I failed Spanish

(post before this one is an update on us)

When I was in High School, I flunked one class... Spanish.

When I was in college, I applied with a government agency and I had to take a test that showed how well I would be able to learn a foreign language, particularly Spanish (I was required to learn Spanish after I was hired). Well I flunked the test, and never made it to the interview phase.

Before my first trip to Peru, I was trying to learn some Spanish, and it was really hard for me. I ordered a Spanish learning kit online, and it came with lots of CD´s, and I was able to go online, and print off the materials I needed. But I lacked motivation and joy to study it. It was just something I didn´t like doing. But I was going to Peru, and I needed to learn some Spanish, and so that put a lot of pressure on me. But I finally got to the point where I just wanted to quit trying. So I asked God to be in control, and help me. I stopped studying, and tried to just leave it in God´s hands. On the plane flight to Peru, I had a basic Spanish study book, and I wanted to remember atleast some words, but I just lacked motivation, and probably studied for about 5 minutes. (I spent 15 hours on 3 planes).

My first trip to Peru, it was so hard to communicate with Eliana or anybody. It was so hard. After that trip I remember saying that was probably the hardest 3 weeks of my life, but also probably the most blessed 3 weeks. But isn´t that the great thing about difficulties? I love it when I can experience God´s comfort, because it comes like a rainbow after a storm.

My point is writing this is because I want to give God credit for my Spanish. My Spanish is not fluent, but it keeps getting better and better. I have no choice here but to speak in Spanish. I have learned Spanish mainly by listening to Eliana, but also others, and catching on, and then speaking it myself, and speaking words over and over and over. I am able to speak quickly, and do not really have to think when I put together sentences. It is coming naturally now. Pronounciation is so important. Often people don´t understand me, and they will ask Eliana what I said, or I will repeat myself, but usually I am able to have a conversation with someone. Eliana said that my Spanish is probably a 7 out of 10. So I have much to learn, but I think for someone who flunked Spanish and hated studying it, I am doing quite well. And although sometimes I will have the thought ¨I have done well learning Spanish¨, that is not the right thought, because God has been behind this, and he has taught me this Spanish. And now I can speak to my wife all day in Spanish, and understand everything she says to me in Spanish, except for sometimes I do not understand a word or two, and she explains it to me. So may God have the glory and the credit that He deserves. He is quite a teacher :)