Love
in any Language
My husband, kids and I are missionaries in Portugal.
Before you scratch your head and wonder where Portugal is, let me spare you.
MOST people (including some employees of the USPS) actually believe we are in
South America and speaking Spanish, but no, we are in Western Europe and
speaking Portuguese. I was a psychology major and my husband was a sociology
major, which is probably how we ended up as missionaries...we obviously have a
love for learning about new people and cultures.
I tell you what though...even with my love of people
and cultures, it has been challenging here. God has used this experience to
teach me so much (which I am truly grateful for) and I thought I might
challenge you all to learn a little something that I have been learning...are
you ready for it?!
Learn a new language! Now, before you write me off
and say, “Are you crazy lady?” let me explain. One thing God has definitely
taught me living here is the importance of learning peoples “heart language.”
That is why we HAVE to learn Portuguese. And it is HARD! But to explain Jesus
to them in their language and see “the light come on” in their heads makes all
my pain of language learning WORTH IT! But, let me tell you, I haven’t just had
to learn Portuguese; I have had to learn their CULTURAL language as well, if
that makes sense. Portuguese people have a completely different view on life
than Americans. They value things differently, eat (strange) foods, parent
different, relate to God different, etc. Here’s one example of how the culture
is so different here: there are AT LEAST three different DAILY magazines just
about futebol (soccer). And every day the old men read and discuss them. My
husband and I have laughed about this… I mean, what on EARTH could be so
different in the world of futebol every single day ?!
Our
beautiful city!
But if we want to present the Gospel to people, and
I sure hope you do, we need to learn to speak to them…not only in their
language (English, German, Chinese, etc.) but also in their cultural context.
Only then can it make sense to them. You can even see examples of this in the
Bible. Did you know the four gospels were written to four different
audiences…using language and arguments that would make sense to that people
group?! Why did Jesus speak in parables? To keep things simple, so that His
audience could understand what he was saying. Why did Paul quote so much of the
Old Testament in his speeches? To help convince the Jews that Jesus was in fact
their Messiah. Are you with me so far?!
Alright…stick with me. Hopefully you know by now
that I’m not telling you to rush out and learn Russian…I mean, what’s the use
unless there is a giant Russian community in your neighborhood, but what I am
saying is, find a “new” people group to mingle with. Let’s face it, most of us
reading this blog right now are in the middle of “mother-hood.” We have our own
language, do we not?! We speak of c-sections and play dates and to “elf on a
shelf or not” and new recipes…right?! You KNOW those without children are
terrified of us They wonder what foreign language we’re speaking…I mean,
“what the heck is a bumpo or a boppy or a binky?!”
Learn to speak someone elses’ heart language -
Volunteer in a prison (their language goes against everything you learned at
school, but they’re in a humbled place and more open to hear). Find out if
there is a local University with foreign students who I happen to know are just
dying to be invited into an American home and while you’re at it, learn a little
about their culture...you and your kids will be blessed! Find a group of young
professionals (this is a BIG group in America and one that personally terrifies
me with their talks of stocks and spreadsheets, but they need Jesus!). Sign up
to work with the teenagers at church. Talk about another language! You better
be up to speed on texting, facebooking and twittering…because it sometimes
seems that the only way they communicate is through technology…and in code at
that. (do you all know the meaning of: BTW, G2G, ROFL, AUD, BM - not the BM I
was thinking!)
All this to say, the opportunities ABOUND around you
to “learn a new language”. Just be creative! There are SO many people in your
neighborhood that desperately need to hear about Christ! Join a neighborhood
softball team, or book club or photography class. They just need someone to
“speak their language.” And God needs someone willing to do it...is it you?!
So, there…that’s my challenge. Try it…I
promise, the rewards are worth the risks!
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