Silvia was not planning to start an ESL program when she walked into a Hispanic grocery store in her town in Virginia. She was just looking for some of the foods she missed from her homeland of Colombia. But as the store owner spoke with her about the needs of immigrants in the community to learn English, she felt the Holy Spirit leading her to do something. She immediately wrote her name and number on a piece of paper and posted it at the store for those interested in free English lessons.
She prayed and said, “God, this was your idea. How should we do this?” and then “all the pieces came together.” Students started to call her. She came across the box containing the ESL books she had received at our teacher training years before. The director of her local library provided a room equipped with a projector, screen, and whiteboard for the class.
Now she has a group of 20 students aged 18-61 who meet weekly to practice English and learn about the love of Jesus. Music, food and fellowship are part of their times together. Silvia shares her testimony with her students: “God has been my strength as an immigrant facing discrimination and a new culture.” She reminds them that “they have value, they are appreciated, included and not judged.” Silvia says, “I see what the Lord is doing. This class is the beginning, it is not the end. It was His idea!”