When I initially weighed my options for gap year programs or studying abroad, one of my main concerns was the language barrier. You hear it often as part of the traveling cliche, but “where do they speak english?” was a real deciding factor for me. When I found the World Race, that question became less of a concern, and I decided that it’d be okay. And for once, I was right.
Some time had gone by on the field, I found myself growing in frustration as those around me couldn’t understand me, and they couldn’t communicate their needs to me either. I was frustrated that prayers sounded like gibberish, and that I couldn’t say more than “where is the bathroom?” or “what’s your name?”. I felt useless when it came to sharing the gospel, because my language was foreign to adults and children alike. Sure I’d picked up on random things here and there, but overall, I was lost. I felt stagnant.
Monday, while my team and I worked in the sanctuary we’ve spent this month building, I found myself trying to take direction from three of our Costa Rican brothers. It seemed like I was constantly doing the opposite of what they needed me to. After a morning of being pulled in opposite directions, I realized that I couldn’t go on guessing. I needed to be able to understand and communicate with those around me.
During our break for lunch, I found myself asking for help. I sat in a hammock and prayed aloud for God to take away the language barrier. I didn’t care to speak perfectly fluent Spanish, or to pick up on every foreign conversation I’d overhear. But hand signs and “si” weren’t going to cut it anymore. I needed to understand, and they had to understand me too. I ended my prayer with a firm, “If Shania can pray in tongues, I can understand Spanish. Amen.” With that, I put on my headphones and began my trek back to work.
As I walked into the sanctuary, the Spanish version of Hallelujah was blaring in my ears. To my surprise, I found myself easily understanding and translating each verse (keep in mind I don’t know the song in english, aside from the word Hallelujah that restates itself through the chorus). I took out my headphones and began work, brushing off the moment because I had obviously just fooled myself into thinking I understood, right? As the afternoon progressed, I found teammates asking me to translate commands from our Spanish speaking co-workers, and found myself able to follow directions and ask questions with ease. When the 5 o’clock hour hit and we headed back home I walked with our brother Emanuel. He began sharing pieces of his testimony and telling me about his family, and I was able to share mine too. After 30 minutes of sharing, I quickly realized that we’d only been speaking in Spanish. Then it hit me. I was in awe, but I soon came to doubt what I had just done, as we all do.
As the week went by I shrugged it off and didn’t think too much about it. On Friday, after lunch I was able to have a one-on-one with my friend Kit. We shared stories and chatted about our experience from the month. When we were wrapping up, we looked at our watches and realized that we’d been talking for six hours (yes, SIX STINKING HOURS). It was then that our Costa Rican brother Omar approached us, sitting in my hammock. He immediately started sharing his testimony, and conviction and hurt that had been put on his heart for Kit. Then it happened. Everything Omar said I was able to translate and speak over Kit, as well as give him the words that God had placed on my heart through it all. Doors were opened to prophetic words, hurt, and conviction that we never expected.
This was, hands down, the most interesting and elaborate way God has ever used me. I asked for the gift of Spanish tongues, and He provided. I prayed that he would use me to speak over others prophetically and through convictions placed on my heart, and He provided. Kit prayed to hear God’s voice more clearly, and He provided. We both had challenged God to show up, and He provided.
How incredible is it that we are the beloved children, of a King, who doesn’t miss anything in a crowd of 10,000? He is a jealous God that wants all of us, all the time. He created us – you’d think that if He created you that He’d want absolutely every part of our hearts, minds, and souls to be in devotion to Him. When we ask for spiritual gifts, or for signs that He is listening, he provides. He doesn’t have to. Were unworthy of asking for such things, but He provides because he loves us in such an incredibly fierce way. How stinking cool is that?
Pray for Him to show up, and He will. Maybe not in the way you expected, but He will. And it will rock your world.
