I (Amy) woke up that morning excited and a little nervous. The day of my Spanish evaluation had finally arrived. Was I sufficiently prepared? Would I test out?
While my answers were recorded and a proctor had control of my computer, I began answering the 18 questions put before me. The questions ranged from very basic topics like, “tell me about yourself,” to more challenging questions – where I gave my opinion about whether or not communication advancements in our world have actually helped people learn how to communicate! Before long I was enjoying the test, and the ability to express myself in this beautiful language.
I did indeed pass my test, although we didn’t get the results back for several days! I’m so grateful for all of your prayers and encouragement throughout this process. Now that my formal Spanish studies are finished, I look forward to having more time for my family and other responsibilities.
You might be wondering if we have purchased a truck yet. Sadly, no – we have not. There have been many ups and downs as we have waited for the right vehicle. We looked at one great new option, but thanks to changing importation regulations had to turn it down – getting a vehicle into Mexico continues to prove a challenge. Our truck must be 8-9 years old, yet of course still in good enough condition for mountain use. Please continue to pray with us. We know the Lord will meet this need, and that His timing is perfect.
Our last update mentioned that our family would attend Mexico’s bi-annual field conference, an event which we greatly enjoyed! God brought a wonderful pastor from Texas to share with us. He focused on our walk with the Lord as related to Romans 8:28. Nothing, good or bad, can come into our lives without God using it to help us grow! This time in the Word was refreshing, challenging and encouraging. Outside of these teaching sessions, we enjoyed reconnecting with missionary friends whom we rarely see. Hearing from these church planters was another great blessing, as each team shared what God has been doing in people’s hearts and lives.
Speaking of God’s awesome work, Bible teaching is finally about to begin in Las Moras! Beginning July 2nd, the people will hear God’s story for the first time in their own Nahuatl language. To find out a little about what it’s taken to get to this point, I recommend our coworker Katie’s blog post from March describing just the translation process: click here to read it!
Moreover, the leaders have given our team permission to teach to the village as a whole. This is unheard of here among the indigenous cultures of Mexico! One of our Chihuahuan friends described it as a ‘game-changer’ for the Mexican mission field, something he’d never though possible in his country – until God turned his expectations completely upside-down! The Gospel has always before been taught house to house or in small groups, but God has opened up a different way in Las Moras – something we celebrate and for which we are very grateful!
Pray for receptive hearts and understanding. We can hardly wait to be there also, first learning the language and then helping the team with the ongoing translation, teaching and discipling.
Praise God with us!
- Amy has finished her formal study of Spanish!
- Field conference was wonderful: refreshing and encouraging.
- The Bible teaching in Las Moras begins on July 2nd!
Ways you can pray:
- Jordan’s language evaluation will be Wednesday June 28th: pray for clarity, a lack of nervousness, and that he would demonstrate everything he has learned.
- That God provide a US-based truck which we can import quickly, or one which is already here in Mexico.
- For our team’s final preparations before the upcoming time of teaching, and that God prepare hearts among the Nahuatl to hear His Word and come to Him in faith!
- Tom and Teresa Elkins – our coworkers with Pioneers – are sending out a daily email as a reminder to pray for the Nahuatl teaching. Seven short Scripture-based prayers repeat weekly, then change at each month’s end. If you’d like to receive these daily reminders while the teaching continues, please let us know!
[…] This has been the standard for deciding when Amy and I are done with national language study. Amy had reached her target level (‘Advanced Low’) two weeks before my test – which encouraged us tremendously! Now […]