How important is it to speak the same language as the people you're ministering to? This is one of the questions that I'm not sure I have the answer for yet. In the Dominican Republic, month one, our family didn't speak any English besides "hello", and although I took four semesters of Spanish during undergrad, I was still struggling to keep up with their speech. Luckily that month we had a translator. I had some of the best conversations in that month through our translator. I was able to communicate in other ways too. Our mother for the month is by far one of the most incredible women I have ever met. She reminded me so much of my mom. She served us non stop always making sure we were ok, taking care of me when I was sick, bringing us coffee, and cleaning up after us. One of our last nights in the house our power went out. My team at the time decided it would e a good idea to worship. For some reason I just couldn't get into it. I was feeling so attacked and I knew my heart wasn't in a good place to worship. I looked over in the kitchen and there was this wonderful, selfless, woman of God doing the dishes by candlelight. I knew what the Lord was calling me to do in that moment. I went into the kitchen and tried to explain with hand motions and simple words that I wanted to help her. Of course she said no right away, but then I looked at her and motioned to my heart and told her I wanted to. She then moved away from the sink and let me step in while she pointed on where things would go after they were washed. We stood there in the dark kitchen with one small candle glimmering and constantly falling over, usually because of me. She just laughed with me every time and re-lit it. In that moment I felt as if I were having a full conversation when really only one or two words were said. This woman encouraged me more than anyone else had in my life. She saw straight to my heart and she could see all of the gifts the Lord had blessed me with before my eyes were even opened to see them. We communicated through our eyes, through our smiles, and most of all through our hearts. That being month one, by month three I was beginning to forget how amazing it can be when Jesus uses you even without speaking. In Thailand I got to have so many conversations with girls that lived in the cafe or went to the University. They didn't know a whole lot of English but they kept talking and listening. Most of them were not Christians, but there was still something that attracted them to us. One of the students who wasn't a Christian at the time told me she couldn't explain why she kept coming back to be in this Christian atmosphere. She just felt at home. This girl became a dear friend that I had the opportunity to encourage all month and after we had lunch on the day I left I shared my story with her, my heart, and she accepted Christ. I knew that my words probably didn't make a whole lot of sense, but the Spirit still used them to touch her heart and finally break down the wall she had up between her and God. I still read her Facebook and see her talking about how good our Father is. How beautiful is the light that shines through us and in us. After Thailand I wasn't part of a whole lot of ministry because of the position I held. It has been amazing being back in ministry last month and this month. I forgot how much I missed building relationships with people in these countries instead of just the squad. This month in a country that doesn't technically exist, we are living with about 10 Russian men that don't speak English. Most of them have gone through some form of rehab and have found Christ through it all. These men have made us feel like we have 10 fathers looking after us. They have cared for us so well without knowing anything about us other than we love the Lord and were called to serve here. We communicate through waves, smiles, a little Russian, simple English phrases, and prayer. We had the opportunity to break into groups and pray over all of the men. After we said Amen, they took our hands and placed their hands over ours on our shoulders to show respect by not touching us directly, and they prayed over us. The room was filled with prayers in Russian. Sure we couldn't understand what was being said but there was a power in that room that could not be ignored, so does it matter if we speak the same language even when we speak to the same God? As the children in Haiti asked, does God understand if we don't speak English when we pray? I like to believe that God hears a different language coming from each one of us because He listens to our hearts calling to Him, crying to Him, and praising Him. I am so glad that we can still communicate in our actions and still show love and respect and share in a faith unlike any other. This is our last month with people that don't speak English. Honestly I think I might miss the challenge to do more than just speak.
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." -James 1:22
