This month I’ve been blessed with a great ministry called iCan International. iCan serves as both an English language school and a cafe called Happy Heart.
iCan represents both Canada, as it was founded by a Canadian and Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Nice little subliminal message! 😉
Since the cafe just opened a month ago, we spend our mornings working in the kitchen alongside the deaf staff helping to expand their menu. It’s been so fun to work with such joyful people.
Each night we help teach English either in classrooms with children or adults or through conversation in a program called English corner. English corner is held in the cafe and is free for everyone who desires to learn conversational English.
One night my teammate Gretchen and I sat and talked with two students and found out they’re believers. I pulled out my bible and asked them if they wanted to practice their English by reading verses. They were very excited and agreed. Verse by verse we slowly read through Philippians 2, pausing at words they didn’t understand.
“What does encouragement mean? What does exalt mean?” They would stop and ask us. It made my heart so full as I’d never gone through scripture that way before. As Gretchen and I defined the words, we used examples and kind of act out the verses. I loved explaining the gospel in this way.
A few minutes later another man walked up to our table and wanted to join. The guys we were with asked if he was a Christian but he said he was a Buddhist though he was okay with reading the bible with us. We continued on, passing the bible around so everyone could read. As the Buddhist man read, he paused on the word ‘salvation.’
“What does this mean?” he asked us. Gretchen and I beamed with excitement as we helped him understand salvation. The Christian guys explained even more to him in Vietnamese. As the night got late and time came to a close, we wrapped up our reading. Everyone seemed so full of joy. What better way to teach English than to incorporate our Creator? I’ll answer that for you — there is no better way.
Afterward, the Buddhist man told us he would be back the following day and invited us to go out on his boat over the weekend. I’m thankful for such a great opportunity to share the gospel and to make a new friend.
