Lately I’ve been processing quite a bit. Mostly, I focus on the language gap. It hurts my heart when I have to bite my tongue knowing that my encouraging words won’t be interpreted and, instead, cause confusion.
We’ve been working in Gradinita Emanuel (Emanuel Kindergarten) in Alba Iulia, Romania. It’s been wonderful despite the fact that I can hardly communicate with the kiddos. When all I want to do is strike up a conversation with the kid in the corner of the playground and have a quick look into their imagination, I’m limited to simply smiling at them and attempting to include myself in whatever game they’re playing.
It makes it easier for me to really enjoy our time working on the building after the kids leave.. but words.
They’re so powerful. Powerful to the point of life and death (*Proverbs 18:21*).
When dealing with the kids, I’m practically limited to “Bravo.”
“Bravo, Sara, bravo!”
It’s great being forced to choose my words carefully, I can literally only use encouraging words (*Ephesians 4:29*).. but I know something’s missing.
Kids talk! They talk to me from when I first walk in the door until they leave the playground at the end of them day. They talk while we are playing with the dolls, moving animals around the “farm”, or digging through the rocks outside. The only problem is, I don’t understand them and I can’t really talk back. I see the wheels turning as they wonder why I’m looking straight at them and ignoring them or when I do speak and they don’t understand me.
One evening walk home, I began processing the language gap for the thousandth time. This time, while thinking of all the things I wish I could tell the strangers I was passing, I realized that I really took for granted all of the time I’ve had in America. Not because America is something special, but because I speak English and so do 99.8% of everyone I’ve encountered there.
Not only do I love to say hello to people in passing, but I love to ask big questions.. questions that take some time to find an honest response. Questions that strike up real, vulnerable, long conversations.
Now, I’m starting to see things a little differently. I want to ask the man with a cross tattooed on his arm if it really means something to him. If the lady sitting on a bench eating an ice cream cone with her daughter attends a local church. If the couple relaxing in the park have anything they’d like prayer for. Things that go beyond where I’ve gone in America.
—
There is a boy in my class named Ayan. I’ve felt the most peace when working and playing with him of all the kids at Emanuel. Mostly because he doesn’t talk. He’s used to not being heard. He’s used to not quite understanding what you’re saying and he feels the frustration of not being able to communicate. He has a learning disability.
I can’t imagine living with the constant struggle to communicate. What it would be like if I didn’t have teammates that I can have a relaxed conversation with [in English] throughout the day.
Ayan, and so many other children as well as adults, can’t communicate with their words daily and that is such a wild realization and reminder to me that I’m truly blessed to have the opportunity to use my words.
I’m so incredibly excited for the journey up ahead, after all I have less than one week before heading to Bulgaria.. whaaaat?? But for everyone back home: know that you have a great mission field as well. No matter what it looks like, you get to converse with people daily and have the most grand and simple opportunities to shine into those around you.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 18:21 ESV
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29 ESV
I am still $1,565 away from my $13,000 deadline in TWO DAYS. Please be praying for the Lord’s provision and consider donating!
Much Love,
M
