From a Team Expansion worker serving in Dearborn, Michigan:
I can’t stop thinking about what God is doing with our Bible study that started in three languages at a pizza place with neighbors from Burundi and Venezuela.
Carlos* is from Venezuela and, though he considers himself a Christian, he had neither owned nor read a Bible. Recently, we were able to give Carlos a Bible in both Spanish and English (he is an enthusiastic student of English). Since receiving the Bible, Carlos has been eager to read it together – especially in English.
Yves is from Burundi and has been a believer for years. His wife and child remain in a refugee camp in Africa, but Yves was accepted almost a year ago to come to the US. Yves finds comfort and encouragement from the Bible in his heart language.
Both men work long hours to send money home to their families and children. Yves works nights, and Carlos works six days a week, pulling many double shifts. Knowing Carlos was eager to study the Bible, I asked Yves if he’d join (at my friend Jacob’s advice). I did not expect it to work, but on Wednesdays, Carlos is off, and there are a couple of hours after his English classes before Yves goes to work. And so, they both agreed to meet and read John together.
Our first and second meetings were at a local pizza shop after the lunch rush, when the tables were empty. After Yves prayed, I read John aloud in English, Carlos read the passage aloud in Spanish, and Yves read it aloud in Kirundi. Then we talked about it in English. What did we like? What was hard to understand? What could we learn about people? What could we learn about God? And, how should we live the following week in light of what we were learning from God’s Holy Word?
Our friend Jacob has joined us, too, as he can. In these weekly studies, I have learned much about these great guys. I have been so incredibly blessed by Yves’ heart for God, by Carlos’ desire to know God, and by Jacob’s ability to generously pastor the lot of us.
When we came to Dearborn, I never in a million years expected to be in a Bible study in English, Spanish, and Kirundi, but God has used it to encourage me greatly. It is something I cannot stop thinking about. Please pray for these men with me, and pray that another would join – in a fourth language even!
*Names changed
