“I never expected them to actually learn English”

It’s only fair to note that although we expect certain results from an action, it doesn’t necessarily mean our actual results will be validated by any means of concrete evidence.  However, this is one of those rare cases where the amount of work equals the amount of sound results.

Please allow me to explain something to you…  The world I spent my last four and half years coexisting in was a world which can only be described as a parasitic relationship between me and biology.  Don’t get me wrong I love academic biology the same way I love concepts like communism and socialized medicine; they all sound truthful and genuine in theory, but left in the hands of men and bitter professors, they only amount in unjust actions and indifferent students.  The efforts put forth rarely seem to be shown in the results; why is that?  Could it be that the land I once hailed from was also ridden by people like me who, to a certain extent, need that immediate gratification?….(guilty).  But, could it also be that for there to be true success, both hearts have to be present?

When I started teaching English at the men’s shelter, although I was hopeful and maybe a bit ambitious, the men on the other hand seemed at the very least, skeptical.  You could tell by their glances things have been tried in the past, failed, or were unsatisfying, and let go.  I’m not saying their attitude toward English classes, or me for that matter, were blasé, they merely acted as if I was apart of their “revolving door” lifestyle.  I would constantly here Igor say “you know, people come and go, we’re used to it”.  As weeks passed, and I started to learn more about them, and they realized I wasn’t just some hit and run English teacher, you could see their minds and hearts open up.  Once they started to feel safe and cared for, it was only a matter of time before I begun to see every hand in the air, people discussing verb conjugations, and their constant pleading for me to teach them “English slang”.  It is an amazing experience to witness the hand of God playing and interacting in the daily lives of these men.

Each day I have the privilege of working with these men; I have the opportunity to witness their beginning.  A beginning to a new life, one in which is centered around God and one in which their hearts become present.  This newfound desire to try and place oneself out there has snowballed into a movement for these men.  Currently, in addition to the English classes, they are going to be taking a cooking class next Sunday in hopes of preparing to run one of the feedings we do in the park for the drug addicts and prostitutes.  Also, photography has become an interesting discussion topic, due to their photo project most of them have concluded last week.  I am hoping to display their photos back in the states as part of a fundraising event for them.  More on that later….

My point is, what started out as a mere attempt to get them to learn English in order to provide them with more job opportunities once they finish the program, has become a catalyst to reshaping their confidence and entire outlook on life.  I realize it is not me doing this, but I am beyond grateful to be a single thread in this elaborate tapestry.

However, it is nice to hear Gene say (the director of the operation in Israel), how happy he is with the progress of the men, and to admit, “I never expected them to actually learn English”.  It turns out nothing is out of reach for those who believe and open their hearts to the endless possibilities God reveals.

Igor, Alexander and Sasha playing chess