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so i have a new friend

her name is emma. emma has just moved to the us from israel and speaks no english. that's right. none. her parents do, but she doesn't.
last week was her first week in our class. her parents were around frequently to make sure she was doing alright (and i'd probably do the same if my child didn't speak the same language of anyone around her), but mostly it was just us and emma. emma is a beautiful girl and looks much older than the other kids in our class. from what i can tell, she's smart, compassionate, maybe a little shy but also outgoing, and friendly.

here's why i'm telling you all this.
the kids in our class have taken to emma very well. i love hearing them ask when she's coming or getting excited when she shows up. while they do this for every new "friend" who comes to our class, i don't really get tired of hearing it. because kids take everyone at face value. there's no judging or competing. everyone is a potential friend. even a kid who doesn't speak your language.
watching the kids interact with emma and try to get to know her has been so cool. they've done what they could beyond the language barrier and tried to make her a part of our class. they've accepted her and tried to help her.
and see, as an adult, i think, "goodness, i can't really imagine being in a place for most of the day where i can't really communicate with anyone. every now and then someone will come around who i understand, but the rest of the time i'd be, for all intents and purposes, alone. i'm not sure how well i'd do that." but i see the kids adjusting and communicating and building relationships despite that barrier. i just love how kids interact with others. sometimes i think it'd be easier if we all viewed everyone as a potential friend, no matter who they are.

kids are kids, no matter who they are, where they're from or what they've been through. they're still kids. and it's cool to see them build friendships across all barriers in our little classroom



the other reason i've enjoyed having emma in our class (although her presence makes me feel a really strong desire to speak more hebrew than stomach, head, seven and cutie-pie!) is because i've had some really cool moments where i have no idea what she's saying and i know she doesn't understand a lick of what i've said, but somehow we've understood each other. we've clicked in those moments in a way i simply can't explain. God's in those times, connecting us to help each of us move forward.

it's just been a neat experience. and i thought i'd share.

have a wonderful sleep...

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