Studying Spanish Brings Opportunities to Share

I have so much Spanish rattling around in my head these days.  Can't spit out too many coherent sentences right off the cuff, but usually find myself tongue-tied in the moment of idiomatic need, and left to ruminate about what I should have said, only to come up with an appropriate Spanish response sometime after the event or conversation was long over.  Somehow need to come to that place where this stuff just rolls off my tongue without so much mental formulation.  That I suspect, means finding sentences I will use, memorizing them, and putting them in conversation.

Part of that is coming with my new project:  memorization of worship songs in Spanish.  YouTube is a great source of videos of Spanish versions of worship songs I am already familiar with, and it has been fairly easy to find videos with lyrics right on screen.  I have pretty much memorized "Grande Para Salvar" (Hillsong's Mighty to Save), and the children's chorus "Si, Cristo Me Ama" (Yes, Jesus Loves Me) and am part way through "Hosanna en las Alturas" (Hosanna in the Highest - Hillsong United).

As I sit soaking in the podiatrist whirlpool bath (have been getting treatment for some tendon problems in my feet), or on the exercise bike at the gym  feverishly studying my flashcards, song sheets, and notes, conversation in English has sparked with others about why I am studying Spanish.   This has led to some neat opportunities.  I think of the nice lady in the doctor's office who shared about her adult son who is a Christian, and her misgivings of how he gave up his childhood faith for this, but  shared how she has been to his church on a number of occasions, and has some understanding of why I am doing this missions thing.  I remember the kindly woman from the gym, who I would guess has a few years on my parents, but who works out faithfully and keeps herself in good condition; who also sees me studying regularly and wonders if I am a student at the community college where we both use the gym.  She shares how she has major surgery coming up and that she is very apprehensive about it.  She fears that if this surgery doesn't go well, she may lose her sight and her independence, and is definitely appreciative of my offer to pray for her.

I marvel at how much of a blessing it is to prepare to serve overseas, and how faithful God is to use even the time of preparation as opportunity to share Him with others.