Our Spanish Classes

Escuela Delengua
Granada, Spain

We have just completed our first week of Spanish lessons. Almudena is my teacher and Juan teaches the boys. In my class, I have Misuki from Japan, Jules from England and Ottr from Norway. The class is totally in Spanish. It has been such a treat to spend time learning with these folks. They are fun, interesting and our discussions have been lively. The more Spanish I learn, the more I realize how little I know. I can’t help but laugh at how my head and tongue don’t seem to want to work together in spitting out the words and at the end of class each day I am exhausted in a mental and tongue twisted way.

The boys have been witnessing to Juan. I am amazed at their boldness to speak to him. This morning Hatcher dug through the few witnessing items we have left to find a specific tract to give to Juan. He had already given him one the day before but wanted a different one today. This afternoon they told me that Juan had asked, “How can Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit be One?” Hatcher answered, “They are like a pretzel twisted together, three in one” I silently thanked God for giving him the wisdom to answer.

It is interesting to me how often the discussions in my class go in such a direction that I can speak of God. From day one, I explained we are on a mission trip to witness about Jesus. Every night I pray for each member of my class. Occasionally I feel called to pray in depth for one of them. God has given me a sense of what specifically to lift in prayer for them individually.

During one exercise we were to list what was important in our lives. I listed God first. I was questioned that I would list God before my children. I assured them He is first in my life, before anything. What I regret is my lack of knowledge of Spanish that I couldn’t explain how if I did not have God, I could not be the parent that I am. Without God and His grace, I know that our family would be in a totally different place. A dark place wrought with problems, pain and struggles, a place I shudder to think about.

I know I am able to love because of the love God shows to me. Without His love, it seems it would be hard to love others to the depth that I can.

I don’t mean to imply that our family does not have problems because we have God. Yet because we have God, He is who we lean on during any problems and by His wisdom and grace we get through what problems come our way. When God is first, we have His light and in His light, all issues fade.