Celebrating WITH our English Students!
Last week, we partied in Portland and Lewiston, celebrating with more than 125 students who had completed various levels of English Language Learning. We also recognized our Fruitful Sewing students, who have participated in design and stitching program this past semester. Each of our sites offer multilevel courses including beginner, intermediate and conversational English. Asylum seekers from Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Refugees from Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine and other immigrants from China and Latin America fill classrooms weekly, excited to learn and willing to work.
So much work goes on behind the scenes to make these classes happen. Snack prep, lesson planning, evaluations require time, creativity and a commitment. Volunteer child care workers never know how many children or babies they will see. Their commitment and dedication allow parents commit to give a break to the parents and teachers so they can focus learning.
On Friday afternoon, more than 50 adult English students crammed into our teen center in Portland. RC staff member Alyssa Reiff, has worked incredibly hard over her first year of employment with The Root Cellar to re-establish our English program.
On Thursday morning, more than 70 students packed into our Cafe in Lewiston and that was shared was palatable, filling the space as each student celebrated each other on. Fruitful Sewing students showed off their designs as they received their certificates. There was seemingly no pause in clapping, encouraging and cheering as their names were called by their dedicated volunteer teachers. Dancing, Hugs or kisses almost always followed each certificate presentation.
These programs aren’t just language learning opportunities. We seek the peace of our cities by radically welcoming and engaging neighbors in need with programing that equips them with skill and deep relationships, slowly building a community empowered by the way of Jesus. English classes are simply an invitation for each of us to discover what God is doing in our cities.
WE DEPEND ON GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS - LIKE YOU - TO MAKE MINISTRY LIKE THIS POSSIBLE. WOULD YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER MAKING A GIFT TODAY?
Thank you, Michelle!
We also celebrated the dedicated work of one of our long time volunteers in Lewiston, Michelle Richards. Michelle and her husband Ryland moved into the Tree Streets Neighborhood over a decade ago, seeking to love their neighbors in the way of Jesus. Over the last 9 years, she volunteered her time to choose curriculum, create lesson plans, train teachers, evaluate students, launch a tutoring arm of the program and was always willing to step up when needed. These classes has equipped well over 1000 students with the English language while welcoming them into a new home and city.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT MICHELLE AND HER WORK IN LEWISTON
WE MADE THE NEWS!
Huge thanks to Sean Stackhouse from News Center Maine for stopping by covering our Portland Celebration!
