I’m not planning to blog often while I’m stateside. However, this past Thursday was a special day and worthy of a post. :)
A small group of SAMS missionaries are piloting a second language acquisition course. If you’re not familiar with what that is, it’s a course that helps someone learn how to learn a language. Think of it as a prerequisite to a language course, but not just a general language course; rather one that’s personalized to learn just what you need for your specific situation. As a teacher, I LOVE setting people up for success, and this course does that. As their coach, it gives us all a foundation to work with so we can actually go places!
So, it’s a Thursday--2:00 PM for me, 11 AM for the instructor, 8 PM for one couple and 9 PM for the rest! I love the international world. :). Despite being midday, I’m in bed, fighting a virus! Not sure that the blurred background has really hidden the reality, and my raspy voice doesn’t help. Thankfully, my speaking is limited this session. Two of our learners are without electricity—one on solar power, the other shows up in the dark. What a group for our first lesson!
I've seen God's hand all over the course coming together, including the fact that our instructor lived and served in the same region and even same country as most of the participants! As each person shares their expectations and learns about how to set a long-range language plan, I feel so incredibly grateful for this moment that we are sharing together. Tackling a new language with foreign sounds and different system is quite an undertaking, and each person on the call is facing that challenge head on!
I was reminded this morning of our role to bring God’s work and heart into action through prayer. I am praying for this important work that our missionaries have of learning the language of the people they are serving. I’m also praying for our instructor and for myself as I coach them. We need His Holy Spirit to help and strengthen us for the task ahead. Thank you so much for your own prayers for this. Would you take a moment right now to lift up the learners taking this course as well as the instructor and me as their coach? Thank you so much!
