Immigrant Child

Hi! My name is Lydia and I'm in 5th grade. My favorite food is pizza and I have the sweetest kitten named Binky. I have two brothers, one older — Jimmy, and one much younger, Ricky. I have lots of friends at my school. I have church friends, too, but it's a little different there. See, when I was little my family came to the United States from Colombia, South America. We attend church where the services are in Spanish. I love my church, and the people there are all great! Our pastor is terrific. He is from Puerto Rico, so he knows a lot of Spanish songs I don't know. Sometimes I get kind of bored, though, I wish we could have some services or Sunday school classes in English.But most of the grown-ups like it better in Spanish. My Sunday school teacher is from Guatemala, and she's really nice. For me, English is pretty easy but it isn't so easy for old people in their thirties like her.

My grandfather lives in our home. He is very wise. Sometimes he needs me to go with him when he has business to take care of, you know, to help him understand the English. I can tell he doesn't always like it when we speak English a lot a home, but he is so kind, he never complains. He doesn't like my music that much, either. He says, "If you like loud music, try some of my salsa music!"

My brother Jimmy wants to play football, but my abuelo thinks it's crazy. Granddad likes soccer instead. I think he gets lonely thinking about his home country and always talks about returning. to me, this is home. But I think I know how it might feel to be far away from my best friends.

Reflecting through a Child's Eyes:

• Take a moment to step into Lydia's shoes. How do you think she feels being able to speak English when some older, respected loved ones and church friends have difficulty with it?
• What important role does Lydia play in her family?

Reflecting through God's Word:

• What do you think young Lydia might have in common with her biblical namesake in Acts 16:14-15?
• Second Timothy 4:12 is a familiar passage. In light of Lydia's story, does this text suggest any new insights? In what ways does it seem as if our church speaks a different language from the world we live in day to day? How do you react to the comment that faithful Christian witnessing is really just translating the gospel in ways people can understand?

Prayer:
O God of our heart's language, help us to be "living translations" of your gospel. Nurture in us a devotion to your family of faith and a growing desire to share good news in our daily lives, through Christ. Amen.

Resources:
Printable Version — pdf / Word
Graphics
Assimilation Manual for Cross-Culture Pastors and Congregations (Board of Missions resource)
Guidelines for Presbyterial Mentors with Cross-Culture Congregations (Board of Missions resource)
Singing the Lord's Song in a New Land - Korean American Practices of Faith — Su Yon Pak, et al.
One New People— Manuel Ortiz