Students of the Month

ezekiel, ishmael, and sujan

What can bring eight year old boys born in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nepal together in St. Louis? Word of Life Lutheran School and Christian Friends of New Americans have made that happen with the Adopt a Student Ministry.

If you asked them, Ezekiel King, Ishmael Sesay and Sujan Basnet would be quick to tell you they have enjoyed their time together at Word of Life. Although they learned different languages as young children, they now all speak English fluently and that’s how they communicate with each other, most of the time. Sometimes they use Creole to talk with each other, and Ezekiel and Ishmael helped Sujan learn a little Creole so they could share some secrets. They do like to sit together at lunch.

They have different favorite subjects in third grade; Ishmael likes math, Sujan likes reading and Ezekiel’s favorite is religion. When Mrs. Klug, their teacher, assigns teams to work on projects together, sometimes they get to work with each other, but usually they team up with other classmates, and even choose others to work with when they get to pick their teammates.

All three play soccer, although Ishmael was hurt in the first practice of this season and has decided not to play this year.

Sujan and his family belong to Messiah Lutheran, while Ishmael and Ezekiel are members at Timothy. Ezekiel hopes to acolyte for the Lenten midweek services there.

Now in its sixth year, the scholarship program has provided assistance for between 25 and 30 New American students per year. Interestingly, 80 percent of them, together with their families, are now members of LCMS congregations.

By: Judith Meyer (Timothy Lutheran Church)