Last Sunday at church, Brother David asked who of our group was bringing the message. His steadfast jovial disposition led us to believe he was joking…and then he handed Kent a microphone. Kent gave a 20 minute sermon while some of us led the children’s lesson. Then, Taylor and Malerie sang because David can’t get enough of their voices. Finally, David called Jay up to share something they’d discussed earlier that week (check out his Nehemiah blog!) All on the spot, unplanned, unprepared…such is The World Race.
So…why, then, was I the least bit surprised when I arrived this Sunday to learn I was translating from English to Spanish?
David had asked us to prepare un mensaje (message,) a testimony, a cancion especial (special song) or anything else the Lord put on our hearts. Nuestra traductor (our translator), who attends seminary in Honduras, was planning ser con nosotros (to be with us.) Kent prepared un mensaje de ofrenda (an offering message,) Jay prepared a sermon while las muchachas (the ladies) headed up a cancion (song) and a lesson por los niños (for the children.) However, our translator was unable to make it at the last minute. No one else in the congregation speaks English. I’m our primary communicator con (with) David during our work semana (week,) so naturally, he picked me traducir (to translate.)
It was quite possibly the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done but it was so, SO, SOOO good. I cannot possibly explain to you how it felt. A veces (at times) I didn’t even know what I was saying, the translation just happened so naturally. There were also a few times when I didn’t know la palabra (the word.) It was nowhere near perfect, but the gospel was heard and understood by la iglesia (the church.)
At the beginning of this month, I felt God calling me aprender mas Español (to learn more Spanish) to communicate with la gente aqui (the people here.) How faithful He is in revealing His purpose! On my own terms and in my own timing, I never would have volunteered to translate.
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB
This verse reminds me of advice Jay was given when he moved to Kodiak Island – “Don’t cancel your plans for rain or you’ll never do anything.” My “rain” was “mi espanol no es muy bueno (my Spanish is not very good”) and “I’m not ready.” Gracias a Dios (thank God) that He does not wait on my timing and that He uses me in spite of myself. Thank God that I was volunTOLD by David.
I’ve learned that translating is muy dificil (very hard) and exhausting! However, there also comes a point when I can’t turn it off. I translated por mi grupo (for my team) all day as we enjoyed a day of rest and lots of conversation with David & Juan today. Ahora (now,) even my thoughts esta en Español (are in Spanish.) I typed this blog in Spanglish to give you a glimpse inside my crazy, beautiful thoughts these days.
What areas of your life are you letting imperfect conditions hinder you? Tal vez tiene (maybe you have) a million excuses to not go into ministry, finally have a baby or pursue that dream you always wanted to chase. El tiempo perfecto (the perfect time) is never going to come. The perfect conditions are never going to come. Take the plunge. Quit making excuses and giving into Satan’s lies. God uses imperfect people in imperfect situations to fulfill His perfectly divine purposes. Por ejemplo: Rey David (for example: King David.) God used an adulterer and murderer in the bloodline for his PERFECT Son. Still think you need to wait for Him to use you?
Christians, it’s time we stop believing we are inadequate to be who God has called us to be. Amen?
Hoy, David preguntame traducir otra vez en Miercoles (Today, David asked me to translate again on Wednesday.) I was so nervous on Sunday, but I could not be more excited for Wednesday!
Jenn Dannelley
