What do an entomologist and a translator have in common? This month, the answer is me. And let me tell you, I am not an insect expert nor am I fluent in Spanish but when you’re in a tiny town in the countryside of Peru, you make do with what you’ve got.
I’m not an insect enthusiast per say but they don’t bother me and I think they are mildly interesting which has come in really handy this month since the rest of my team ranges from indifferent to mortally terrified of all insects. I think I have seen more rolly pollies inside our rooms this month than I have seen in my entire life. There are also moths that are always around, spiders that range in size from microscopic to I can hear screaming from 2 doors down because the spider is so large (basically a bit larger than a quarter), and the strange bugs that bite everyone during the day. We had one encounter with a scorpion (thankfully it was me and not someone else who might have fainted on the spot) and on our very first day, our host stepped over a snake. Yes, I know snakes are in fact reptiles and not insects but, I believe they still fall into the same category of creatures that are typically loathed by a large portion of mankind so I figured why not share? Anyway, the point is, there are a lot of bugs here and I know, as silly as it sounds, one of the reasons God put me on this team in this place is because I can be the voice of reason that convinces others that we don’t in fact have to burn down our rooms because of the spider that disappeared somewhere in the room. God can use all sorts of talents, skills, and abilities- even if they may seem worthless (like not being afraid/even being mildly interested in bugs).
As for my translator hat, this one seems to have many more practical applications. I know of only one person in the vicinity that speaks a bit of English (the man from the hostel that is letting us use his mother’s wifi- if this sounds unfamiliar/very random to you, don’t worry, click here to read my previous blog for an explanation) and he is 30 minutes away from the orphanage so my team and I are on our own. We do pretty well with sign language, my Spanish, Erika’s Spanish, and all the things we’ve learned from our 2.5 months in South America but we still have those moments where we all just look at each and shrug. I never thought that my Spanish would be anywhere near good enough to translate or really be helpful aside from maybe asking for directions but this month, just like with the bug situation, God has shown me that He can use everything about me to help glorify Him. So, whether it is translating between our host and a sick teammate or asking how to organize the storage room we just painted, I know that my Spanish abilities are just one example of the many gifts God has given us to help spread His love.
God can truly use all of us. He created all of us and He gave each of us unique gifts and abilities that can be utilized in different ways. The trick is to figure out your niche- the place where your gifts are best put to use. This will look different for everyone because we all have different God-given talents. But, no matter what, you can always find a way to bless others with your abilities.
While we have been out here in Cachora, we have enjoyed a slower, rural pace of life and we are surrounded my immense beauty. Ministry looks very different than it did the first two months of the race but the Lord is moving all the same. The kids out here are great and we love getting to play and love them. Our hosts are incredible and even helped us pull off a half-birthday celebration. We have also had the chance to continue speaking with Elizabeth, the woman in town who is learning English. We were able to meet her daughter, talk with her, and pray with her. We are hoping to visit her almost every day and spend time teaching her English and just enjoying her company. Our ability to speak English, something that we often take for granted- especially when we are in a country where English is not overly useful- is being used by the Lord to bless this awesome woman and to bless us with her friendship. See? The Lord can use ANYTHING, even your native language, to bless others. Thank you to all my supporters who have used either their finances or prayers to bless my team and me on this journey. I know that the Lord is smiling down on all of y’all.
