Is your transformer plugged in? from Matt...

This is an electric transformer.  For American appliances to work overseas, we must buy these devices to change the voltage from our geographical region to work in the outlets of a foreign place.  American appliances work on 110 volts, but in France and also in Senegal the current is 220 volts. So we need a transformer to “step up” or double the voltage.In a similar way, we need a transformer to be able to work in a foreign culture.  You can’t just plug in things and expect them to work the same way they’ve always worked.  There must be a transformer which enables us to adapt and function properly.  The key transformer is language.  Without it, you cannot build relationships, communicate or function in a community.  Probably one of the biggest struggles for those who have embarked on the road of learning a new language is the feeling of powerlessness that you feel by not being able to function or do the things you normally have done in your own country and language. You may not know this, but an electrical transformer helped me to meet my wife, Nicole.  We met 15 years ago in Siberia, Russia while we were both in college on a summer mission trip.  I came with a large group from my church in California, Emmanuel Faith Community, and Nicole was with a group from her home church, North Syracuse Baptist in New York.  The team stayed in the same hotel for two months, but after the first week, Nicole had already fried her transformer with a curling iron, so I offered to loan her mine.  Not very romantic, but the first gift I ever gave my wife-to-be was an electrical transformer.  Unfortunately, a week later, there was another strong burning smell from down the hall and my gift was blackened beyond repair.  On January 8, we will be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary in Africa.  It is ironic that at this stage in our life, we are still buying electric transformers and trying to figure out a whole new system of doing things.  But the good news is that we are learning language, the transformer is working, and we’re starting to function properly again.  Not that we have full power to do everything, but at least we feel plugged in and we’re comprehending and communicating with the people around us.  The cool thing is that learning to live through another language begins to transform more than just your mouth, but also your heart.For example, every other Friday night there is a prayer meeting led by an Algerian man named Camille, who has a passion for North Africa.  He has lived in France for 40 years, but he became a follower of Christ when he was 21 years old through a supernatural revelation and series of dreams.   We met last year because our children happened to go to the same school.  Camille speaks no English and, at the time, I spoke very little French, so last year there were huge gaps in our conversation.  I still remember trying to pray with him and must have sounded like a stuttering caveman. But last Friday, Camille re-told his testimony and I was so blessed to be able to finally understand him and pray with much more fluency.   We prayed together that God would reveal Himself in a special way during the month of Ramadan.  Afterwards, he told me that he had really seen a marked improvement in my French.  I know it was still choppy, but coming from a French-speaker, this was a huge encouragement.This past weekend, Nicole and I took the kids to a festival and walked by several booths from the community groups and sport clubs in our town.  We met several people, including a woman from Senegal, who was representing the West African Association.  Nicole and the kids talked to her about moving to Africa.  She gave us some helpful advice and then commented that our kids spoke French without a foreign accent.  In fact, one man said that he did not know our kids were American because their accent was so good.  It is encouraging to be able to meet people or sit in a church service and actually follow the sermon.  There are some interesting things that happen when you can actually begin worshipping God in second language.During chapel, I have begun leading worship.  Nicole bought me Carvin acoustic guitar last April for my 40th birthday, but last year I was not confident enough to sing in French and focus on the music at the same time.  But this fall, I am scheduled to lead singing during several of the student chapel services.  When you sing songs or read a verse of the Bible in another language, it can take on a deeper meaning because you are focusing more on the words rather than just going with the flow.  Then when the comprehension level climbs, you actually find yourself focusing on God and marveling in the fact that God is a Father who can hear the cries of His children in any language.  He is not limited by our poor pronunciation or word choice because His spirit is translating the human heart. God promises us, “the Spirit helps our weakness, for we do not know to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning to deep for words, and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27) Right now, there are many people in our lives who are going through difficult times.  Sometimes, from a distance, we can’t even find the English words to express our prayers.  The amazing thing is that God takes our limited knowledge, simple words and tears and translates it all and transforms it into a beautiful prayer of intercession.  Worshipping God is hard in any language but He has given us His Spirit to allow us to plug directly into the power source for communicating with God.  We thank God for those who have interceded on our behalf, sometimes without a full understanding, but the Spirit of God always steps in and helps our 110 volt prayers to be stepped up to 220 volts and aligns them with the sovereign purposes of God.  It is truly a privilege to be the recipient of your faithfulness.
Published Sunday, September 14, 2008 8:51 AM by mnpaschall
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