." Another student commented on how different this "school" was from other places she had gone to study English. Love and kindness are what this student said she sensed when she was here among us.

Smiles, hugs and expressions of gratitude filled the air as we parted ways for the summer months. What a difference love makes and what an impact we have when we simply and sincerely love one another!

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13: 34-35