Questions That Deserve Answers

Allow me to put myself in YOUR place today.  You, my faithful supporters, have been praying and giving so that I can do what God has called me to do.  But, if I were you, I would have a few questions about how the money you are sending is being used and if it is truly worth your investment.  Please allow me answer some questions that I might have if I walked a mile in your shoes.

Didn't She Live in Mexico Already?  Why Doesn't She Speak Spanish Yet?

 

The usual process with the Assemblies of God is to send their missionaries to language school right from the start, unless that Missionary Associate is only going for one year and will be working primarily in an English-speaking environment.  When I originally went to Mexico, it was for one year and I worked primarily in an American school for missionary kids where English was spoken.  While I did study Spanish, it was always only on the side and by nature of my ministry, I spent much more time practicing my English than my Spanish.  I loved ministering at the school in Oaxaca and had some outside opportunities to work with Mexican nationals too, but my Spanish learning was not what it could have been had I been completely immersed in the culture.

 Since She Already Knows Some Spanish, Why Does She Need Language School for a WHOLE Year? 

That is a valid question.  Let me explain.  Each Spanish verb has fourteen tenses.  Each of those fourteen tenses has five different conjugations.  That’s seventy possibilities for ONE verb.  There are hundreds of Spanish verbs and that’s JUST the verbs.  When you add in grammar, phonetics and learning how to speak coherently...one year of language school probably isn’t long enough, but it will have to do.

Is She Just Going to Return to Mexico and Work with English-speakers Again and Forget Her Spanish?

The short answer is, “No.”  When Daniel and I return, we will not be living in the same area and our ministry will be focused on ministering to nationals, specifically the indigenous people who live in Chiapas.  And although we do not yet know for certain what doors God will open for ministry, we expect that we will be working with national pastors, churches and future Christian leaders.

How Can I Best Pray for Her? 

Please pray that God will give me understanding, perseverance and patience as I study and memorize and practice and read and listen, etc.  It can be frustrating at times to struggle so much to learn and still feel like I do not understand as much as I would like.  Yet even in those moments, I know that I understand more than I used to and I know that little by little all of this will come together.  I have highly qualified and gifted teachers who are doing a phenomenal job.  This language will come, but I certainly do appreciate your prayers.

More Questions?

If you have other questions you would like to ask, please feel free.  You deserve to have your questions answered and I am happy to oblige.  I want you to be able to trust me and to feel confident in supporting me.  You are investing a great deal and you have a right to know what is being done with your resources.  With God’s help, I will “Do [my] best to present [myself] to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed.” 

 2 Timothy 2:15