This past December marked the first full year of my ministry here at the New Life Center. As many of you know, a first-term missionary’s goals are myriad; chief objectives include getting to “know the ropes” of a new culture, getting to know all the staff and/or people related to one’s ministry, and (of course) expanding and increasing one’s new language fluency.

I know I’ve written about Thai language study before; I hasten to assure you that it does not end after 11 months of language school. In fact, it’s only in the day-to-day, hour-by-hour experiences of grappling with new words and communicating various concepts, that one’s language proficiency can increase. When I think back to last year at this time, there’s really no comparison relative to my ability to comprehend and speak Thai right now. .

This does not mean, however, that my language study is over. I find that even though I now know a lot of words, I often will use an incorrect sentence structure. At other times, I’ll know how to translate a certain word from English into Thai, but in Thai the word has a completely different connotation than it does in English' so I have to be careful! .

To tackle this particular challenge, I’m continuing to study Thai with a tutor on Saturday mornings. I’ll write out some things I wish to say (e.g, “there’s an intrinsic conflict in this situation” or “I tend to have a pragmatic perspective relative to …..”) and my tutor will help me choose the best words to express the same concepts in Thai. .

One thing is for sure: language is powerful. We can choose to build up or tear down other people by the words we speak. When we choose the right words, doors can open, seemingly insurmountable bridges can be crossed, and hearts can change. .

In an odd sense, my experience studying Thai and learning how to live in a new culture is similar to what some New Life Center residents experience. Thai is not their own language; it’s a language they must learn, to live in the society into which they were born. Although our lives have been completely and absolutely different, we share this one same experience. .

Today, I laughed with some residents as we spoke about Thai vowels, and shared our common experiences of learning a language which is not our own. Praise God for these small moments of connection, for these “gusts of grace”, with which our Lord so visibly makes His presence known! .