Phoebe Knows

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Phoebe knows the feeling. She’s been the one who didn’t understand, the one who didn’t fit in. She’s been the one on the outside of a joke, laughing anyway. She knows how it feels to constantly miss your grandparents, your favorite foods, your big city.​

The local library makes a great tutoring venue.

So Phoebe knows what to say when she sits down with Esther,* a 9th grade girl who needs some help writing essays for her language arts class. 

​Phoebe left Korea and came to Knoxville just four years ago. Now a senior at Johnson University, she holds her plans loosely, waiting on God to direct her path, but she expects He’ll lead her to use her psychology degree to help others transition to life in a new country. She says, “I know exactly how it feels to be a foreigner, stranger, and an outsider. But each time I needed help, God sent good friends and people around me. I want to be the one that gives help to those who need it.” 

With Esther, Phoebe is already putting that desire into practice. You see, Esther recently moved here from Korea, too. She has her family, which makes it a little easier, but she doesn’t fit in at school, and she misses her extended family.  

The first time Phoebe walked into Esther’s home, she could tell Esther needed more than a writing tutor. She needed a mentor—someone who knows exactly what she’s feeling and can help her adjust. Phoebe also knows what Esther needs more than anything (even English writing skills or knowing how to fit in at school): to place her faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Like God blessed Phoebe with good friends and people to help her when she needed it, God has now blessed Esther with Phoebe. 

Coincidence? We don’t think so.

READY TO GET INVOLVED?
God constantly astounds us by how He brings mentors and mentees together through KIN at just the right times! On KIN’s side, it takes a lot of prayer and more than a little patience. Our staff spends an average of 3 hours on each new volunteer: vetting, orienting, training, placing, and following up with that person. We usually have people waiting to be interviewed and/or placed with an international. Your donations have made it possible for God to use KIN to spread the Gospel in this remarkable, personal way. Thank you!

*Name changed for privacy.

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