Last week was a really good week to experience what the race might look like for me. Communicating with other people that do not speak my language will something that I’m excited to do.
A lot of people ask me, “Are you learning any languages before you go?” I usually say, “No; I’m really not worried about that.” “God will provide the means for me to communicate with them.”
Think about it. I will be in 11 countries by the end of the trip, and I will come across MANY different languages that I do not know at all………..The hard truth is, I haven’t thought about it at all.
Last week I went down to Dallas, Texas, for our spring break mission trip, though the college ministry that I attend. We did various things while we were there. The church we partnered with has loved on the community of South Dallas. The community has been changed through the power of God. Just a few years ago you couldn’t even walk in this part of town, but since God has been working in the community more and more people feel safer to do so.
While we were there God had a plan to show me a couple of things. Of course I didn’t know what they were at the time. I will share one with you now and then write another blog later. So, stay turned for the next one, but please continue to read on!!!!
I have been to Dallas a couple of times to work with the church their. The ministries were pretty similar for the most part, each time. Serving at the soup kitchen, helping out at the clothing distribution center, little bit of construction, and of course the best part, backyard bible clubs in some of the parks in the area for the kids.
This is probably my favorite part. Loving on the kids and telling them about how Jesus chooses us when no one else does. Also, to see how God can work through just the little things like playing with the kids, and asking them about their lives, is amazing thing to watch.
While down there we had the chance to go back to the park that I have been to every single time I have been down there (Exline), and a new park that none of us had been to (Old Town). I really wanted to go to the Exline, but God had a different plan for me.
We had three different campuses their: from Indiana, and two from Wyoming. The directors got together to put us on two teams to split us up, and each team would go to their park and love on the kids there.
I was put on the Old Town team. At first I was bummed but I just know that it was going to be okay. So I told myself God wants me to go there for some reason obviously.
We started off by going through some of the apartment complexes to hand out some flyers to let the parents and the children know we were doing a bible club in the park. With each knock at the door I began to realize that not a lot of people know how to speak English in this neighborhood. I thought to myself okay what did we get ourselves into, but I know it was still going to be a good week. So I trusted God put me here for a reason.
Soon after, the time had come when we were going to start our hangout in the park with the kids!!! They started to trickle in slowly but shortly after we had about 20ish kids running around, playing soccer with us, and jump roping. I found out I’m not very good at it.
Most spoke English, but some didn’t, which they were the younger kids that hadn’t been in school yet. Probably meaning the families spoke their native language at home, which was Spanish.
At first it was really hard to get the little ones to warm up to you for a couple reasons. The biggest reason was that we would try to talk to them, and they had no idea what we were saying. Talk about a learning experience for sure. It took a couple hours and some it took a couple of days for them to warm up and interact with you. The best part is God had a teaching lesson for us in everything.
On the first day I tried to interact with one of the little guys and he was so shy, didn’t speak any English and only wanted to be around his family. Everyday I would try to get him to try various things, but with no luck. Then at the end of the week came and surely not wanting to give up on him. Finally I got through to him. It was something so small and easy to do, but it was incredible.
Bubbles; every kid loves bubbles. I started blowing bubbles and he smiled a little. Yes, I thought, so I dunked it back in the solution and handed it to him. He was probably 3 and of course you had to help him blow them, but I was okay with that. By the end of it all I got him to smile super big, and he was laughing. (I would love to post the picture I have of him but for privacy purposes I will chose not to, but just try to imagine it all)
Who would of thought bubbles would reach someone, but in all reality I learned that I needed to change how, and look for new ways to communicate with others. Especially with someone that doesn’t speak my own language.
To answer the question about: Am I worried about not being able to speak to people that don’t speak my language? Yes, but you know what God works through us everyday, even when we don’t expect it. He will provide a way for me to communicate with the people He has already planned to cross my path, and that is the coolest thing because we get to see Him at work through it all!!!
