Two Are Better than One
by Ruth VanBuskirk, ESL Volunteer
““Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.” ”
My husband, Drew, and I have been volunteering with Mission Adelante since shortly after we moved to Kansas City in 2019. We’ve met some of our dearest friends through our time here - both other volunteers, staff, and students. We can imagine a little bit of what it might feel like to immigrate because we’ve moved quite a few times ourselves - albeit all within the United States. While we may not know the challenges of learning a new language to navigate the everyday tasks of life, we do know what it feels like to have to start over and make new friends and build a new life and community. It’s hard - but finding people to love and be loved by is worth it. We wanted to help others find that, which is why we started volunteering. And, wouldn’t you know it? We found that community too!
In May of 2020, our life changed dramatically. Yes, this was during some of the worst of the pandemic, but, no, that’s not what I'm talking about. Our son, Theo, was born! As anyone who has kids (or knows someone who does) understands, so much changes. One thing that we wanted to keep the same was prioritizing our volunteering with ESL at Mission Adelante. But, we had a conundrum.
Someone had to watch Theo…
Drew and I felt it was important that both of us volunteered and we needed to figure out a way for that to happen AND be able to watch Theo. So, we devised a plan and asked Gissell what she thought of it. Drew and I would together be one volunteer - each of us taking turns every other week to serve as a conversation partner with a student. We figured two were better than one...or none...since Theo couldn’t stay up that late yet and we couldn’t leave him alone. This is the second semester we’ve done it and we’re loving it!
We’ve been working with Grebil this semester and it’s been such an inspiration to see him improve in English and gain confidence. It’s even more fun to get to know him and a bit of his family and history.
If you’re thinking about joining in the fun of ESL - do it! You won’t regret it. English speakers, If you can’t volunteer every week, consider trying it out as a substitute. English language learners, if you’ve been wanting to start a class, you’ll find Mission Adelante’s class one that truly builds confidence and community. We hope to see you there!
