Zarqa is known to Jordanians as an industrial city, dense with apartment buildings feeding the busy streets. The freeway is lined with cars and concrete buildings that are either freshly under construction or falling apart in disrepair.

Although the area is busy with commerce and transportation, one could never presume the city prosperous. There are few libraries and no public music venues in this city of 1.5 million.

The city has been home to violent terror cells, rocking both Jordan and the world. It also houses the second largest Syrian refugee camp in the world, hosting more than 36,000 refugees. Unemployment stays high, and youth of the city carry little standing in securing jobs outside the city because of the reputation of their hometown.

But when you pull into the school where Joy teaches music, suddenly the drab concrete has color. Bright colors and refined edges to the buildings cause the stark contrast.

A child coming from the surrounding area would have a great deal of pride in going to this school. The students here seem excited, even thrilled about learning.

The people who teach here have a certain degree of sacrifice. They're not in it for the glory. They're not in it for the money. They're in it for a higher purpose.

They’re in it for the sake of love.

Joy has given her skills toward this educational model that shines brightly through the low-hanging haze of this gritty city.

Her father was a pastor in South Korea who passed away when she was just 6. A violin was given to her as a hobby to help with her loneliness.

When she was 14, an American family from church generously took her in and invited her to live and study in the U.S. Eventually, Indiana University admitted her, where she sat under the tutelage of world-class teachers. Later accepted into Julliard, her training culminated in the title of “concert mistress,” the leader of the orchestra in that renowned program.

There is no stage here in Zarqa. There are no audiences. And the applause is quite different.

Joy has chosen this hard path in a non-traditional setting because she is called to more than performance. She’s called to love.

When Joy first arrived, she started the music program from the ground up. She began with general music classes offered to kindergarten through eighth grade children. But this simple move was met with much opposition from the community.

Certain influential community leaders in Zarqa follow teachings that discourage or even forbid music, including musical instruments and vocal performances. City leaders called on the school to fire this new teacher. Parents removed their children from the school. 

“Music is generally perceived negatively here,” said Joy. “It’s marginalized both socially and intellectually.”

Undaunted, Joy played on.

“I was surprised at the opposition, but obviously the soil wasn’t ready,” she said.

“In this culture, children hear others using their voices to direct or yell. They were genuinely surprised to hear themselves sing, that their voices could be used for something beautiful.”

Joy’s faithful passion and dedication to excellence and her love for the students changed hearts.

“Over time, they realized we were not here to give something harmful,” said Joy. “Parents saw that we genuinely love their children.”

Then she brought out her violin. Her first class of students numbered 10.

Once other parents heard the sweet notes of a trained violinist and her students, their apprehension melted. One by one, the students lined up for the violin lessons. There are now 30 students in the program, carefully and competitively selected. Now, parents complain when their child cannot get into the program.

A musician of this caliber could easily find work in any number of orchestras around the world. Practicing with other world-class musicians and performing to adoring crowds is a lifetime goal for most.

But for Joy, she’s not losing her life by serving overseas. She’s not losing her dream – she’s gaining a vision.

“When I had the calling to serve overseas, I struggled. Because I only know how to play the violin. God said, ‘that is enough.’”

“All of these gifts were given to me by grace, so I’m not giving anything up. I’m walking in God’s calling,” she said.

Schools like this show that children indeed do have a future, especially in some of the world's most challenging areas.

Failure and strife mark Zarqa’s past and present, but the future is still to be written.

And love has the power to change the narrative.

Author’s Bio: David Rupert is an IDEAS Associate and a Colorado-based writer who focuses on transformational, inspirational and impact storytelling. Click here for more stories of transformational love.