Christina Chiu, MCC BC

I work as the ESL Program Director and as an ESL teacher at Kingcrest International Neighbours, which works in partnership with 6 local churches and the MCC Refugee Office in Vancouver.  

As I reflect on this past year, 2 students come to mind: Raul and Francisca.

Raul is an indigenous leader from Oaxaca who was persuaded by his own people to leave Mexico to save his life. Raul was threatened, beaten up, tortured and thrown in prison 11 times because he would not keep silent about the injustice of his government collaborating with multinational corporations to steal the land, water and resources from the indigenous communities of his area. He also has helped his people in Community development through starting cooperatives & small businesses. He continues the work of making the plight of his people known. From him, I have come to realize more about why there are refugees coming from "vacationland" Mexico. I learned to understand more about the struggles for justice and what a community can do when they organize together.

Francisca comes from Brazil from a poor family. She had very little education because her family could not afford it. She worked hard all her life in a fabric factory. She came to Canada to visit her daughter and granddaughter. From her, I have learned about the transforming influence of gratitude. Francisca loves Jesus and was so very grateful to be able to study & learn English. She has been a positive influence on her whole class. She has warmly and openly shared her faith and expressed her gratitude with the other students and with the teachers, encouraging all of us so much. From these two, I have learned not only more deeply about situations in other parts of the world, but important attitudes of courage, perseverance and radical gratitude in overcoming hardship.

• Pray for wisdom & clarity of God's direction and vision for this ministry
• Pray for enough teachers & other volunteers to cover all the areas needed    
• Pray for me to deepen in those qualities of courage, perseverance and gratitude

 

For more information on Service Opportunities contact Sophie Tiessen-Eigbike at (604) 850-6639 in Abbotsford, 1-888-622-6337 from outside the Lower Mainland or e-mail: stiessen@mccbc.com