The Unique Language of Love

by Laura Fears

Milwaukee is a beautiful city rich in personality and charm; it is by far my favorite place in the world! I love the city buildings, the lakefront, the various parks, the old houses, the custard, and the numerous festivals. However, if you travel a few miles south of downtown, you will come to a place that is very near and dear to my heart. The south side of Milwaukee is home to thousands of refugee families from all over the world. Because of the various cultures, traditions, and backgrounds, the south side has a particularly unique beauty all its own.

It is an undeniable fact of life that change is inevitable. Sometimes circumstances beyond our control interfere with our dreams and plans and put us on a whole new track in life. No one understands this better than the refugee community. From their earliest days they had dreams, hopes and plans for their futures. At some point, the reality of war, violence, poverty and evil shattered those dreams, forcing them to seek a new life and leave behind their homes, families, friends, possessions, and in many cases their honor, dignity and sense of belonging.

However, although change is inevitable it is not altogether unbearable, for hope can withstand the tides of change and cause dreams to spring to life even in the midst of changing circumstances.

Most refugee families simply desire to live a normal and quiet life here in America. They want their kids to succeed in school, to have some type of job and contribute back to society in some way. However, to accomplish this, to become fully integrated into a society one must first learn the language.

The International Language Center and Tutoring (ILCT) was established by Eastbrook Church in March 2011 in part to accomplish this very thing. I have been serving refugee families through the ILCT since 2014. However, what we do is much more than teach English. By meeting our clients’ most practical needs, we have been given the privilege of being welcomed into their families and community. It is through these relationships that joy is returned, hope is rekindled, and dignity is restored. But more importantly, Christ’s love is being communicated and the Holy Spirit is working to open their hearts to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Love is a complicated but incredibly powerful language for it requires our time, effort and sacrifice. True love should cost us something. God’s love for us brought Jesus to the Cross; this powerful act of sacrificial love rendered death defeated and brought about salvation for all who believe.

Love is a unique language and the amazing thing is it doesn’t always require words to be communicated. We can communicate love through service as we distribute furniture and clothes, provide transportation for various appointments, help with immigration paperwork and teach English. But love is best communicated in the context of a relationship as we sit with families, eat together, talk together, walk together and share life together. Service opens the doors for a relationship and the families on the south side are dying for relationships. At our very core, we were made for relationship so it only seems right for us to crave the love and attention of others.

A simple act of friendship is a powerful tool for the Holy Spirit to work. Many of our families on the south side are very lonely. If the husband is working, the wife stays home alone all day with her children. If she doesn’t know English, her isolation is even worse. A simple visit can completely change her life and as she sees your love and sacri ce, her heart is unknowingly drawn to God.

Working on the south side has been an incredible blessing for me. The families I work with have gone through much suffering and heartache, but they still have joy and hope. I’m encouraged by their love, blessed by their generosity, and challenged by their courage. At the same time, my heart breaks for them because they have yet to know the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ alone. However, God has shown me that He is the one who opens eyes and enables hearts to turn to Him. What an amazing God we serve.■