The room erupted in intense discussion. We had just listened to Luke 21 from a Swahili Bible app, and there was some serious Bible study being done by my middle school girls, though I had no clue what all was being said!
A few weeks ago, just as my three core girls and I had settled into routine, several new girls with very limited English joined our youth Bible study, completely changing the dynamics. This actually turned out to be an unexpected answer to prayer, as most of these new girls had been in my summer ESL group, and I had since lost touch with them. So while my teammate led the English-fluent girls, I started a low-level English Bible study on the spot... which has been a challenge. Truth*, who chose to stay in my group so she could help translate for her Swahili-speaking friends, has been a huge help and encouragement, and this is stretching and growing both of us!
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| Sometimes you've got to draw pictures to try to explain Jesus' abstract parables lol (Luke 20:9-18) |
Although both Truth and I felt like everyone was taking away something from Bible study, there were still mostly just smiles, nods, and one-word answers. I kept praying about how to facilitate the girls to not only understand, but to respond and share their thoughts. Language and literacy barriers are hard! So God gave me the idea of playing a Swahili Bible app instead of laboring through the difficult English text. So we listened to Swahili Jesus speak:
"Do not be afraid when you hear about wars and about fighting against rulers... Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. In many places there will be powerful earthquakes. People will go hungry. There will be terrible sicknesses. Things will happen that will make people afraid.
"...And so you will be witnesses about me. But make up your mind not to worry ahead of time about how to stand up for yourselves. I will give you words of wisdom. None of your enemies will be able to withstand them or prove them wrong... Remain strong in the faith, and you will receive eternal life.
"The nations of the earth will we in terrible pain... Terror will make people faint. They will be worried about what is happening in the world... When these things take place, stand up. Hold your head up with joy and hope. The time when you will be set free will be very close... Heaven and earth will pass away. But My words will never pass away." (from Luke 21, NIRV)
Now each girl heard and understood. Now every one of them was brimming with questions, comments, and connections. Truth turned to me and said "It's working!" Poor Truth was trying valiantly to field everyone's comments and translate for me, but I told her to just go with the Swahili, and I sat back and smiled. In that moment they didn't need my fumbling words. They wanted to hear Jesus speak (Luke 21:38b).
Please pray that these powerful, relevant words will rule over the anxiety in our hearts during these uncertain times, and that my girls will continue reading/listening in the Gospel of Luke, even though For the Nations is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 precautions.
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| Kids-Clubbers, interns, & Bible study youth join together for an epic round of Uno :) |
*Names changed for privacy. To further respect the privacy of individuals mentioned in this post, please do not share this information in a public setting or on social media.*
