Friendship That Shapes the Heart

Refugee Resources has been such a meaningful part of my post-grad years in Dallas! I first learned about the ministry through my Eastside homegroup leader, who has served there for many years. Hearing her talk about the students and families she had come to know was so encouraging. At the time, I lived at The Village apartment complex, only a few miles south of Vickery Meadows. It was humbling to realize that just down the road were refugee families from all over the world who had left everything familiar to start over in a brand-new city. I had been living as their neighbor without really knowing them. When I learned about the refugee community so close to me, I was eager to learn more and find a way to be part of it. I have also always loved working with kids, so that was a fun plus!

For my first few months with Refugee Resources, I worked with one student who unfortunately left the program. While that was a bummer, and I was disappointed not to see that relationship through, I learned early on that this kind of ministry asks us to be flexible and trust in the Lord’s plan. Not long after, I was paired with Layla*, and looking back, His timing was so clear.

Layla is pure joy. She greets me every week with a hug, a big smile, and an eagerness to jump into her memory verse or Bible story. Her excitement is contagious. Even on weeks when I show up tired after a long day at work, I leave encouraged. After just a few weeks of working together, we had become real friends. We love to talk about our friends, fun things like getting our nails done or the newest fashion trend, and the ups and downs of middle school. I’ve loved having a front-row seat as she navigates new classes, new friendships, and growing up, and I’m grateful she trusts me enough to share those things with me.

Walking alongside Layla has been full of joy. One of my favorite parts has been watching her reading take off. She has grown almost 11 reading levels since she first started with Refugee Resources! Some of my favorite moments are celebrating with her when she passes a reading level or reads a new word correctly. Seeing her pride in those moments reminds me why showing up each week matters.

Of course, it isn’t always easy. Like any middle schooler, Layla sometimes gets distracted and would much rather talk about her week than work through a reading passage. On those days, I’ve had to learn to balance being her friend with being her mentor. I want to give her space to share what’s on her heart while still encouraging her to keep going. I often remind her that God has given her knowledge and the ability to understand, and that the work she puts in now matters. Those moments have stretched me, but they’ve also shown me how much growth happens in ordinary, steady weeks of simply showing up.

More than anything, Layla has been a sweet reminder of what it means to have childlike faith. She has faced many hardships in her young life, most of all moving across the world when she was just 8 years old. Leaving her home country, learning a new language, and adjusting to a new culture isn’t easy, and yet she continues to trust that God is protecting her and has a plan for her life. She memorizes scripture with an excitement to know more, and she talks about the Lord with a simple, genuine confidence that challenges me. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells His disciples that unless they become like little children, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. I understand that verse better now because of Layla. 

The Lord has been so kind to give me a friend in Layla. She is so much more than just a student to work with. Through this friendship, He has taught me patience and compassion, and He has helped me realize what a true privilege and gift mentorship can be. I came into Refugee Resources thinking I would be the one doing the teaching, but I’ve quickly realized how much I have to learn from her.

He has also deepened my understanding of what it means to love my neighbor. I used to be fearful of entering a community where I might look or act differently from those around me. I worried about saying the wrong thing or not fitting in. But Layla and her family have welcomed me with open arms, just as Jesus welcomed others throughout His ministry. Their hospitality has humbled me and reminded me that loving our neighbors is rarely about having the right words. It’s about being present, showing up week after week, and letting relationships grow over time. The neighbors God calls us to love don’t always look like us or share our background. Sometimes they live just a few miles down the road, and we simply have to be willing to go.

I’m so grateful for Refugee Resources, for Layla, and for the ways God continues to use this friendship to shape my heart. I can’t wait to see all that He has in store for her, and I’m thankful I get to be a small part of her story!

Written by: Natalie Terrell
Edited by: Jordyn Rupprecht

*Name has been changed to protect student privacy.