Answering the Call

I had been challenged to missions, ready to Answer the Call, yet no desire to learn a new language! Below I am sharing my story, and as you read it, may you not be in awe of me, but only of God, Who is using my life for His glory!

“Why in the world would I ever want to learn a foreign language?” - this was my thought that I held on too and put into practice in high school, but found out later why learning a foreign language is CRUCIAL to missions, if you are going to a non-English speaking country!

Ok, before I get started, here is where I have to laugh! As I look back over my life, I can't believe that I had been challenged in 1st grade to be a part of tribal missions, which means going to a non-English speaking country, working with tribal people, and after learning their language, I would share with them the true Gospel message!

My favorite verses are Romans 10:14-15:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Amazingly, when I entered high school, I continued down my ideals, and it seemed so logical not to study a foreign language, like Spanish, French, or Italian, because I reasoned that it would make high school so much easier! Now, surely I didn't think that I could do everything in English overseas, or did I? Whatever the case, I went through high school not studying any foreign language, because I knew English, and that was all that I need to live life...or so I thought...

Until 2 years later, I stepped foot in Language institute, where I began studying phonetics, phonemic, where to put my tongue to make those strange noises like the glottal, nasal vowels, and trilled “r”s. I honestly thought at times, when in a class setting that I understood it all as I put accents and tonal lines on worksheets. Interesting enough, I found out that I thought completely opposite! My whole paper was pretty much wrong. Every.Single.Time. So, between phonetics and figuring out languages, I very quickly knew that learning a language was going to be LOTS of work on my part. Thankfully, we were headed to Paraguay, where Spanish was definitely among one of the “easier” languages, or so I was told...

...until I landed on Paraguayan soil and found out to an only American speaker, the Spanish language ran together. Oh, and there were irregular verbs that didn't follow any particular rule and 14 verb tenses for every.stinking.verb! Really?! So, that was my “Welcome to Paraguay”, and even after I did begin learning Spanish, I still couldn't understand what everyone said, because Paraguay doesn't only have 1 National language, but 2 – Spanish and Guarani. So you will find people that speak only Spanish, some that speak only Guarani, some that speak both, and some that speak neither one, but only a tribal language.

During these 2 years of formal Spanish language study with 2 children under 3 and pregnant with number 3, I pressed on, amidst the hardship and struggles, learning so that I could build relationships, be used by God in a new language and culture, with the desire to see others know Him through me. Even when finished with formal language study, I continued to learn, and I personally have to say that 2 major factors in my fluency were my Paraguayan family, who taught me so much and had lots of patience with me and also, Good Morning Girls, an online Bible study that I stumbled upon last year as I read Women LivingWell blog. I never knew what God had planned, but I knew that studying online the Bible in Spanish would be just what I needed to extend my vocabulary. Now, over a year later, I never imagined co-leading Good Morning Girls Spanish! But GOD…He had a plan and it has forced me to dig, grow, and learn more. To go beyond “normal” and say “YES”, even when it is scary or seems impossible to me!
So, do you think this woman, chosen by God, challenged to missions, yet no desire to learn a new language has changed? Yes, I have and would have hoped, I learned the first time around, but just this past week, my husband told me during a conversation that I am still there, with no desire to learn a new language! Really?! He told me that I have resisted learning Guarani and “making by” with Spanish. Ouch! I said, “But you advised me to not learn Guarani until I had a good handle on Spanish.” He said, “You didn't have to take my advice. (True...) And now, you have studied Spanish since June 2004, I'm sure that you can learn Guarani! That's all it takes is a thermos of cold water, Paraguayan tea in an upside cowhorn with a filtered straw, and a friend who speaks Guarani.” So, then my response was “Time! That is what I need.” But then, I realized...another EXCUSE! UGHH!!

“God, forgive my excuses! Use me! Help me do "whatever it takes" to learn Guarani! I know that learning this language will help me build deeper relationships with my Paraguayan family, who do speak Spanish, but their heart language is Guarani, and not only that, but also, I will be able to minister alongside my husband in tribal locations that speak Guarani.”

My prayer today is: “Lord, don’t only give me a desire to learn Guarani, but also give me friends and people who will “flood” me with it! I’m saying yes to You, with my palms up ready to obey, even when I really don't have a clue how. God, You know that I am a wife, mommy and homeschool teacher to our 3 children, in ministry, and now, an online college student. Give me wisdom with my time, and may I, with Your help, do whatever it takes to learn this new language!"

Chosen by God,
with a heartbeat for missions, and continuing to learn,

Trisha Goddard
www.unamujerelegida.mtgoddard.com

Trisha Goddard loves God wholeheartedly, and has a passion for missions, serving others, and mentoring. She serves in full-time ministry in Paraguay, co-leads Good Morning Girls Spanish, and is working towards her Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Trisha married her sweetheart, Mike, in 2001, and they have three children: Michael, Lea, and Kaleb, whom she has the privilege to homeschool. 



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And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking  about.  I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.  
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
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And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking  about.  I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.  
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
Invite your friends to join the party
The party runs until next Tuesday evening!
So link up and have fun!
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1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours

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Click here to receive a weekly reminder about this party!
And now for the party!!!
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire - even giveaways!
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking  about.  I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.  
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit the post just before yours
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The party runs until next Tuesday evening!
So link up and have fun!
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  Do you have a question related to missions?  Feel free to contact me via email, comment below or visit my Facebook page to ask your question.  It will be featured here during our fall Answer the Call series!




 
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