Last week a friend posted on Facebook that she would be in Cedar Rapids for a week and would love to get together with anyone in the area. She wasn't expecting a reply from me but we were both glad that it worked out to spend Sunday afternoon together. We first met at a conference for single missionaries while she was living in Spain and I in France. The last time we saw each other, I was moving to Minneapolis. Five years later, she is now in Germany and I'm in Cedar Falls. Between trips to a Chinese buffet we took turns telling the stories of the past five years. In some ways our lives have had similar twists and turns. God led us to different places and opened up doors that we didn't expect or necessarily want. Last November we both ended up in the hospital: I with a planned surgery to remove my thyroid and she with a bizarre infection in the lining of her lung that the doctor's still can't explain. I was also eager to hear some firsthand stories about the huge influx of refugees in Germany. She gave an encouraging report of how the churches in her area are helping to meet needs and encourage integration in the midst of a government system that is somewhat overwhelmed. The news reports don't talk about the open doors for the gospel but they are there and many of these refugees are open.
After a couple of hours of stories we were the only ones left in the restaurant and began wondering if they were waiting for us to leave so they could move on to other things. As we paid the man commented, "You look like friends who haven't seen each other for a long time." That would pretty much sum it up.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Cultural Diversity
At the end of my 2nd interview for my current position, I was asked what I thought about working in a school district where over 30 languages were spoken. I could hardly wait for them to finish asking the question because I was quite excited at the prospect of living in a more culturally diverse setting. I noticed small things as soon as I arrived: the Indian and Thai restaurants, the Bosnian bakery, the varying shades of black, brown and white skin tones at the grocery store. Once I started work I began to interact with students and adults with varying life experiences and I throughly enjoy it.
Last week one of my co-workers received referrals for two children in a French speaking family. It was great fun to go with an early child educator into their home and translate. I was slightly disappointed when it turned out the kids were doing great and just need to get into preschool. That meant I wouldn't get to go back. The whole experience brought back to mind the visits in the homes of my friends in France.
Tuesday evening I met "Fatima" a student from the Middle East who is here studying English at UNI. The program she is in seeks to match up students with local families. On Saturday I went with her, a cousin and two other international students to the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. It it turned out to be like a fair that is heavy on the livestock and light on all other types of displays. As we entered the first barn, I looked around and Fatima was nowhere to be seen. It turns out she is quite afraid of animals. It was easier for her to walk into the barns where the animals were in pens than the ones where the back of the stalls were open. With some encouragement she was happy to look from a distance. The other two students from Malaysia were eager to pet the llamas and rabbits. When we walked by the goats, Fatima told me of a vivid memory of buying a goat with her father and crying with great fear as only a 5 year old can when he put it in the back of the car to take home. It all made me smile, and she was a good sport. As we left I told her she now had something to write home about. She was puzzled but after I explained, she said she had already sent pictures on snapchat. She told me she had a great time, and I'll take her word for it, though I can't help but wonder if she was telling me that just to make me feel good. I would love to hear what she told her brother and cousin who are also here. Next time we'll do something that doesn't involve animals.
Last week one of my co-workers received referrals for two children in a French speaking family. It was great fun to go with an early child educator into their home and translate. I was slightly disappointed when it turned out the kids were doing great and just need to get into preschool. That meant I wouldn't get to go back. The whole experience brought back to mind the visits in the homes of my friends in France.
Tuesday evening I met "Fatima" a student from the Middle East who is here studying English at UNI. The program she is in seeks to match up students with local families. On Saturday I went with her, a cousin and two other international students to the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. It it turned out to be like a fair that is heavy on the livestock and light on all other types of displays. As we entered the first barn, I looked around and Fatima was nowhere to be seen. It turns out she is quite afraid of animals. It was easier for her to walk into the barns where the animals were in pens than the ones where the back of the stalls were open. With some encouragement she was happy to look from a distance. The other two students from Malaysia were eager to pet the llamas and rabbits. When we walked by the goats, Fatima told me of a vivid memory of buying a goat with her father and crying with great fear as only a 5 year old can when he put it in the back of the car to take home. It all made me smile, and she was a good sport. As we left I told her she now had something to write home about. She was puzzled but after I explained, she said she had already sent pictures on snapchat. She told me she had a great time, and I'll take her word for it, though I can't help but wonder if she was telling me that just to make me feel good. I would love to hear what she told her brother and cousin who are also here. Next time we'll do something that doesn't involve animals.
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