Bowling!
/Imagine the idea of moving yourself and loved ones to a new country where you neither speak the local language nor have any friends or relatives to guide your learning. EVERYTHING you do at first would be new and quite dependent on others. "Everything" is a large scope, almost unimaginable - so let's scale it down to something simple. Let's say, bowling.
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The American way of taking your family out to do something enjoyable together is daunting in this scenario. Driving a vehicle on foreign streets. Finding the location as you turn on unfamiliar roads. Going into the appropriate door, asking for rental shoes and getting the proper size, and advocating for yourself when the shoes don't fit. Finding a champion bowling ball for your novice skills....and then figuring out the machines to set up the game, the rules, the movement to roll a ball, the bumpers, the pins, the ball retrieval and what is that little fan even for?
This weekend, I observed parts of this scene unfold. Yet, where there could have been obvious emotions of failure and struggle, I witnessed Jesus's love and care. Watching 20 New American youth from Messiah Lutheran and their families assist our New American friends experience their first-ever game of bowling, brought joy to all. Fashionable shoes were tied, digital scorecards completed, and pins were struck with a shared sense of accomplishment.
How would you like to engage your community with New Americans? Often people are hesitant because they don't know what skills they have to offer. It is truly the simple things we often take for granted that create meaningful relationships, connecting others to the gospel of Jesus. If you might wish to explore this further, you may contact me at azeigler@cfna-stl.org.
By Amy Zeigler
CFNA Community Engagement Facilitator
