Learning for Life

22 students started. 10 continued faithfully to the end. They come with head coverings, long skirts, hard life stories and big smiles. Each Wednesday I have looked forward to my Spanish class, a solid group of 8-10 women who have attended faithfully each week, pictured here: (left to right) Karthoum, Saliha, Guita, me, Rachma and Malika.

The learning curve is high. Many are not literate in their own native languages. So, learning to hold a pencil and/or re-learning to read from left to right (instead of right to left) are some of the language challenges that they must overcome as they gather the building blocks for adequate communication in this new world they live in. The learning process is slow. Many have lived here for years and are just starting to learn the language. Others have attended classes for multiple years but require much repetition of basic topics until they are recorded in long-term memory.

The year-long course ended this week.  We celebrated with traditional Moroccan sweets and short and simple ceremony with diplomas for those who persevered until the end.

Patience, persistence, love and kindness were mutual during this school year. In the quiet moments after class, two different students shared with grave personal difficulties they are battling. Many of these women shared kind words and sympathies after the stillbirth of our second child. For this, any many other sweet moments, these women will always have a special place in my heart.

These women also play a hugely significant role in the current society, serving as the pillar of their families, teaching values to their children and even securing basic jobs where their husbands are unable to find work.

Please pray that the Lord would increase their hunger for Jesus. Pray that He would open doors to talk about Him with those who need Him most. Please pray for hope, for a future and for blessings upon them and their families.