Learn a Language

Many times since we left Casper at the end of 2011 to head to language school, I've thought to myself: 'Why didn't I start learning this language sooner?'

I had the chances.  In Jr. High school and High school, I decided to take Latin instead of Spanish (not that I regret that decision, since it led to me meeting my wife and learning a language that has been a huge foundation for me in several things, including learning Spanish).  In 2004, I took a team of youth to Ecuador to do our first international mission trip.  While there, I realized how terrible my language skills were (like when a doctor asked me, 'Como está?' and I replied, 'Nick'.)  When we came back from there, I didn't learn Spanish.  In 2008, we went to Chile, and I started to realize how the Lord was calling us to a Spanish speaking country.  I came back, and learned a little bit of simple vocabulary, but it still seemed so far away, so I didn't learn much.  It really took until the date was set for us to go to language school when I realized: I needed to learn this language.  A new language!

Obviously, Spanish is an important part of my life now.  But, as I've thought about it, as I've talked to other people about it, as we've traveled back to the United States once (and we're getting ready to do it again in a week), I've realized something: You need to learn this language, too.

Ok, maybe not this language (though I do think that most of you should choose Spanish, which I'll explain in a minute).  But you need to learn a language.  Something.  Anything.  We're not good at it.  We learn a few words.  A few of us can remember a few phrases from high school Spanish, or a big or French pronunciation from that one college class you needed for the credit.  But overall, as Americans, we just don't learn another language (and I'm generalizing, so if this doesn't apply to you, ignore the following sentences).

In fact, we're usually proud that we don't learn another language.  We boast about how 'this is America!' so we only speak English, because we all know that the English language is one of the fruits of the Spirit listed in the Bible.  We post pictures on Facebook about our encounters on the phone when they ask us to press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, and we ask what's happened to our nation.  We put posts on fb and send out emails that say that if someone wants to live in our country, they need to speak our language.  Sadly, a high percentage of these posts are from my fellow conservative, evangelical friends.  We're proud of our monolingualism, and we often wear it as a badge of honor.  But, I want you to consider that, if you're someone who wants to help someone, if you're someone who cares about people, and especially if you want to make an eternal impact on someone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you should do everything you can to learn another language.

Here's the facts: the world comes to America.  It always has.  We're a well-known nation of immigrants.  Right now, a lot of that world coming to America is from the south: Mexico.  Honduras.  Nicaragua.  Ecuador.  And they all speak Spanish.  And yes, if they're going to live in the United States, they should probably learn English.  But the fact is, they want to learn!  They're working on it, they're trying.  And most of us who say, 'They should learn our language,' have never experienced what it's like to live in another country and learn the language and the culture and the customs.  It's still hard for us living here in Mexico, and we paid to go to a great language school in Costa Rica first to help us out.  The immigrants to the United States don't have that luxury.  They come and right away need to live, and it will take them a long time to learn the language.

Spanish distribution in the United States... TEN years ago!  How much do you think this map has changed in the past 10 years?

But the fact is, while they learn slowly learn English, increasingly, you won't be as good at your job if you can't speak their language.  Teachers: how many of you have already had times where you needed to know Spanish to speak to a student?  Or to his family?  Doctors and nurses: how often do people come for help, with little or no English?  Police officers:  How often do you need to know Spanish in order to help someone, or in order to know if a situation is safe or not?  Pastors: how many people in your communities can you not help at all personally simply because you can't even communicate with them to see what their needs are?  I told someone recently that I needed Spanish to be a missionary, but more and more, I wasn't sure I could be the best pastor possible without at least some Spanish.  And I (along with a lot of you reading this) am from Wyoming, which isn't nearly as influenced by immigration right now as other states.  If I needed it in Wyoming, you know it's needed in Colorado, and Arizona, and Texas, and all across the country.

If this gets your national pride riled up, I simply have this to say: stop it.  I'm not asking you to be less American.  I'm not asking you to exchange the red, white, and blue for the green, white, and red of Mexico's flag.  I'm not asking you to commit any kind of treason at all.  I'm asking you to love people more than you love this idea of a one-language nation.

When people move into your community, they need help.  They need to know how to find a good doctor.  Or a mechanic.  Or they need help moving a sofa.  Or they need directions.  Sometimes, they hit hard times (like we all do), and they need help with food.  Or with changing a tire.  Or they just need a friend, neighbors they can talk to.  In a thousand different ways, people need help.  And if you choose to wait for them to learn the language before you're willing to help them, you are saying that your English language is more important to you than the needs and lives of the people around you.

Secondly, if you learn Spanish, you can go and serve and help in so many places.  You can help rebuild homes in flood-soaked Mexico.  You can share the Gospel high in the mountains of Ecuador.  You can help to pull women out of sex-trafficking in Nicaragua.  You can reach inner-city youth in Chile.  When there's a disaster, you can go, and help, and serve.  You can be ready to go as the Lord calls you.

Look at all the places you can go and speak Spanish!

Finally, I've never heard someone say that they regretted knowing more languages.  In Europe, they learn two, three, four at a time, because they know that it's that important.  Even many of the kids in Latin America can speak English far better than most people that I know can speak Spanish.  When you learn another language, you think differently.  Your mind begins to do strange things, and you absorb things in different ways.  It's not easy; in some ways, it'll be one of the harder things you've ever done.  But it's worth it.

By the way, maybe Spanish really isn't your thing.  Like, at all.  That's fine.  What about French?  That's fine!  You can go so many places and share the Gospel using French!

Hey!  Wanna share about Jesus and help people here?

Or what about Chinese?  Almost 20% of the world's people live in China.  Or you could learn Hindi, and share Jesus with only about 17% of the world's population.

Somehow, in some way... learn a language.  Adults, it's harder for us, but try.  Learn a few phrases.  Learn some words.  Know how to ask someone if they need help.  Learn how to say Jesus loves you.  Learn left, right, straight, blocks, and miles, so that you can give people directions.  Learn numbers, so that you can help people with phone numbers, or count money.  Just start learning.  If you have kids, make them learn something.  Not just a few words in a class that they'll forget once the final is done.  Let them really learn.  They'll never regret it when they're looking for jobs, when they're meeting people and making friends, when they have chances to help people, and when they have chances to share the Gospel.

If you're younger, and you're reading this, you're so lucky.  God has made your brain so that it learns languages easier and faster and more naturally than an older brain.  Take advantage of it, and learn as much as you can.  If you know someone who speaks another language fluently and naturally, ask to spend time with them and listen to them so you can learn about flow and pitch and accents.  Do everything you can so you can learn.  You'll never regret it.

Don't let a stubbornness against learning a new language be the stumbling block that slows someone down on their way to the cross.  Instead, look around your city, look at your world, and tell God that you want to be equipped to reach anyone that you can, in any way that you can, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There's nothing sweeter than praying, worshiping, and studying the Bible in another language with native speakers.