(The following is a true story from personal experience): “I MUST tell you about the wonderful week I had!!”, my Egyptian friend excitedly told me this week. I met her online through HelloTalk, a conversation app on my phone, about two years ago. My friend is a Christian that I’m teaching English to online….simply by chatting via Zoom one hour a week. I also have a lot of Muslim ladies I chat with….some online and some in America in person. As we respect their culture, it’s always woman to woman, and man to man.
My Egyptian friend continued, “We had a group of Americans visiting my city from a church in Oklahoma! They brought a translator with them as they visited the school where I work. But they didn’t need a translator, because I translated for them!! I did it! I couldn’t believe it! And neither could the students at our school or the people I work with!! They all said, ‘Where did you learn to speak English so well?’ So I told them, ‘I have a good friend and a teacher from America!'”
If you can speak English, people all around the world need you! And if you’re a Christian, so much the better! If you are speaking with a Muslim, you may have an opportunity to share your faith, after you’ve done some important training in the cultural aspects.
We have worked with two different volunteer ministries and can highly recommend either one to you. The first is Filiz, and RIGHT NOW they are in desperate need of volunteers! Male or female. This is a Christian ministry that helps non-native English speakers (refugees, immigrants, and people overseas) practice conversational English, sometimes read simple books, and share cultures and faith. Their Director/Founder/Volunteer is Heidi Cook, and you can email her at cookh.gccp@gmail.com Here is a link to their volunteer form application: https://global-conversation-partner-program.smartmatchapp.com/client/submissionform/19
You can also contact The Crescent Project for more information is available on this by contacting the crescentproject.org, they have an excellent on-going training program as you work with Muslims, and will even teach you how to make your new friends! They were founded by a Muslim man who came to Christ and realized that when he was new to America just how many westerners failed to reach out to him
Both of these groups offer training and encouragement as you work on-line with your new friends. Again, both are volunteer positions and, depending upon how many new friends you make, require at least one hour per week online.