First, let me begin with the new knowledge that a tentative
itinerary for The World Race October 2008 has been announced. Tentatively, I will be leaving for the Philippines, followed by China, Africa (approximately 3 countries including
possibly Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia),
India, Eastern Europe (2-3
countries including possibly Romania,
Bosnia, and Serbia), finishing with Central America (2-3
countries including possibly Mexico,
Guatemala, and Nicaragua).
PHEW! It’s a race for a reason!
In the past few weeks, I have been asked how I will deal
with the language and cultural barriers that I will experience in these nations
that I will be traveling to. In the back of my mind, I have wondered that as
well, yet I am trusting that the Lord will open doors and allow my Spanish
background to come back in full force to communicate in Latino countries.
radio stations and stopped on a Spanish channel. There was a woman speaking and
I could tell from her passion that she was praying. As she continued to pray,
her cries grew more desperate as she called out to the Lord on behalf of those
addicted, afflicted, and broken. Toward the end of the prayer, she cried, “El
sangre de Jesús tiene el poder para romper tus cadenas.” My spirit responded as
I understood the meaning and power behind her words as I translated to myself,
“The blood of Jesus has the power to break your chains.”
about worshiping and praying in a foreign language that freed me to understand
the Lord in a deeper and more passionate way. Things I “understood” or took for
granted in the English language penetrated more deeply in Spanish, possibly
because I had to think harder about the words spoken in order to understand her
meaning. On a seemingly basic level, her words had POWER.
From this experience, I know that God can break through
cultural, language, and physical barriers that separate the races. God has a
desire to hear His Name spoken and honored in every language and cultural group
that exists on the face of this earth. Every group of people and every
individual are children of the living God. As such, God can use his Holy Spirit
to communicate between His children, when our created languages seemingly divide
us. The very Word of God penetrates, dividing soul and spirit. He is not
limited by our human limitations. In fact, I believe God seeks to break out of
those boxes we continually try to contain Him in.
