By Gus Smith
Yesterday (Tuesday), our group sat in on a class for native Spanish speakers who were learning English, run by an organization called Nuestra Casa. Leading up to our visit, I was nervous. I’d practiced Spanish with native speakers very sporadically, and feared that I wouldn’t be able to understand or keep up with the things they might say to me. Upon our arrival to the church building that houses Nuestra Casa’s classrooms and offices, that fear started to disappear. Those I met inside were some of the most caring and friendly people I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with. The immediacy and energy with which they welcomed us broke any ice there might have been and allowed us to feel the level of relaxation necessary to form real connections. All of that happened before we even entered the classroom, but continued inside. The students, who were full grown adults, many with children, had a passion for learning and a desire to engage with us that made it really easy to give help when it was asked for, or offer it when it appeared necessary. That mix of factors created an instant community between all of us that I’ve rarely seen anywhere else. Everyone was appreciated, recognized, and included, and I’m very excited to return to Nuestra Casa tomorrow for our next class.