during his years of public education in China,
language was the one subject he least liked,
even Chinese! That is understandable since
many of our American students don’t like
English class either.
Colin (his English name) and I meet two
mornings a week for an hour and a half. I go
to his restaurant before it opens. The Bible is
always part of our curriculum, a fact the students are told from the beginning. Colin has
a bilingual New Testament in Chinese and
English. He has not yet accepted Jesus, but
I have God’s promise that his Word will not
return void. And even though I lived in Asia
for nearly 30 years and am 80 years old, I
continue to learn so much from Colin as he
shares his life with me.
Interacting with people from different cultures and languages may be going outside
your comfort zone, but being a true friend
can be rewarding. Here are some suggestions for teaching English or being a friend
to foreigners:
• Be intentional. If teaching English,
establish a regular time to meet, even
if its only once a month. Find a time
that is best for the student. If it is a
less formal situation, just show love
and friendship and be available.
• Have a plan for your time together.
Materials can be found at a bookstore
or on the internet. When teaching, I
use a language book, pictures, and
questions. Use a variety of teaching
aids to make it more interesting for
you and the students. Plan outings to
introduce them to the city.
and were baptized in a local Chinese
church and began worshiping there. One
of them married a fellow Chinese Christian.
They now close their restaurant on Sundays
and regularly attend church with their two
children. It’s exciting to know that they
have started on a new path and that a cycle of living in darkness has been broken
in that family. Hopefully, many generations
to come will know the way, the truth, and
the life.
Now, more than 10 years later, I still
teach one faithful student. He tells me that
• Give them both an English Bible and
one in their heart language.
• Charge a small fee to cover the cost
of materials. The theory is that if you
pay for something, it is more valuable
than something free.
• Cover your time in prayer. God, through
his Spirit, will produce fruit.
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