10 Non-Spanish Lessons I'm Learning at Language School

A year ago at this time, I didn't want to come to language school. I thought I would have been happier learning Spanish in Chile, with a Chilean tutor. But looking back on these months here at Rio Grande Language School, I now see many reasons why God had me here for now. While there are many lessons I could and would like to share, I will only explain ten in the next two posts.

Non-Spanish Lesson #1 - 5 (in no particular order)

1. Christian fellowship is very important - While at language school, I have been confronted with many different situations where Christian fellowship was needed, was given, and was appreciated. Whether in the context of the classroom, the RGBI campus in general, or in the Spanish local church we attend, I have enjoyed true Christian fellowship. This fellowship is not just talking, or eating doughnuts with someone, but conversations that shatter the small talk mold that we so easily fall into. Conversations about deeper things, deeper heart issues, and dare I say, deeper insights into God's Word. Hard questions have been asked. Hard questions need to be asked. In time of blessing and trial, Christian fellowship should be sweet.

I am thankful for being confronted with this lesson of the importance of Christian fellowship.

2. God's grace is sufficient - Language school tests your limits...mental, physical, & spiritual. Often times, I have found myself at the end of myself, but God's grace has been, is, and will be totally sufficient. The ministry will only get more difficult from here.

I am thankful for being confronted with this lesson of God's sufficient grace.

3. The Body of Christ is bigger than I thought - The RGBI community is overall...well...how do I say this...theologically broader than me. The language school students are coming from various denominations that are solid on the Gospel, but methodologies in some of the particulars are a wider range. BUT, I am learning a very important lesson while being here...Salvation in and through Christ SHOULD bond people together in a special way no matter what denominational stripe. Now don't go thinking I've gone all ecumenical...I am simply stating that I have encountered more "iron-sharpening" friendships during my time here than ever before. They might not be Baptist, or all the words we like to see before the word Baptist, but they are my brothers in Christ. I am learning not to knee jerk to everything that is not exactly like me. On the friendship level, I need to have more friends that aren't exactly like me. It stretches me. It makes me sharpen how I communicate my convictions or beliefs.

I am thankful for being confronted with this lesson of the Body of Christ

4. Trusting God in Blessing and Trial - It's easier to trust in God when things are going great, but another thing to do the same in deep valleys filled with pain and trial. The rigors of life at language school have tested me beyond any formal theological class I have taken. It's like I have another "unofficial" class that I am taking here at language school, and the class is called "Sanctification 101" taught by the Holy Spirit.

I have recently been reminded about this lesson of Trusting God in blessing and in trial by the words from a poem by Mark Altrogge .

As Long as You Are Glorified

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

I am thankful for being confronted with this lesson of trusting God in times of blessing and in times of trial.

5. God's timing is always perfect - My sinful bent wants to have everything planned out (by me), but if God is in control of everything, God's timing has to be perfect. The timing of an encouraging passage of Scripture, a needed conversation, a check in the mail, an auto accident, a miscarriage, or even difficult homework assignments or tests are perfect in God's overall plan for my life. I can trust God for the future that I don't know about.

I am thankful for being confronted with this lesson of God's perfect timing.

Come back again soon for Lessons #5-10