One
of my least natural giftings is understanding or learning foreign
languages, which is really too bad considering I am a missionary.
That could be a lesson in itself if you think about it, but not the
topic of this article. Knowing my lack of ability in this area, I was
even able to avoid taking a foreign language in high school. I had
almost flunked the classes in junior high, and simply didn’t
want to deal with it.
After
high school I received a congressional appointment to the United
States Air Force Academy. After basic training we took some aptitude
tests, and I obviously was placed in the beginning language class of
my choice - Spanish. What I didn’t know is that many of my
classmates had taken two years of Spanish in high school, but
purposely did poorly on the aptitude test so that would end up in the
beginners Spanish class and have an easy time.
The
first day of Spanish class was interesting. In walked a military
officer in a uniform I had never seen before. The first thing he
said, and would say over and over again was:
"No
Hablo English en esta classe."
I
leaned over to a friend to ask him what he said and the friend said
that we would not be speaking ANY English in this class. Hmmm. OK.
How was I to learn? I trusted there must be a plan and it would work out.
Three
weeks later I am flunking the class. Junior high all over again. So
I raised my hand - again - as I had done a few times the last 3
weeks. My instructors only response was:
"No
Hablo English en esta classe."
I
honestly thought the instructor was just being stubborn and
didn’t care that I was flunking.
The
rest of the class was doing fine because they had taken high school
Spanish for at least 2 years. I couldn’t even understand the
homework assignments. Finally I went up to the officer to ask for
help. He held up his hand in a gesture that let me know he wanted me
to wait for right where I was for him, and he would be back. He came
back with an American Officer - who interpreted.
Come
to find out, this officer was at the USAFA from the Mexican Air
Force to learn English! I didn’t even know Mexico had an Air
Force, but that was besides the point.
With
some instruction and lots of outside tutoring I was able to pass the class.
Insight
to apply to your Christian Home Based Business: It might be
computer technology, lead management, the sales process, or something
else that sounds like a foreign language to you. You may have reached
out for help and even taken a class and it still isn’t clicking.
Don’t give up. There are some tremendous resources for you here.
Seek out more help. You CAN learn what you need to know.
One
possible application: Computer skills are like a second
language, but it is a language that will serve you well in your
Christian home based business. Keep learning and growing
