The ladies that come to my house know me. They are so patient when I talk in a circle to try to say what I could easily say in English. They work with me, rewording things to sound beautiful and speak deep. I love it and I really enjoy the fellowship and building up that comes when you spend time with others who want to study and know God's Word as much as you do. These women desire to draw near to God.
Last Friday, one of the gals came early. We sat and chatted and I was telling her some things that I was learning from a book that I was reading. Disciplines of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies, I think. As the class was about to casually begin, I noticed that she was writing in her small pad and she sheepishly smiled at me and said something along the lines of "I don't want to forget what we talked about". I WAS BLOWN AWAY! The thing is that whenever there is a light bulb moment which involved me and my Spanish, I know immediately is had nothing to do with me. It was God speaking through my weakness, my limitations, my messiness and reaching a heart with His words. I like it because it allows me to never take credit for what God does and instead marvel at his ability to speak through even me.
I pray often that God will give me Spanish but in the meantime may God give me the words for the hearers that will speak life into them now.
What kind of challenges are you dealing with now?
4 comments:
"...God speaking through my weakness, my limitations, my messiness and reaching a heart..."
I sure feel like I'm messing up. Why is He asking ME to do this "missionary at home" thing called foster care to all these kids!? I'm tired, cranky, etc. I see however, in the small things, that this really has been where He has me now. Thanks for the encouragement, Amy!
Amy I loved your post today. I am struggling with the same thing but with playing the violin. We(Sierra and I) have been playing for 6 months now. At home when I practice I feel like I might be getting somewhere but then when I try to play with a group or in front of people I realize I have such a long way to go and it gets discouraging. I know God is using this in my life to chalenge and grow me just as he is growing and shaping you. Thank you for sharing! Love you!
Hi Amy! I am interested to know how one finds the best way for them to learn a language. The reason I ask is, our family recently visited a foreign country and I could read many words in their written language (since I had taken it at MBI). Matt had listened to CDs and practiced it verbally more than me. I seem to need to see words written out, but people advised the CDs and simply watching their local TV...learning as a child does, by hearing. They said some other foreigners pick up their verbal language fairly easily - but can't read a word of it. That can come later (i.e. a child learns to read/write years after talking)
I do agree that verbal language is needed more on a daily basis (because writing to your taxi driver would take too long! "Turn here" - ooops, too late!) but what should I do if the words don't make sense when I hear them audibly, yet do make sense when I see them written? Can you read Spanish well?
Wow Amy! I rarely have time to check out your blog but always pray for you and your family every day. I was intriged by "That Language Thing". As I read this,and several other posts, I see how God is using you there in Bolivia. It is wonderful. I miss you so much but know that God needs you there and how proud I am of you. I tend to get down about simple things in life and when I see some of your posts, it makes me smile and know that with God, all things are possible. Your life reflects his glory and how awesome it is! Love you so much!
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