The last few weeks have been filled with so many interesting stories and happenings at Asha’s Refuge. God is teaching me so much and my heart is growing more and more for Him and the people He has created. Every time I meet someone new, God shows me a different part of Himself. It seems like each person reflects God’s glory in a different and very special way. I am completely in awe of God and how He has allowed me to be a part of this wonderful ministry and organization, Asha’s Refuge.

In the last week we have spoken before several groups of people at the request of others for us to share what God is doing with Asha’s Refuge. We are hopeful that we were able to give better insight to everyone about our heart to serve others. We are also expressing to others how much our refugee friends are teaching us and fulfilling needs we have. It’s hard to explain what happens in one’s heart when they faithfully step out into the unknown in order to help someone else. It’s truly a beautiful thing and a blessing that is indescribable.

Today, I sat in the living room for a couple of hours with a 71 year old lady from Iraq who spoke very little to no English. She sat in her wheelchair as we exchanged gestures, babbles, giggles and gentle smiles. She pointed here and there as did I in order to communicate. I enjoyed juice and homemade Iraqi cake as she happily shared with me the broken English she taught herself. She rolled around in her wheelchair and communicated with me about all sorts of things. It’s truly amazing how I was able to understand so much about her and we do not even speak the same language.

So, without speaking her language, I met a lady today who is 71 who has a daughter and son living in Baghdad. She is in a wheelchair because she recently had surgery on her left knee. She slept for four days in the hospital after her first knee surgery. She will have surgery again on March 6 on the other knee. I know some details about how she came to America. I know she used to live upstairs and recently moved downstairs. I know she speaks to her son on the telephone everyday and she misses him very much. This sweet lady enjoys having her American English TV playing in her bedroom at night before she goes to sleep but she enjoys listening to her multi-lingual TV (Arabic and other country news) in her front room. This lady talks to her daughters via instant messenger on her computer a lot. She also prays often for her neighbor who helps her who just found out she was having a baby. The neighbor is 5 weeks pregnant and is nervous about having a new baby but my refugee friend wants to help her watch her baby while the mom goes to work. Before I left, my new friend expressed that she needed to get her laundry back from the apartment office who somehow helped her to get them cleaned. I was also told by her that she would teach me Arabic if I would continue to work with her on her English. She will call me after her knee surgery and I will check on her.

You see, it’s so neat how I am able to speak to refugee women without even speaking their language! People ask me how I (or now Deborah) am able to do this. I cannot explain it. It’s something one would have to witness to believe. I say, it’s God! He helps me communicate with refugees. It truly perplexes me too. Praise You God! You simply amaze me!