A Big Accomplishment

During the last year and a half that I have been here in the DR I have discovered a love that I have for translating. Now, for those of you who know me you know that one of my least favorite things in public speaking, but I have found that I love it when I am not the one coming up with the words to say. :-) When we have teams here that come down from the States, every morning one of our staff members gives a Bible study talk. When that staff member happens to be a Spanish speaker, I am often called upon to translate. Like I said, I really enjoy doing this. Also when we have teams, we get the church service translated. Last summer I told a few people, "my goal is to be the church translator by next summer." This is a pretty bold statement, considering the circumstances. Allow me to elaborate: our pastor is one of the fastest speakers around. There are American missionaries who have been here for years and still don't understand his sermons. Oh, and did I mention his sermons are an hour long? So I've been quite intimidated at the thought of offering my services as a translator, even though every Sunday I sit in church understanding every single word coming out of his mouth.

Well, yesterday I was faced with my worst fear. I was asked to translate. I was so nervous to be up in front of everyone and scared that he would say things that I wouldn't understand. Before the service I met with the pastor in his office. "Are you nervous?" he asked me. "A little," I under-exagerated. "You know what?" he said. "I am the last person who anyone would imagine would want to be a public speaker. But God has given me this responsibility to take the Good News to the Dominican people. And now this is your responsibility: to take God's words to the North Americans who are here this afternoon." Good point. Basically he told me to suck it up and do what God wants me to do.

And I did. And it went well. I made a few mistakes, sure. And I'm sure everyone in the crowd could see my hand shaking as I held the microphone. But I spoke the Good News. I was God's voice speaking through the pastor in Spanish to the English speakers. I was an instrument used by God to carry His message. And that's all I really want in life.