We recently had the privilege to meet some refugee families that relocated to our town this past month. While we were visiting with a Colombian family, they invited us in but didn't have any chairs. But we didn't mind! They went to ask their neighbors who are from Iraq. They speak very little English. They have two daughters that have been going to school here the past month, and the youngest daughter is doing very well learning English, and also taking a Spanish class and knows basic Spanish. As we all had a conversation, I would translate from Spanish to English and the daughter would translate from English to Arabic. It got quite confusing, but everyone was patient.
Angel and I have both been convicted to have the nations and cultures we are unfamiliar with into our home. This is so exciting because our town is perfect for this. I'm so excited to get to know these families.
I love having a baby in times like this because he's such a good ice-breaker. Babies know no cultural differences or stereo-types.
So in the moment of getting to know each other, I grabbed my cell phone and asked if we could all take a picture together. Cause I'm just like that.
I love this picture because of what it represents. The nations. Columbia, Mexico, Iraq and United States. All photographed together on the doorstep.
7 comments:
i agree with you 100% :) Jon and I are so thankful to be in Mexico, giving our kids a much bigger worldview and compassion for the entire human race...although sometimes I long to be somewhere where there are numerous nationalities!
Btw, I haven't read it yet, but have read fab. reviews on the book: "One Million Arrows: Raising Your Children To Change The World." It is a fabulous resource for exactly what you're talking about in your post! I wanted to recommend it to you...Here's a quote from the website:
"One Million Arrows is a great wake-up call for parents of this generation. If we want our children to take part in the powerful purpose and unique mission God has designed for them, we've got to take responsibility for raising our kids as disciples of Christ."
-Josh D. McDowell, Author and Speaker
Very cool post. How neat that you are teaching your children about Christ and that you want to reach out to your family and others. What a neat experience it must have been to meet new people. Thanks for stopping by my blog for Mom n Me Monday. Blessings to you and May the Lord continue to give you the desires of your heart.
Thanks so much for recommending that book!
A huge prayer of ours is that God in his mercy will use us to train our kids to rise up to be mighty warriors and great Godly leaders for their generation. And that they will train others to do the same. We pray that they're hearts will be sensitive to things that are eternal!!
http://vidagarcia.blogspot.com/2010/02/kingdom-kids.html
Whose the guy in front of you with the shaved head?! :)
Glad to see your family have experience with internationals..
Love you guys!
Brooke, what a great idea to take a picture! I love it! What a great way to show love to/for the nations. Very inspiring!
What an encouraging post, and I so agree with you about babies being icebreakers. Everyone (well most everyone) enjoys babies, and they are great conversation starters, too. I've also heard great things about the book mentioned above and have added to my reading list.
So amazing that God has placed you so specifically right there!
I grew up appreciating the same thing... my mother attended a Bible study at the invitation of a group of El Salvadoran refugees - and she found Christ there!
God is good!
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