G.O.D. English Language Learning Program Facilitators Blessed With Gifts From Congolese Participants

Congolese English students express their gratitude for G.O.D. English teachers through gift-giving.

G.O.D. Intl’s refugee and immigrant care program started serving a newly-arrived Congolese refugee community over 2 years ago. Since that time, we’ve been offering 8-week cycles of English lessons for all levels of learners. The classes have continued online throughout the pandemic via pre-recorded video lessons and live Zoom sessions. The students are fluent in 2-3 languages already (some even more), still they humbly recognize their great need to learn yet another language while living in the States. In addition to English courses, our team has been able to help meet a variety of needs, including financial assistance, healthcare seminars, and even gifting one pastor a vehicle. Over and over, the Congolese thank us for welcoming them. And over and over we find ourselves more blessed and humbled by our relationship. We keep learning together.

Bill and Denise Bennecker, who gifted Pastor (far right) his car in early 2021, were so blessed by his gifts and words of appreciation.

Last Sunday was no exception. Four of our beloved students joined us for G.O.D.’s Sunday service. After church, our team of teachers and facilitators and our spouses joined them for an appreciation lunch. Each of them shared with the group how grateful they are for us, how much more foreign this country would feel if we weren’t in their lives. One of them testified, “In the US, having a car is like having legs. Without a car, it’s like you have no legs. When you gave Pastor a car, you gave him his legs.” The pastor showed off his new driver’s license, so thankful for his mobility. The lunch continued with everyone sharing and eating, and concluded with each of the facilitators and their spouses receiving a variety of authentic Congolese gifts from our dear friends. It was a mutually joyful time: so thankful to give, so thankful to receive.

G.O.D. facilitators testify to the appreciation given by Congolese participants

Pastor shows us how to use the traditional nesting baskets, called igiseke in his native language Kinyarwanda.

"I felt so appreciated by our ELL friends' words of gratitude, gifts, smiles and prayers this past Sunday. My contribution to this ministry is a small volunteer commitment, but it is encouraging to hear that my humble offering is making a big impact. I am blessed to be part of this great team". —Sandra Andrews, level 3 teacher

"Last Sunday we were blessed by our Congolese and Rwandan brothers and sisters. They treated us to an event to thank us for all we do for them in our English Language Learning (ELL) classes. We spent time testifying how much they all mean to us and what a great blessing it is to have them in our lives. They also testified to the blessing we are to them. As a show of thanks they got each couple a gift, the husband received a shirt, the wife a dress, a purse and jewelry, plus a set of traditional nesting baskets that are a symbol of peace being in your home. What a blessing all of this was, and most especially spending time with our amazing friends. I love them so much." —Jared Benoit, level 2 teacher

Level 1 teacher Brynn Buchanan and her husband Mitchell receive and enjoy their gifts so much it has everyone laughing.

"Our Congolese brothers and sisters know a humility I’ve never considered having. They apologize on behalf of those who don’t make it to class, though we know they work nights and need sleep before their next shift. They apologize for not using as much English as they’d like, though we know their language capacity already far outweighs that of their (mostly) monolingual teachers. They apologize for not having nicer gifts, though we don’t know the last time we were gifted so well. They’ve endured lives I can’t imagine, yet they smile real smiles. They serve a real God whom they know because he’s saved them. I’m deeply humbled by their service to me."

—Brynn Buchanan, level 1 teacher

"Last Sunday was particularly special to be able to welcome the Congolese students to our weekly Sunday morning Bible study and introduce them to the greater body of believers we teachers are part of. For them it was eye-opening and encouraging to meet others, and see the breadth of the larger community and ministry. The testimonies that flowed from our lunch together all spoke of the kindness, love and unity the students feel, both through the language classes and the fruit of the relationships that have developed over the last 2 years together. Teachers also shared how encouraged they were by the students’ hard work ethic, English being the 5th or 6th language learned by some. I think we all left feeling built up by the unity and mutual respect we have for one another, and we could tell there is more good in store for us in the future." —Alyssa Kurtz, program manager & level 2 teacher

"It was wonderful to hear the students testifying about feeling loved, cared for and moved by our patience towards them. All of these are attributes we don’t teach as part of the ELL curriculum, but it’s all demonstrated in the teachers’ actions. We have talked about our program seeking to be more than just an English class program, that it would also an extension of God’s love and care to such people who have experienced so much devastation, pain, abuse and mistrust. It was wonderful to hear our students testifying about the love they have seen demonstrated through our service." —John Nyago, program manager & level 3 teacher