The church courtyard is a buzz as Dawn Waltz yells orders and greets workers as ESL classes start back up after winter break. Soon the students will arrive eager to learn a new language.
"I think of heaven as international," Waltz said.
And the program is truly international boasting over 200 students and over 175 children. Dawn Waltz is the administrator of an ESL program hosted by Faith Missionary Church in Indianapolis.
Waltz started out teaching. "This would be really cool to teach adults." She talked of how she homeschooled her kids and how she would love to teach adults- people who were more motivated to learn. But as time went on she saw an administrative need and in her third year with the program became an administrator as well.
"It just kept growing and I couldn't do both." So she became the head adminstrator. Since then they've had a growth of 160 students and a growth of 135 children. "The staff doubled this year. Our student body doubled this year."
"I used to be worry so much about child care, " Waltz said. So she asked the church deacons for security guards- who immediately said, 'Yes!'
"I just love people," She said smiling. "I've always had a heart for internationals... My husband and I moved a lot... so I understand a lot." As she talks a variety of workers come and ask for directions and help as she spoke with me; she calmly helps them and chats with them as she does so.
She says their goals are to model the love of Jesus Christ and to provide quality English teaching.
"I love watching students from all nationalities hug..." She said.
"The reason that I do this... I was sitting in a Christmas program [We had] during the bells in all different languages talking and by me there was a little girl holding hands with another across the aisle..."
Waltz said she'd love to be a light to the community and to help the church learn to be comfortable with all nationalities.
"I'd love to do the best job teaching our students." She said.
www.faithliveitout.org
www.esl.com
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