Yesterday was a sweet day during and after our Thursday American Life and Language Classes. The classes went smooth. It was Purple Day for the preschoolers. They enjoyed playing on their newly spruced up playground (but ack-it rained, our grass has lots of weeds and the weeds are already growing). Our adult ladies sang and danced the Hokey Pokey (teaching body parts), read a three page story (something like “Sam can run.”), played the matching game (learning opposites) and talked about silly things grandmothers do.

I was grateful to have all the volunteer help and to watch the teachers animate themselves and be fully invested in helping and loving our refugee friends. I especially enjoyed working with Austin who is my 10 year old office assistant. Austin sharpens lots of pencils, makes copies, helps organize some of our donations, crafts and educational supplies and runs from class to class as needed to tell a teacher or student something. He is a great help to Elaine and I. We need a small desk to put in our office area for Austin. His teenage sisters and mother help us too. Addison works with our preschoolers and helps prepare the crafts each week. Ashlen and her mom, Heather, have committed to helping in the basic adult English class. Heather is our volunteer nurse as well and is always willing to offer her expert advice if needed. This family makes a super strong volunteer team for us. Thank you, Heather, Austin, Addison and Ashlen, we love you!

After class Gwen, Deborah and I separated and made several visits in the homes of our refugee friends. There were some that we’re sick and needed encouragement and a little advice. Gwen had a heart to meet a family full of middle school and teen girls who needed some hair help. She knows how to do African hair and wants to help this large family by teaching them about some of our great American hair care products and hair styles. I went with Scott, a long time friend of mine who now works at Catholic Charities, to help one of our students with a job interview at an alterations company. The meeting went well. Our client will meet again with this employer Saturday so that she can show them her sewing skills.

I am thankful today. God has been so good to us.