I had the opportunity to teach some classes through a Bible training program in Russia. I was paired with a pastor from the mid-west to teach a two-week course in Central Russia. We were assigned a young Russian translator to help us teach our class. He was a gifted young man who worked hard to take our words and lessons and make them clear to our students.
My partner and I shared a two bedroom apartment with our translator. I got my own room and the other teacher roomed with the translator. However, things did not go well. Our translator had a hard time going to bed as he arranged and re-arranged things in their room. He was slow getting ready in the morning and made us late to our class several times. My partner was frustrated and I think our translator was too.
Finally, we realized that our translator had some disabilities. He was very gifted but socially he lacked life skills with organization and interpersonal relationships. So we decided to make some changes. We agreed that I should share the bedroom with him. I usually fell asleep quickly and would not be bothered by him shuffling around rearranging things at bed time. We decided to walk to our class by ourselves and let him come at his own pace.
Things began to improve. Our translator continued to do a great job and he seemed more relaxed and comfortable. Later he accompanied me to western Russia to visit other Russian pastors and church friends.
At the end of the course, we asked our students to evaluate our efforts. Many shared encouraging words and thanked us for coming to Russia. But one man was more specific. He told me that his fellow students watched the way we treated our translator with kindness and patience. We did not realize our conduct spoke louder than our lessons. Jesus said, “People will know you are my followers when you love one another (John 14:35). Let me encourage you to treat others with kindness and compassion. You never know who may be watching!
For more articles by the author you can purchase his book – Let Me Encourage You – 365 stories and articles (one for every day of the year) by Mark Hopper. You can purchase a copy for yourself or as a gift for a friend at markh@efreedb.org – the cost is $25 and includes postage.
Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper 