ESL Children's Outreach
If you find yourself wandering the hallways of College Church on a Monday or Thursday morning, you might run into a group of Clapham students spending time with some of the ESL families. With service at the heart of Clapham’s philosophy, Clapham students are learning to live out these verses from Leviticus: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34). Showing kindness to the “alien and stranger” is something very close to the heart of God, and it is such a blessing for our children to have the opportunity to live out this aspect of their faith on a regular basis.
Each Clapham class spends one morning each month showing kindness to the “stranger” in their very own school building. Each Monday and Thursday morning, from 8:40-9:10, classes from Clapham take turns interacting with the ESL families who wait in the halls for their classes to begin. Because the World Relief van has to make several trips to pick up all the families, many arrive at College Church around 8:30, with nothing to do but sit in the hall and wait until they can go into their classes at 9:15. The Clapham students play games, read books, and play ball with the children that are there each morning.
It has been amazing to see the Clapham students’ excitement when it is their “ESL day.” As the year has gone on, students have become increasingly comfortable interacting with the adults and children. The service moms from each class coordinate the time each month. Some classes bring coffee and donut holes, and the kids love serving as the “waiters.” Other classes have organized group games or a story. Balloons are a favorite, as well as the balls that the boys especially enjoy. We have learned that soccer is truly the world’s sport, with some of the ESL dads engaging in playing as well. Many of the students enjoy challenging the adults to a game of Connect 4 and are surprised when someone they have just taught to play beats them!
The greatest joy has been seeing the hearts of Clapham students in connecting with these children and families. Several ESL families have just recently arrived since Christmas, and at first their children were so reserved, shy and scared. Each week, as our students interact with them, they open up a little more. Last week several boys from Class 3 spent their time playing soccer in the hall with 2 little boys and their father who recently arrived from Iraq. When it was time to go, 2 boys from Class 3 went over to the boys and gave them big hugs and told them they had fun with them! Although I’m sure the boys did not know what was said to them, it was clear from their huge smiles that they felt loved. These were the same boys who were hiding behind their mom the whole time just a month ago! What a blessing for our children to be able to show God’s love in such a tangible way at such a young age!
Several parents who have volunteered have expressed that the experience has benefited them as well. The ESL adults really appreciate the opportunity to practice their English, and it is exciting to think that we have the opportunity to befriend people from countries where it is illegal to share your faith. Here they are in our country and are hungry for interaction. What a wonderful opportunity for sharing the Gospel, or at least planting seeds of God’s love!
Pray for their interactions and that their hearts and ours will continue to grow in love for the “stranger,” loving them because we once were “strangers” to God, but now are his children. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). Pray that one day, we will see in heaven some of these dear people that our children have come to know!
Life of Service 