All About the New Book

I teach English as a Second Language. I love international people, I love learning about other cultures, I love words and grammar (yes this is true!), and I love to teach. Ergo, the ESL education realm is my happy place. But my other (and even bigger) passion is Jesus Christ - I love studying the Bible, learning more about Him, and sharing the beauty and hope of the gospel with others. The great question I have struggled with for the past 8 years is, how can I most effectively combine my passions to love and serve other people? 

About three years ago, I was complaining to my roommate that I could not find an ESL curriculum anywhere that was the perfect resource for what I wanted to accomplish in ministry. In response, she said something incredibly wise and challenging: "Then why don't you write it yourself?" That sparked an idea, which grew into a huge project for me, which I have invested much brain- and heart-power in for the past two years.  

As a word-nerd, I find myself studying the word choices and the structures of the phrases in the Bible. What words are most often repeated? What verb tenses are used? Why is a certain phrase passive or active? What is the purpose behind the prepositions? The more I study these details of language in the Bible, the more rich the stories become for me... so why not use those details to teach English language learners? Instead of trying to separate the English lesson from the Bible lesson, I wanted to combine them and actually use the Bible as the primary English learning resource.

As a tutor and teacher, I have found it very difficult to find a one-size-fits-all curriculum... textbooks tend to be divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, but what if you want to teach a multi-level group of students? And what if a student is a great speaker, but struggles to write a paragraph? And what if you have one-on-one sessions with several different students who are at different proficiency levels? And what if a textbook works great for one class, but the very next class cannot relate to the content? I knew if I wrote a curriculum, I wanted it to be flexible enough to be used with one or twenty students, on any and all levels of proficiency. 

As a Bible student, I couldn't find a Bible lesson series that really covered stories in a chronological way that connected events and characters to each other. Most series I looked at would jump from creation, to Noah, to Abraham and Isaac, to Moses, to David... and it made me sad that they were missing so many precious details in between - things that reveal the gospel of grace and mercy and justice and redemption! So when I decided to write a Bible series, I was committed to making the gospel the primary focus.

So the first volume is 30 lessons on the major events of the book of Genesis. (I have five other volumes outlined, to cover the rest of the Bible.) For each lesson, there are seven pages:

1. Teacher Planning - Instead of making a separate teacher manual, I've made a page of suggested materials and activities that the teacher can use to aid in learning and understanding the English concepts and gospel truths. 

2. Illustration - Original black-and-white artwork by myself and my friend, Josh Malchuk, each one depicting a major event in the story, and contains images of new vocabulary 

3. Vocabulary - New and review words, character names, and pre-reading questions

4. Story - Simplified interpretation of the story, with the Bible reference - 15-25 sentences

5. Verbs - Chart of all the verbs in the story and their tenses, and mini-lesson with practice

6. Sentence Structures - Mini-lesson on some aspect of the grammar in the story, with writing practice 

7. Comprehension - Cloze (fill-in-the-blank) version of the story, and thought/application discussion questions

The pages are designed to appeal to different proficiency levels... If your student has no English background, only use the Illustration page with them, pointing to objects and giving single-word vocabulary and acting it out to tell the story. If your student is more Intermediate, add the Vocab, Story, and Verbs pages.  If your student is Advanced, add the Sentence Structure and Comprehension pages. Or adjust the amount of work to cater to the unique proficiency and learning style of your student! 

So here it is, available for $30 on Amazon.com! If you are interested in teaching English and the Bible at the same time, please order one today and try it out. I would love to see churches offer Bible studies or Sunday school classes with this, or even have tutors use it in homes for one-on-one or small group instruction. International students who are Christians might enjoy going through familiar stories in a new language, and students who are not Christians might find this an interesting and academic way to learn more about the Bible. I hope students will gain confidence in their English skills and be encouraged by the good news of the Lord through these lessons.

Learning together: The "How-tos"

When I first moved to "Little Burma," part of my responsibility was to teach my housemates (newcomer refugees) how to do things in America, like using appliances, sanitation, etc. I must admit that I pretty much failed at this task. I was incredibly nervous and intimidated. These women were older than me, had families of their own, had much more life experience than I did, and had survival skills out the wha-zoo. (Not to mention, I didn't have a great knowledge of appliances beyond a microwave - which they absolutely never used). I had no clue how to teach them without coming across as bossy and superior. And I was confused about what was essential to teach them and what to let go of. I learned a lot during those years - I have Brenda Neuenschwander, Becky Adams, and others like them to thank for the wisdom I am about to share.

You do not need to be bossy. Be humble, patient, and loving. If you are teaching essentials, explain why they are essentials. If you are teaching non-essentials, explain why we prefer to do it this way, and let them know it's optional. Whatever you teach, demonstrate it in real time, at their house or your own. Do it yourself a couple times, and then guide them in doing it while you watch and give feedback. Make sure they feel very comfortable with it - even if it takes a few visits - before you let them do it independently. And make each lesson an opportunity to build mutual trust - bridges in your friendship.

1. Explain things that could get them in legal trouble. There are social services/government protocols in place in America that are not in place in other countries. We had supplied mattresses and beds for each person in the family, but more often than not, the families preferred to put the mattresses on the floor and have everyone sleep close together. We could understand why they would do this, given their background and the hardships they faced. But some families get into a lot of trouble with child protective services because this is seen as a neglect of basic needs. Do some research and be aware of the things social services would consider neglect, abuse or dependency, and explain these things to your friends, to protect them.

2. Explain things that could be physically harmful. Internationals who are used to getting fresh eggs probably need you to tell them that eggs we buy in stores must be refrigerated. Don't overload electrical outlets, don't leave the gas in a gas stove on, and don't mix water and electricity. And there's the all-too-common issue of bed bugs... a good reason to wash clothes regularly and not leave them in a pile on the floor. The bathroom routine - using toilet paper, flushing, and washing hands - should be something you take time to go over, and not assume. When you talk about these things, make sure to explain why so they don't dismiss them as just silly American ways of doing things.

3. Explain things that could make life easier for them. They may be used to washing their clothes by hand, or sweeping the whole house with a broom, or walking for miles to get places. There's nothing wrong with these things, so make sure not to push too hard for them to let go of their familiar ways... but ask if you can show them your way. Demonstrate how to do laundry with a washer and dryer, how to use a vacuum or Swiffer mop, and how to navigate the public transportation systems in your town. You might find that these things amuse, please, and relieve your friends of a lot of extra time and energy.

4. Learn new things together. Don't always be the know-it-all... ask them about things you don't recognize in their kitchen, or how to do things you see them do. I was amazed at the skillful way Burmese mamas sling their babies on their backs! And I'd never seen someone use a pressure cooker before I lived in Little Burma. Make sure that for every new thing you teach, you are learning something new, too.

Day 9&10 - Camp Imadene

I can't believe we get to stay in such a beautiful place this week! This morning at the 7 AM staff prayer, I sat in the chapel with my mug of coffee, watching the silent misty clouds slowly seep down the mountain, through the trees and over the water... something very enchanting about those misty clouds...

It thrilled me even more once the sun broke through and burned away all the clouds and gave us a brilliant blue sky that reflected off the lake all day. The girls had a really good day of swimming, boating, skiing, and tubing. It's been fun to watch them play and spend some time with them. Gives me a better perspective on how to teach and share my story with them. 

Last night when I got up on the stage with my notes, and looked out at all those young faces, all my worry and nervousness drained away, and I felt strong and alive. I love teaching - especially to teens, and especially from the Bible! This morning we talked about the beauty of the Beginning, and the awesome holiness of God. Tonight, we will talk about "How it all fell apart" - the tragedy of the Fall and the resulting Brokenness. I'll also read one of my stories to them about a man named Judson who had a disease - a topsy-turvey, itchy-scratchy, clogged and stuffy, empty and achy Great Heaviness - and his search for the Cure. 

The girls have listened very well so far, but as the sessions progress, I'm praying that through God's power they will respond to the gospel and desire a relationship with Jesus. There are quite a few who don't know the Lord yet, have never read the Bible, and are asking questions to their cabin leaders at night. Please pray with me for the girls at Camp Imadene!

The Example for community ministry

Probably one of the most exciting days in March for me was the day I got to go to Grace College with Todd and Tara, to do some community ministry training. We got to speak to a small group of students who are in school, training to serve the Lord in missions, and it was exciting to hear from them and share with them what God's been doing in our lives over the past year. We talked mostly about community, since that is something we've been learning a lot and growing in this year. It's a fine balance between hiding within rich Christ-centered fellowship and being light and salt in a dark and bland world. What is the biblical basis for the kind of community that we long for and work for?

We agreed that Philippians 2 was a good place to start:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

I am so thankful that Jesus set an example for us to follow. He helps us to understand what it looks like to shed selfish ambition and clothe ourselves in humility. I love reading the book of Mark to see Jesus' example of community ministry in action. So many times the stories show him walking and looking, finding people and inviting them to follow him and join him in what he was doing. He touched and looked at and ate with individuals, and spoke in the context of their culture and their lifestyle. He was one of them, and at the same time he was definitely distinct from them all - and it was attractive. He laid down his glory for the sake of calling us to something deeper and greater than we could ever reach on our own. And what was the point of all of it?

 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

The glory of God. That was the point of everything Jesus did. And through his example, it should be the point of our lives too. We talk with strangers in the neighborhood, we invite people into our homes, we teach and serve and give and listen and pray and love because Jesus freed us to do it and called us to do it. And our lives are for the glory of the Father.

"This is America!"

The other night at ESL class, two of my students were talking, and though I didn't catch the context, I heard the boy say to the girl, "Is o.k. Remember: dis eez Ah-meh-ree-cah!" The girl started to protest or give some sort of exception, but the boy stopped her - put his hand up, closed his eyes, shook his head, and in a mock-solemn voice that reminded me of an addictions counselor, he said slowly, "No, yoo don' un-der-stan'. Dis... eez... Ah-meh-ree-cah. So no problem. No worry. Is ok. Dis eez Ah-meh-ree-cah."

I couldn't help but think of dancing mice in that classic American Tail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bC07e7PReM , and I just cracked up. I love that, whatever the issue was, its comfort and resolution was in the fact that "This is America." 'Nuff said.

Later on in class, I gave a reading response assignment for everyone to do on their own, and the boy seemed distracted and bored, so I asked him if he was finished already. "Oh, Miss Connie," he said in surprise, "We do alone? I think we do together!" I said, "No sir, we will check together later, but first you need to do your own work - in-dee-pen-dent! After all... this is Ah-meh-ree-cah!" Which led to the whole class laughing and mimicking: "Dis eez Ah-meh-ree-cah!"

I think we have a new class motto. :)

An ESL Memory verse

This month my Sunday ESL class has been learning Psalm 67:2: "My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock and my refuge."

The first time we read it together, there were some words they didn't understand, which led to them not understanding the truth of it, so we spent the month of October breaking it down... it was such a powerful study, even for me, that I wanted to share it with you. Sometimes words are so familiar to us that we don't take the time to chew on them and experience their richness...

Week 1: He is my mighty rock and my refuge!

This is a rock. Mighty means very strong and powerful. A mighty rock is like a mountain or cliff or boulder, that does not move or change. God is my mighty rock - he does not leave me or fail me or ever change!

Many of my students are refugees, and said that being a refugee means leaving a dangerous place to come to a safe place. So I taught that a "refuge" is a safe place. God is my safe place, and I can run to him and find help and protection and life.


Week 2: My salvation

If you are drowning, and someone throws you a line, they save you from dying. We are all drowning - dying - because of sin. We cannot save ourselves - we need someone to save us. The person or thing that saves me is called "my salvation." God is the only one who can save me from sin and death - he is my salvation! (Cool note: That week our Bible story was about Abraham and Isaac... and the sacrificial ram!)

Week 3: My honor


Honor is the good inside of you. When you do good for others, you say good things, you think good thoughts, and your intentions are good, you are honorable. But because of sin, we cannot have honor on our own... it is only through God and from God that there is anything good in us.

Week 4: ...Depend on God...

Our visual this week was this: my classroom assistant stood next to me and leaned heavily on my chair. As long as I was strong and stayed in one place, she would be able to stand. But if I moved away... she would fall. She couldn't stand without me holding her up. If we try to stand without the Lord, we will fall. We cannot save ourselves, and we cannot do any truly good thing on our own - we must ask God to do these things. That is what the verse means: "My salvation and my honor depend on God..." And why can we depend on him? Because he is mighty, he is our rock, and he is our refuge.

Our Bible lesson in week 4 was about Esau exchanging his birthright for a bowl of stew. We discussed the value and lasting implications of stew versus an inheritance, and we asked the question, "What is the most important thing to you?" Many of the students said it is God. I reminded them of the story of Abraham and Isaac and asked, "What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of God?" And then I reminded them of Esau and Jacob and asked, "What do you value so much that you would exchange the gift of God for it?" One student said, "Nothing! I would not give up my gift from God!" When asked why, she said: "Because my life depends on God..." and others picked it up too: "He is my salvation..." "He is my honor..." "He is my mighty rock!" "He is my refuge!"

With a powerful response like that, who needs to teach or preach more? All I could say, in overwhelmed awe and wonder, was: "Amen... Amen."

Wocabulary!

"No, not wh-... Vh-! Van, not wan... Vote, not wote... Vh-!" Armed with a mirror, a diagram of the human mouth, and God-sustained patience, I was reverting back from teaching new English words to new English sounds. I have a beginner student who comes to my house, and I started using a study book with her this week. She's beginning to grasp some basic grammar, but when she read the name "Victor" as "Wictor," my mind screamed, "No no, this cannot continue! Nip this in the bud!" And so our lesson on names and vocations was put on hold for a little linguistics lesson.

Of course, we had to start with vocabulary: lip and teeth, top and bottom... then bottom lip and top teeth put together- this is where charades are handy... breathe, and you get the fh- sound, hum or speak (use your voice), and you get the vh- sound. No, the top lip doesn't move! And yes, your lip will tickle when you do it! :)

I used to be a lot more lenient with pronunciation, because many ESL students say they want to understand English, and that is more of a receiving technique (listening, reading) than giving (speaking, writing). Besides, I could understand my students just fine; being around multiple languages and dialects, my brain has just learned to auto-correct and translate what I hear. But then I started noticing that no one else could understand them, and as the students gained more grammar and vocabulary, they got frustrated that they couldn't communicate well, even with all the words that were in their brains. This is largely due to the micro-issues like distinctions between wh- and vh-, t- and th-, l- and r-, the long ee and the short i.... micro-issues that depend on micro-tools like the tongue and teeth and lips and voice, and can have huge consequences on the receiver's end.

So I've learned that it is not enough for people to simply understand and take in information; it is crucial that they are understood as well. The international people I have met and come to love have stories and knowledge and wisdom that should be shared in English. And helping them get those micro-tools to cooperate and make those micro-sounds will have a macro-impact on their lives and the lives of everyone they meet.

Words are powerful things. Pronounce them clearly. Choose them carefully. Use them to make the world a better place.

on teaching English...

When people find out that I teach English as a second (or third or fifth) language, the most popular question I get in response is "Really? How many languages do you speak?" The thing is, when a person teaches Spanish or French, people don't ask this question, because they assume if you are teaching Spanish, you can speak... Spanish; if you teach French, then you speak... French. So the logical reasoning that should follow that is, if you teach English, then you speak.... that's right, English!

The fun thing about teaching English is that I tend to pick up some international things - I learn some different phrases in different languages, I learn about cultural sensitivities, and I get to eat some really awesome food. But those are all additional bits of knowledge. My specialty, my forte, is English - speaking it, explaining it, analyzing it, simplifying it, and teaching it. And I absolutely love it.

I did minor in Spanish in college, and it nearly gave me a total mental breakdown more than once. The only reason I managed to get all my credits was because of a lot of prayer, M&Ms, and the pictures and memories I had of Hispanic people I dearly and personally loved - they were my motivation all the way. I do not consider myself fluent in Spanish at all, but I think the whole experience helped me mostly to understand and empathize with other language learners about what a challenge and what a triumph it is to be able to achieve proficiency in another language.

I remember Spanish and Columbian professors teaching - speaking and writing - the entire class in Spanish... I got tremendous headaches and heartburn my first year because I wanted to scream, "I don't understand you! Speak in English so I know what you want me to do!" I would try to ask a question in English and the prof would interrupt me and say, "En Espanol, por favor," and would not answer me until I asked in Spanish... only I didn't have the vocabulary to ask in Spanish! I had three years of Spanish in highschool, and couldn't figure out why college was so much harder. Then I realized that in highschool, the teachers taught Spanish in English. It was comfortable, it was safe, it was theoretical... I knew how to translate a simple sentence on paper and could change a verb into third person, but I could not speak Spanish.

Some people think that a person who is bilingual is naturally someone who should teach ESL. I put this sort of invalid thinking in the same category as assuming a great singer should lead worship, or a really fun and crazy person should be a youth pastor: sometimes the obvious isn't the best. People speak to their family and friends in their native tongue. But a helpful teacher speaks to them in the language they need to learn, and expects the same from the student. And help them be creative - if they can't find the word, find another way to express it, and get a minilesson in vocabulary out of it. It does not help to explain English to a person by speaking another language. That would be like teaching music theory to someone without the use of an instrument. They may understand the concepts of scales and arpeggios, but they will not be able to sit down to a piano and find middle C!

Communication goes far beyond words. I think I really learned this truth for the first time in the summer of 2001, when a tiny boy from Sudan - who spoke no English at all - climbed onto my lap in the middle of a dusty "field," picked up my arms and wrapped them around himself, and fell asleep against my chest. What did he communicate to me? His sad and tired eyes said he needed love and rest, his motions toward me said he would trust me to provide that love and rest, and his peaceful sleep said he found what he was looking for. And in those moments his heart assured me that a girl in a wheelchair, who thought she would be of no help to anyone because of her weak muscles, could be the perfect resting place of love for a child who couldn't understand a word she said. That kid inspired me to serve in cross-cultural missions.

I try not to frustrate my students; I try to ease their anxiety and offer a safe place for them to explore and experiment and make mistakes with language. And I try to communicate through smiles and loving eyes and pictionary and object lessons and lots and lots of cherades! And they are learning... some faster than others, but they are learning, and not giving up, and that's very brave.

Gardenia

She looked so beautiful, in that "complex character of a brilliantly written novel" sort of way. I observed the woman standing on my front porch, leaning on the brick wall, looking out at the traffic flying by on our busy city street... but I got the feeling she wasn't seeing the cars and trucks. Her face was solemn - graceful and kind and sweet, but strong and steady and a little sad. What was she remembering? She wore intricate brown sandals, long, loose flowing white pants, a white tunic garnished with light brown embroidery, and a sheer white headscarf, neatly and carefully tucked to cover her neck and hair. She reminded me of something, but I couldn't place what it was... something lovely and fragile in appearance but really quite resilient and powerful...
I'm really not sure how much English she knows because she is very quiet in class. But I want to ask her what she has seen, what she has been through, what kind of loss she has known. She came here from a war-torn, unstable, violent country, and I sense that she fights hard every day to not let the effects of it become etched into her face. I wonder if she will be able to make Fort Wayne her home... if she can be planted here and grow and thrive here.

I wonder what goes through her mind when I tell stories about things lost and found - a coin, a sheep, a son... she has a small smile on her lips, makes eye contact and nods as though she is receiving what I claim to be "very good news!" And it is... but does she receive the truth and hope these stories offer? How deep does her hurt burn? Is she the lost sheep waiting for the shepherd, or the woman frantically searching for her lost coin?

Apparently, gardenias are hard to grow in Indiana. Another beautiful woman brought me two today in a cup of water. As she smoothed back the raven curls from her face, she explained that she has tried for years to do so, but late frosts have killed many. In Mexico, she said, she had gardenias, and she missed them because they always brought her joy before, so she keeps trying. There is hope this year - these are the first two blossoms she has harvested. They are foreign to this land and its unpredictable snaps of cold, but with a little care and attention and patience - a little extra love - there is hope.

I breathed in the glorious fragrance of those flowers and stroked a petal gently. Thick petals and waxy leaves... stronger than the silky, frilly lace appears... and such a small white bloom has such an unsuspecting powerful and beautiful aroma. And I think of that beautiful woman in white on my front porch, gazing at something mysterious and unseen in her past.

I pray for this dear Gardenia and the burdens she carries, and that whatever the lost things are in her life, that they will be found... I ask Jesus if he will help me to become her friend, and I ask him to help her to become his friend, too.

An object lesson

What do a fly swatter, a stuffed panda, a hat, an umbrella, and a crown have in common? ...I had no idea either. I just threw them all in a bag, and handed them to some of my clever (if slightly bewildered) girls last night, and told them to come up with a story using all the items. It took some time to organize and let the creative juices flow freely, but then it happened... They blew me away with a hilarious skit about fairies and magic powers, a kidnapped king, and an intelligent and bold rescue.

But what about some more serious items? What if your bag contains an incredible, loving mother who dies suddenly of a brain aneurysm, or a child who is diagnosed at five months with an illness that takes her life four weeks later, or watching your parents go through an ugly divorce in the midst of your already complicated and emotional middle school years, or getting sent to what is locally known as "the bad kid school" where no one really believes you'll amount to anything, or laying in a hospital bed for two weeks wondering if you'll ever get to go home... You know life has meaning, and everything has a purpose, but in the midst of pain, loneliness, change, loss, helplessness, you can't for the life of you figure out what it is. What can you do when you look in your own "bag" and see things that make no sense?

Go to Jesus. Take your bag with you. Lay all the items out before him, and ask him for help - if not for understanding, at least peace. He will remind you of his presence, his care, his love for you. None of the items confuse, surprise, or bewilder him. He knows the purpose in each one, and his purposes are good. He knows the whole story, all the plot twists and how its going to conclude, and he is in control. So trust him... in the pain, loneliness, change, loss, and helplessness, trust Him. Give him your bag, and all your items, and let him tell his great and beautiful story through you.

Palms and Hearts and Living Water

Pastor Meng Pu's homework assignment this week was to read and study Mark 11:1-11, and then translate it into English. Yesterday we were talking about Palm Sunday coming up, and why we should celebrate it as followers of Jesus. He asked me several times about the significance of palm branches... why did they wave palms? Why do we still use palms in our celebration? I had to confess I had no idea. I guess I've always just associated palms with the triumphant entry, but never went deeper. He seemed to think they were a symbol, significant as more...

Today when he came back, he explained it to me. The country of Israel - in fact, most of the land in that part of the world - is dry and arid, with very little lush plant life. But there are palm trees, and where there are palm trees, deep down there must be water. He said our hearts are dry too, and lifeless, and in need of water. Jesus said he is the Living Water in John 4:10, 13 - "...whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." When we receive Jesus into our hearts, his Living Water fills us and makes our hearts full of life.

The green, vibrant palm leaves are a symbol, the evidence of new and flourishing life - the way our hearts look when Jesus comes and fills us. How wonderful, then, that we wave palm branches as we shout: "Hosanna!" - a word which is a cry for salvation and a word of praise as we acknowledge Jesus as the one who saves.

Bilingual Bible theology

Two things I've learned recently about spending time with Pastor Meng Pu: First, never show up without my Bible. Second, settle in for a long and challenging conversation when he begins by saying, "Oh, my teacher Kah Ni... I have question." Because inevitably the question will be about some specific, confusing, hard-to-reasearch detail in Biblical history, or a complex theological concept that is hard to understand even in your own language, much less trying to discuss it bilingually.

"Oh, my teacher Kah Ni... I have a question." This came again yesterday, and I took a deep breath of preparation - more like anticipation - of something really big and really good. We're sitting together at the dining room table, with our Bibles open and waiting, his in Burmese and mine in English. We "synchronize" our texts by finding a common passage we both know well as a starting point, and turn forward or backward together to keep our place. He'll say, "Chaptah two, vahs twenty-seex," and then go on, half reading and half quoting from memory the passage, and I follow along in my Bible and give him the English words and a sketch pad and pencil, so he can express his thoughts and responses to me. It's pretty cool, actually.

His question yesterday led us into a discussion about the old law and the new law, flipping around from Genesis to Leviticus to Hebrews to Matthew to Ephesians. He said that his people seem to think that if they become Christians they have to bind themselves to all the old laws, but he wants them to know that in Christ they have freedom and forgiveness and grace, that Jesus abolished the old law and the condemnation that it brought, and established this new law.

Of course, gathering this much information from Meng Pu in English took an hour of broken phrases and mixed-up vocabulary and lots of penciled illustrations.We weren't exactly working with concrete vocabulary we could act out or draw out well... try communicating abstract concepts to someone who doesn't speak your language sometime! And a few times, I could tell the words were right on the edge of his tongue and he could not figure out how to get me to understand them, so he would close his eyes, shake his head, smile really big, and lean back for a breath, and say, "I no know... how to say... oh, Holy Spirit, I need..." I could feel his frustration, and I was frustrated too because we both wanted to learn and share with each other so much and were trying every way we could. But that quick moment of prayer strengthened us both, and he tried again and I grasped his meaning, and smiling together we said, "Thank you, Holy Spirit, Hallelujah!"

These are my favorite English lessons... when I am not really the teacher, but the Holy Spirit is - the Holy Spirit, who garbled and confused the communication of pride and power in the sons of man at Babel, only to redeem and restore them to communication of truth and hope at Pentacost; the Holy Spirit who speaks and understands every language and longs for his family to be united still through the gospel across borders and boundaries; the Holy Spirit who always makes his message and purpose known to the blessing of his people and the glory of his name.

Showers of blessings and continued thanksgiving

Yesterday my friend and student, Nadia, came over for English lesson. She has a rolling French lilt, and a demeanor that fits exactly with my idea of an angel of heaven... so full of love for everyone, and sincere worship and adoration of Jesus Christ.

She met Kevan and Hayden, as they were visiting and I put them to work, helping Nadia with her dictation exercises. Before she went home, she just glowed and gushed to me: "I am so thankful I know you and you are here, and that I came here today to learn English, because I met your wonderful brother and his friend, and I know God is blessing them, and He will bless Hayden because He sees how he helps your brother, just like He sees your friends the two Hannans, and He will bless them because they help you - may God bless your friends!"

I smiled at her sweet enthtusiasm and agreed with her, just loving the way she showers blessings so generously. Then she got more serious and said, "Sometimes I am sad and disappointed, and I have to say, 'God, I thank you.' I ask God to give me strength to be thankful for everything, in good and bad times."

I was silent, humbled by this because I had been sad and disappointed all day and had chosen to complain and criticize, rather than give thanks. It was so easy last week - on vacation at home with my family and friends and a dozen desserts - to think of all the things I am thankful for. But Nadia is right, we need to thank God in good and bad times, because he can use the hard times to draw us closer to Him and bring glory to His name.

Thankfulness is a lot like love, in that at its truest and purest level, it isn't contingent on feelings or circumstances. It's a response that we consciously choose to make. And sometimes it isn't easy, and from our perspective it might not make sense. But God really loves it when we decide to do things His way, to walk in his will, and give him the glory.

A typical lovely day in the life of Connie

As I reflect tonight on the day I had today, I'm amazed at how typical and yet how lovely it was. This morning I had breakfast and Bible study with Elsa, and then we went grocery shopping. When we got back, I played with Michael and Jo Lien a while, which was fun because they were both in really sweet and silly moods. I fed them crackers and cookies, and taught them how to blow kisses, and it's their new favorite game. Watched part of "The Little Mermaid" with Thang Ngaih and Lian, who have watched it enough now to quote parts of it in a hilarious Jamaican-Burmese accent. Then Thang Ngaih asked me to help her with her English homework for about an hour while the kids napped, and she was so excited to learn (among other things) how to write a check (though she laughed because she said she has "No money to write on check!").

Then I worked on my Ruth lesson for a bit, but I was sitting by my window (here below for you to see), so I was slightly distracted by the beauty of the fall colors and the activities of the volunteers outside... This wonderful group of people from Ohio are here this week to serve, and they chose this day to rake the leaves under the massive trees surrounding I-House. This ended up being a full-day task, because it was a crisp and windy day, and leaves were falling constantly, so every time they cleared the lawn, they had to do it again an hour later. I spent a good part of my day being highly entertained at the sight of the volunteers toting the rakes from the front yard to the backyard... and to the front yard again... and then to the backyard again... and "rinse and repeat." Nature was not their friend today.

Finally, the great autumnal outdoors beckoned me enough to make me put on a sweater and venture forth. To my delight, I found some Somali friends in the backyard - a woman and four of her six kids. She was checking out her corner of the community garden and the kids were making grass-and-leaf huts "for tiny people." I explored the acre with them, searching for the brightest and prettiest leaves to decorate the huts with. When our noses got too cold, "Mama Jayne" called us inside for pumpkin sugar cookies and hot cocoa. Then more kids showed up and I talked with them (even got a hug!) and helped them work on their homework for a while, and helped their mom with an official government letter she needed to write.

Came back home and everyone was upstairs, so I had dinner and tea (my fourth cup of the day), and went back to Jayne's to color a picture of Sally Brown (as in, Charlie's sister) in a sparkly princess dress - yes, I have sparkly crayons - and read a book that I just can't seem to put down this week.

Can't say every day is this wonderful... I've talked with some of you about some real challenges that have come up in the past few weeks, and everyone has difficult days. But I am so glad that this is my life right now... I'm so glad God has me here, and that I get to do life with the internationals and ministry staff here in Fort Wayne.

Our Refuge

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." ~Psalm 46:1

Did you realize that Rahab was a refugee? Did you know that Joseph was a victim of human trafficking? Did you consider that Esther was an orphan? Did you notice that Ruth was a poor immigrant, dependent on her host country for her needs?

God loved each of them by name. It was by his grace that they were saved - that they were brought out of dangerous places, set free and lifted up, given a seat of honor and a crown of glory, provided for and cared about personally. The Bible is a beautiful thing for those who are oppressed, because it is full of stories just like theirs that all end in hope. Isn't this our story too? Weren't we all strangers to God, bound by our sin, alone and unloved, desperately in need? God's heart is for people who are oppressed... people like us. He delights to adopt us and rescue us, to be our Father, if we just trust him.

Yesterday, this is what we talked about in Women's Club. The women took turns reading the above verse in their first language - Chinese, Burmese, French, and Spanish were represented - and after each woman read, we all agreed with an "Amen!" and "Hallelujah!" Then we all read it in English together. It was so beautiful to hear the women receive and claim this promise from Scripture.

Pray for those who are still oppressed, who still do not know or understand the gift of God through Christ Jesus. Pray for those here in Fort Wayne as well as those in your own life... pray that they will know the truth and the truth will set them free!

Prayer Support Letter #2

Dear Friends,

After an exciting summer of serving the Lord in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, with International Teams, I have decided to return there this fall to serve for three more months.

Through this missions experience, I will have the opportunity to work with refugee families from countries like Burma, Mexico, Congo, and Somalia. I get to continue to live in my house, the “Angaing Inn” (Loving House), with new refugee families, welcoming them and helping them learn how to adapt to American life. I will also keep teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and lead a Bible study for international adults on Sunday mornings at a local church and Tuesday afternoons at my house, as well as provide one-on-one and small group basic language immersion classes for newcomers. In addition, this fall I’ve been given a new leadership opportunity as director of the youth night program for teenagers from Somalia and Burma, which will include computer training, homework help, and godly character building activities.

Would you consider helping me make this project a success? I need prayer and financial support. The total cost of my mission trip is $2,900 per month. Any financial gift you contribute is tax-deductible. The departure date for this thirteen-week trip is September 10. I am praying for monthly commitments to come in soon. If you feel God is leading you to be a part of this ministry with me, you can give online (www.iteams.org/give/). In the comment box at the bottom, please write “Preference to Connie Chandler’s account.” If you would rather write a check, please make it payable to “International Teams” and include a separate note (not on the memo line) that designates you want your gift to go my account. Please mail all checks to International Teams, Attn: Receipting Dept., 411 W. River Road, Elgin, IL, 60123.

If you are willing to participate by praying for me while I am on the team, please let me know so I can add you to my prayer team list that receives regular prayer and praise updates. All too often we take prayer support of mission work for granted. Before I go, I need to know that others will truly be praying for me. While I am gone, I will be sure to write regular updates here on my blog. Please let me know if you would like to receive prayer and blog updates by mail.

Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to hearing from you and would enjoy telling you a bit more about this opportunity personally.

Blessings to you,

Connie

Little Michael

One week until my mom comes! I am so ready to spend time with my family.

Yesterday was our last Women’s Club for the summer. I had eleven women in my ESL Bible class – a record attendance! We used all the chairs in my house and filled the dining room, but I think they had a good time and learned some things. The Bible story was one of my favorites to teach, about the woman at the well in John 4. “Give me this living water! I want to drink your water!” the woman says, and I asked the women if they want the water Jesus can give. They said yes, and I told them that if they just ask Jesus for it, he will give it to them. If they really do, I believe the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin and lead them to forgiveness too. I’m praying this happens.

Little Michael is getting stronger every day. He can now burst through weighted doors and climb the flight of stairs to his family’s room (which is no small feat). And yesterday he proved that he can now climb onto my lap all by himself! For most of the summer, he has showed me love by running up to me, patting my lap with his little hands, and grinning up at me. Sometimes, he just runs straight to my lap, wraps his arms around my legs and rests his head in my lap. I return the love by patting or kissing his little head or giving him hugs. He is precious, after all. Well yesterday, he ran to me for his usual greeting, but this time he grabbed my skirt on both sides of my lap and pulled. Using it as a makeshift rappelling rope, he put his little feet up on my footrest and then hiked his knee up on my lap! At that point he got this sudden realization that he didn’t know how to get his other leg up there, so here he was, halfway between secure ground and an inviting cuddle corner. I grabbed his upper arms to keep him from falling on his head and held on for dear life until Thang Ngaih could run to the rescue. Of course, now that we both know he can do it and that it’s not mere wishful thinking or empty threats, I have to be much more careful and make sure another adult is around! He is indeed precious though, and his determination to sit on my lap says, “I love you and trust you,” so much louder than words ever could.

To be a sheep...

I love planning Bible study for Women's Club on Tuesday! I have to word the stories very simply, in short sentences, with lots of pictures, for the women to understand. This makes me study the Bible so much more, because I have to concentrate on the very core message of each story and think of the clearest way to accurately translate it into "Beginner ESL." Here was my lesson today, about the Good Shepherd and about being his sheep:

Luke 15:4-7 -

A man has 100 sheep.
1 sheep runs away.
The man leaves the 99 sheep.
The man looks everywhere for the 1 sheep.

The man finds his 1 sheep.
He puts the sheep on his shoulders.
He carries the sheep home.

He tells his friends, “Rejoice! My sheep is home!”
He has a party. He is very happy to find his sheep.

John 10:11-15 -

A bad shepherd runs away when bad things happen.
A good shepherd does not leave his sheep alone.
A good shepherd cares for his sheep.
A good shepherd dies to save his sheep.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.
My sheep know me.

They know my voice.

They listen to me.

They follow me.

They do not run from me.

I know all my sheep.

I love them.

I will look for them

and I will find them.

I will die to save them.

Psalm 23 -

The Lord is my shepherd.
I do not need anything.
He lays me down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet water.
He heals my soul and shows me the right thing to do.

Even in dark, bad times, I am not afraid.
My shepherd is with me and keeps me safe.

He makes food for me to eat when I am in danger.
He blesses me and I am so happy!
I will have love and goodness all my life.
I will stay in his house forever.

Prayer Update

Dear friends,

Well this week was busy but very exciting! I got to start all my new ESL classes, which I teach six times during the week to people from Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, Congo, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Burma. Thank you for praying for relationship building; I’ve had some wonderful times of fellowship, especially with some of the other leaders, Jayne and Tara, and with my housemates.

My students seem to be warming up pretty fast to me, and they tell me that the lessons are helpful. On Thursday night, one student said, “I think we are on to something very good here.” As far as encouragement goes, I think I am the one who has been encouraged. I’ve been especially blessed by the stories that my students tell in class as we study the Bible together. They just love to share what God has done for them, how faithful and good he is. I’m praying that people who do not know the Lord will come to class and hear these powerful testimonies and be drawn to this God who is so personal and loving.

I learned this week that there are some teenagers from Burma and Somolia who are struggling with a lot of challenges at home and school. I’ve met one 14-year-old girl from Burma named Sannu, who is a new Christian. She is coming over to have lunch with me tomorrow. I think we may start some summer tutoring and mentoring with prayer and Bible study.

This week please pray:

· that some non-believers will come to class and hear the gospel, not just from me but from their peers. There are many Muslim women who come on Tuesdays to women’s club, but do not come to the Bible story time yet.

· for Sannu, as she wants to grow in her faith and her understanding of the Bible, that I will be a good friend and a help to her.

· that I will use my time wisely, so I have time to plan lessons, build relationships, and get plenty of sleep.

Thank you for your prayers! It is so exciting to partner with you in this work!

Blessings,

Connie

The Thrill of Daily Life

"We are meant to see ourselves as part of something so much bigger than we are. Something vital. Something incredibly thrilling." - Beth Moore

I'm settling in here in Ft. Wayne. I realized that today, on my day off, when I didn't feel the need to rise with the sun but I did feel the need to do laundry, when I didn't want to buy souveneirs at the mall but instead buy veggies at Walmart. I'm over the initial "mission trip" high, and am beginning to see that this is my life now, rich in culture and relationship and learning. Life is not settling down - it continues to careen forward at a breath-taking pace, but I think I'm learning how to crank up my speed dial to keep up.

Daily life here is different - it can't help but be different. This morning I had French toast and a homemade 10-fruit smoothie, then I read my Bible, studied my Zo language notes, planned ESL and Bible lessons for next week, and studied a current African map so I won't embarrass myself anymore with geographical ignorance. My evenings are spent teaching English and Bible, learning to speak Zo, eating ethnic meals, learning about Ethiopian and Malaysian society, and being entertained by the kids in the house who will grow up to be fully bilingual and bicultural.

I want to learn, I want to serve, I want to give... I just want to live and be a part of something bigger than myself. I want to remember that as far as the population of the world goes, I am not a majority. I am not even a majority in my own big, beautiful house. And I love that! I love knowing that there is so much I don't yet know, so much I can gain from people who are different from me.

I was sad this morning when I was reminded that there are so many people who fear those who look and sound different from them, as though relationship across races, ethnicities and cultures is harmful or damaging. What I am finding here is that as God brings his people together from every tribe, tongue, and nation, life becomes what it was intended to be - a colorful, beautiful community of love that brings glory to his name.

Last night my ESL class studied Psalm 1, and we talked about what it means to be a "tree planted by streams of water." One by one, believers from Mexico and Burma said slowly and carefully, in broken English: "I am a planted tree because I trust Jesus... because I know God loves me... because God has protected me and my family... because my grandfather taught me to read and follow the Bible... God is so good..." Tears came to my eyes and many "Amens" came to my lips. What a sacred time of sharing - what a blessing! Praise the Lord for the "trees" he has planted in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America, Europe, Australia, and here in America.