I’m in Chile…it’s amazing!!! And I don’t know the language…so I don’t understand much of what they say, and I usually respond even if I do understand. This has been a difficult thing for me, because I want to tell them how much I love them, and how much God loves them, and what a blessing they’ve been in their reception of us into their church. I’ve been asking God to gift me with the ability to understand their hearts, as well as to clearly communicate mine.
Today, He answered.
It started with a house visit this morning to a couple in their 90s. The woman (Elsa) is bedridden because of a fall, so we went to sing for her and to love on her a bit. We sang, listened, held her hand, and listened to her husband (Enrique) sing some songs of this country. I had such love welling up within me for this beautiful couple, but didn’t know how to express it, so I asked God to do so somehow. It came time to leave and each of us were kissing Enrique on the cheek (as is customary here) and saying goodbye. When I hugged him, he wouldn’t let go for so long. He finally did, and as one of my teammates told me later, he pointed at me and said as I left “mucho amor” meaning that I love much with the deep love (of Christ). What an amazing God I call “Father”, that He communicated that without words!
Then later today, we had the privilege of helping lead a women’s bible study. At the end, I had the opportunity to pray with two different women. Neither speaks my language, nor do I speak theirs…BUT LOVE…what a powerful communicator Holy Spirit is just through hearts united in Him! Love speaks when I don’t know how, and He communicates what we otherwise could never understand. As we prayed together, we wept. Why? I cannot speak for them, but for me, it was overwhelming to be in prayer with someone and have that depth of reliance and surrender to Holy Spirit. There’s no room to rely on self, because neither of us have anything to offer. Therefore, the love that was communicated wasn’t really the love from these women, but Holy Spirit! And I knew that’s what He was communicating from me as well. To me, it was a beautiful example of the gift of tongues…for the language of Holy Spirit was the only language that both of us could understand.
My team and I are so humbled by the way the church has loved and received us here, and I thank God that His love speaks even when words fail!
Please continue to read as this journey unfolds, and feel free to ask me any questions you may have.
In Christ,
Madi
