A Morning of Reading, Math, and Unexpected Blessings with Refugee Hope Partners

The room was filled with the sounds of children reading aloud.

Some read confidently. Others paused to sound out unfamiliar words. A few needed encouragement to keep going. Sitting beside them, ten volunteers from our church listened, helped, and cheered them on as they practiced their reading and English-language skills during Refugee Hope Partners' summer day camp on Monday, June 22.

At first glance, it may have looked like a simple morning of tutoring. But as the day unfolded, it became clear that something deeper was happening.

One by one, refugee children shared stories through the books they were reading. They stretched themselves, worked through challenges, and celebrated small victories. Their determination was inspiring. Even when a word was difficult or a math problem seemed confusing, they kept trying.

Speaking of math—our volunteers also spent time helping the children work through math practice. To be honest, some of us may have been almost as challenged by the worksheets as the students were! Thankfully, laughter is a great teaching tool, and together we worked through problems, encouraged one another, and learned along the way.

What stood out most wasn't the reading or the math. It was the joy.

There was joy in the children's eagerness to learn. Joy in the relationships that formed across different backgrounds and experiences. Joy in seeing confidence grow with each page read and each problem solved.

Through our partnership with Refugee Hope Partners, we often talk about serving our neighbors. On this particular morning, however, many of us were reminded that service is rarely one-sided. While we came hoping to encourage and support refugee children in our community, we left encouraged ourselves.

The resilience, courage, and enthusiasm of these young learners made a lasting impression on everyone who attended. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Refugee Hope Partners and for the ten volunteers who gave their time to invest in the lives of these children.

Sometimes ministry looks like grand gestures. Sometimes it looks like sitting beside a child, listening as they read a story, and helping them solve a math problem. And sometimes those simple moments become the ones God uses to change all of us.