Jesus is teaching me Spanish

The past month has been challenging in just about every area of ministry. There have been leadership styles that I’m not used to, construction jobs that I’m not the best at, and times where I have absolutely no idea what God has planned for me next. With all that said, the greatest challenge I’ve found during my month of ministry in Guatemala is the language barrier. Unlike a few people on my team (Alana and Haile) I am no where near to being fluent, let alone even conversational at Spanish. I came to Guatemala with little memory of my middle school year with Senor Sandstedt and my Spanish lessons, but PRAISE THE LORD, because Jesus has been teaching me Spanish.

Little by little, day by day, I learn more Spanish words and phrases that I use frequently during ministry, relationship evangelism and in my every day routine around Panajachel. I am becoming well versed in Christian phrases in Spanish, a few are: “Creo en Dios” which is “Believe in God” and “en el nombre de Jesus” which is “in the name of Jesus”. I have many people to thank for my Spanish progress. My team mates, Alana and Haile, have been so helpful and patient with me when I’m constantly asking them “How do you say this? How do you say that?” Sarah, Angela, Mac and Paul are always encouraging with my Spanish progress, and even though I know they’re lying sometimes, they always tell me how well I’m doing. Such loving team mates.

My new friend, Mariselli, a woman I’ve been doing relationship evangelism with, has taught me much Spanish through our afternoons spent talking with one another and sharing favorite Bible verses (she’ll have her Spanish Bible out and I’ll have my English Bible out and we’ll compare…it’s very sweet). Isai, my favorite four-year-old, has been teaching me Spanish every day when we play together. He taught me words that little boys need to know in their every day play dates. Words like “verde avion” which is Spanish for “green plane” (Isai’s new favorite toy is a little green plane) and of course words like “sopa de gato” which is one of Isai’s favorite games to play where we pretend we work in a kitchen and are making “cat soup”. Miriam, Isai’s mom and such an inspirational woman of God, has been teaching me much Spanish and is extremely patient when I talk to her in extremely broken Spanish, like “What’s favorite drink you like?” and “I need to go come back later after.” Miriam is always teaching me new Spanish verbs and how to conjugate things properly and I am extremely grateful for her friendship as a sister in Christ. So, like I said, Jesus has been teaching me Spanish, and to me, Jesus is: Alana, Haile, Angela, Sarah, Paul, Mac, Mariselli, Isai, and Miriam.

Finally,  I have the Holy Spirit to thank for teaching me Spanish when I need Him to teach me the most. Anytime I’m struggling during relationship evangelism or doing hospital ministry, there are times when I just understand completely what the other person is saying to me, with absolutely no knowledge of the subject on my own. It’s amazing because it’s when I am desperate and without knowledge, but the “Espiritu Santo” or “Holy Spirit” always comes in at the right time, telling me what people need prayer for, or whispering what’s  on their hearts. There have even been times during my conversations with people where I’m talking and I have absolutely no idea how I’m able to get across what I want to say in Spanish. I can’t do it, but the Holy Spirit can…and He’s been moving in me and through me for the entire month.