After eight months of living in the community of Woodlawn, I was discouraged and questioning my presence in the neighborhood.

One Sunday, I found myself on a rundown sidewalk telling my neighbor Quilen about my exhaustion in navigating cross-cultural relationships. He listened intently and occasionally roared with laughter at the awkwardness of my stories. In the winter, Quilen would wear a black beanie with the words “Jesus loves you” across the forehead. While we talked, his smile proclaimed that same truth to me, and he encouraged me to continue in the cross-cultural work I was doing.

I became connected to Quilen, who has become a good friend and cultural mentor, through a service day that Wheaton coordinated. Quilen owns a nonprofit called Eco House, which grows and sells flowers in an effort to alleviate poverty by employing youth.

Quilen’s encouragement to continue exemplifies something I learned during my Wheaton in Chicago experience: lean into cross-cultural relationships. Through Wheaton in Chicago and Global Urban Perspectives, I had the privilege of learning and serving alongside the community of Woodlawn. My time in Woodlawn helped me to understand God’s heart for the city. I am thankful for Wheaton’s partnership with the work that God is already doing on the South Side of Chicago.