I just received a call from Amy, a lady from China. I originally met her at the registration for the Broomfield classes back in February. We hit it off right away when we met. She has a great, outgoing personality and is so intent on immersing in our culture. During the first class in March she asked how she could participate in a Bible Study at the church. I reached out to our small groups who participate in Bible studies all year long. Immediately, Joyce responded saying that her group would be thrilled to 'adopt' Amy and within a week she was welcomed into their group and has been participating ever since.
The call today from Amy was to let me know she is unable to continue attending the class and since she had not yet paid me for her books she wanted to return them. Rather than just dropping them off at the church, she asked how she could arrange to meet me, because she wanted to see me again. It warmed my heart to realize that she thought more of me than just someone facilitating ESL classes and introductions for her. She didn't want to opt for the easy way out to just drop the books off. Instead, we have made arrangements to meet and spend some personal time together. She kept telling me thank you for helping her and that the people in the Bible study were so nice to her.
Even as I sit here after finishing the call I have a smile on my face and a sense of awe at how with one seemly small gesture at a time we are all changing the world and bringing down the walls between people (real and imagined). (I had to use that metaphor so that I could include my picture of the Great Wall of China from a trip back in 2002 (wink)).
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