I minister through the gift of teaching to build bridges between English and Spanish speaking communities.

I  teach Spanish to English speakers and English to speakers of other languages in hopes of not only breaking down barriers, but also empowering individuals to confidently engage with those from cultures different than their own. 

I feel called to teach English to immigrants, refugees, and human trafficking survivors. By teaching English Language Learners (ELL’s) the English skills they need to communicate in an English speaking society, I hope to prevent them from becoming victims of tragedies such as human trafficking (or from being trafficked again), as well as providing a path forward to a better quality of life. Empowering ELL’s with the English language will hopefully then enable them to secure jobs in which the English language is required, get connected to a community of English speakers who they can do life with, and overall sustain a better quality of life for both themselves and their families.  

I also practice conversational English with native Spanish speakers who have already begun the journey of learning English so they can gain confidence in their English speaking skills & have a greater impact within their spheres of influence.  

Teaching Spanish to English speakers is another big part of what I feel called to do, in hopes that those individuals will then connect with Spanish speakers, both at home and abroad. My goal is to help English speakers become more effective in a world in which the ability to speak the Spanish language is becoming increasingly more necessary.

How do I tangibly work to achieve these goals? I serve as an ESL teacher to communities of adult English Language Learners in the Atlanta metro area, some of whom are immigrants, some of whom are refugees, and some of whom are human trafficking survivors. I serve at home and abroad with anti-human trafficking organizations and ministries in Spanish speaking countries. I serve as an online lecturer of Spanish at Oral Roberts University, teaching Spanish today to tomorrow’s Christian leaders. I serve as a Spanish and English tutor to students grades k-12. I serve as a creative writing coach, encouraging others to share their stories.  I serve as a published writer, having contributed to a Zondervan Devotional Bible for Women. In addition to using my gift of teaching as a ministry, both virtually and in person in the Atlanta area, I also serve alongside my husband, Asif Shaikh in our ministry to collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes. Our sports ministry has a global reach as the athletes we minister to are both American and international. I also thoroughly enjoy having a hospitality ministry based out of our home! Together, Asif and I have been married for 25 years and we are blessed to have had the privilege of raising two beautiful daughters!