Yesterday an older gentleman friend of mine called out my full name from across the lobby of my church. I was kindly being paged. Mr. Lloyd met me in the middle of the lobby with a humble grin on his face to tell me about the excitement and joy he has had getting to know, walk along side of and teach an older refugee gentleman, Mr. Mohammad. Mr. Lloyd expressed the respect that Mr. Mohammad had for him and the admiration that Mr. Mohammad showed him and how the feeling was mutual.

Mr. Lloyd went on and on with tears in his eyes to tell me how much this experience getting to serve Mr. Mohammad one on one, serve other refugee families, and help with transportation to and from school has grown him. He, like myself, had grown a heart to tell everyone he meets about his experiences and wants to offer them opportunities to have the kind of life changing experiences through serving and loving others. He is sure this is the way Jesus had intended for it to be.

Mr. Lloyd and his wife Mary Lou both serve at Asha’s Refuge. As a matter of fact his wife began serving probably a year before he did. Mary Lou seemed a bit unsure at first because she was a former elementary teacher and she was unsure if she could teach non English speaking adults. Little did she know or realize, however, God had her better suited than she had ever imagined and for such a time as this! Mary Lou’s gifts with teaching, especially in areas of reading, foundational Kindergarten and First and Second Grade educational skills were more than enough for her to be a huge success with our adult refugee friends. I’m pretty sure she was a bit taken back at how little our adult ladies new and how much of her help they would appreciate.

Once Mr. Lloyd began driving with our other dedicated team of transportation helpers at Asha’s Refuge, he saw our need to have a bus, van or something to help pick up more students. He and his wife showed up the next Thursday Class morning, and every morning since, with a larger vehicle to transport more students. (I must say we have had another volunteer gentleman and his wife to purchase a 7/8 passenger van and drive for us as well. We are thankful for the hearts of our drivers to help get students to and from classes to the extent of helping to financially take on this burden for us. We pray it has been a blessing for you and that God pours out blessings on you and your families). Both Mary Lou and Lloyd are compassionate people and are truly servants at heart. The light of Jesus’s love is evident in their actions, their walk, their overall appearance and it’s inviting and oh so contagious!

So back to Mr. Mohammad and Mr. Lloyd for a second to end here. I can see that Mr. Mohammad has found a friend in Mr. Lloyd. Mr. Mohammad runs to Mr. Lloyd with a huge smile on his face each class day as though he were counting down the days and minutes to the moment he could sit with his teacher and friend. Mr. Mohammad respects Mr. Lloyd and links arms with him to walk as if to help him and assure Mr. Lloyd. You see, if I’m not mistaking, Mr. Mohammad is from Ethiopia. I’ll have to check back our records. I know he speaks a few languages, Arabic, some English and for sure Eritrean. In these countries (and many other poor countries) older people are often very much highly respected and esteemed in their culture. In America, sadly, we often do not take care of our older people as well as those families do in other countries. The interesting thing is that other cultures recognize that we care poorly for our grandparents and such. It’s sad. Anyhow, older people are highly respected in countries like Africa where Mr. Mohammad came from. So many people die young from birth, disease, war and famine that the people see those that live longer as very blessed by God and wise because they have lived longer. I can’t say as I disagree!

I cannot let this post end by not sharing something else. In our American culture, our men typically respect women. For the most part, men open doors for women when going into stores, they allow women to be first, men carry heavy things for women, etc. In cultures like Mr. Mohammad grew up in men do not always respect or esteem their women. Mr. Lloyd genuinely noticed a refugee woman struggling to carry something heavy perhaps up some stairs of her apartment. He nudged a younger refugee gentleman and said, “let’s go help her”. Mr. Lloyd was now being an example to this other culture and a truly neat thing was happening! (Tears fill my eyes as I type this… God is at work here.). Mr. Lloyd is being used in a very wonderful way by God! His (sorry Lloyd) a little older age is allowing him to be a leader in the refugee community to the refugee men and teach them by example! I am certain Jesus will prevail!! My prayers are strong in this area of your servanthood Mr. Lloyd and Mary Lou. You both can be a huge example and make an impact like I don’t think you would have ever dreamed to the kingdom… to Gods glory and not our own.

Dear Jesus, I want to pray for Mr. Lloyd and Mary Lou and also for the other a little older people that are serving (and younger and middle age ones too, but esp. the older today) at Asha’s Refuge. May they know that they are never too old to serve. Help their creaky backs and bones and achy stiff places to function with flexibility and energy like they were youthful and strong ready and willing to serve the least of these. Please keep the, safe and eyes wide ready with wisdom but with no pride as they share from their life of experiences. Help them to remain humble and to walk one foot in front of the other only by your Spirits lead. Please give them hope and help them to forgive themself. I thank you that you created them and you set them here for this very day to put in their life all that you have so they are ready for this day to help love and serve as they do. Please bless them full fold and give them double portions of your Holy Spirit. Thank you. Amen.

(I’ll post a picture soon.)