Pentecost in the form of a birthday candle…

2 ^1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

                                                                                                                           Acts 2:1-4 The Message

    

     This has grown to be one of my favorite scriptures to teach to children.  It’s such a mysterious concept.  I love seeing children's eyes light up as they ponder the possibility of flames of fire over the heads of the early followers along with the ability to understand a variety of languages being spoken in one place at one time.  The idea that believers from different cultures and walks of life can come together and worship together in complete understanding of one another - all in praise and worship of Christ.  

     Over the past 8 months of living in a new country, learning a new language, and desiring to communicate and worship with new brothers and sisters in Christ, this passage in Acts has taken on a very special meaning in my life.

    Language is so much more than spoken words.  A lot can be understood through context and body language.  Yet, without a way to interpret the spoken word, I find myself missing out on a least 50% of what’s going on around me. 

     While sitting in a women’s Bible study, I can read the same scripture in English (thank you FUMC Preschool and Kindergarten for my bilingual Bible!!!)  I can clap along in worship as the ladies sing songs of praise, I can bow my head and silently pray in English as prayers are led in Spanish, and I can even understand the emotion expressed through facial expressions, tone of voice, and sometimes tears.  I can understand that these women are deeply connecting to each other and our God, yet I can’t fully understand the conversation.  I may be able to understand that someone is sick, but not know with what.  Or that someone is praying for a family member, but not understand why.  

     While playing with a group of children I can understand that they are playing a game of tag, but not quite understand all the rules.  I can laugh along with them in the spirit of joy in friendship, but have no idea of what we are laughing at!  

     While observing a Sunday School lesson, I can generally figure out the Bible Story either from scripture reference or names of characters, yet I can’t fully understand the truths the teacher is proclaiming to the students.

   Little by little, I understand more and am able to communicate more. But it's not something I can do in my own strength alone.

     While in worship one Sunday afternoon, I began asking God to give me a personal Pentecost.  Asking him to grant me the ability to fully communicate through a language that I have not yet mastered (and maybe never will!)  I came to the realization that learning Spanish is not a task I can approach with the goal of mastering it in my own strength and abilities.  I need to rely on the help of the Holy Spirit.  So my prayer has been for God to grant me the ability to communicate beyond what I can do on my own intellectual abilities.

     I have complete confidence in God and know that He has called me to El Salvador to work in ministry alongside people of the Evangelical Methodist Church and he definitely has a plan for me to communicate – it will just take some time and patience – and some studying on my part!

     So, for my birthday, God gave me a great big hug in the form of Pentecost!  It was the final night here for a team from North Georgia.  They gathered together for communion along with Salvadorans of the church here.  As we began worship, children from a Korean family in the group shared their experiences of the past week in El Salvador.  Pastor Juan de Dios was translating from English to Spanish.  At one point, the child began speaking Korean.  Juan didn’t understand.  So, the boy’s father translated from Korean to English, then Juan translated from English to Spanish.  It was absolutely beautiful!  Right there, gathered among 40 believers, God provided a Pentecost moment.  Three languages were being spoken and understood - all for the glory of God!  While I didn't notice flames over anyone's head, and didn't feel a distinctly strong wind, the presence of the Holy Spirit was clearly among us! 

     It’s amazing how after 8 months of studying and stumbling through Spanish, I have “all of a sudden” started understanding a lot more and being able to communicate more.  I still have a lot to learn, but I can see that God is beginning to open those doors of communication.

     I am very thankful to my faithful teacher, Kristy for all her patience and pushing.  Without her help, communicating in Spanish would not be possible for me.  And I’m also thankful to my new teacher, Yancy who is helping me understand even more.  

     This mystery of Pentecost is not merely something of our past.  The wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit is not something reserved only for those who lead in worship, teach Bible Study, or are labeled "Holy Rollers."  It's here and now and for every believer.  It's lived out differently in each of our lives.  At this time in my life, I happen to read this passage a little more literally with the present need to communicate in a different language.  

     Yet, we all have people in our lives who need the understanding of another person.  People who are in line with us at Target or Food Lion who need the care of a complete stranger to let them know that they, too are loved by an ever-present God.  Children who live at the other end of our street or go to our neighborhood school who need to see the love of Christ lived out through the actions of your family.  Someone at work with whom you just can't seem to get on the same page.  The person sitting on the pew next to you who is thinking they can't sit through worship here one more time needs to know that the person beside them cares and isn't judging them for not having it all together.

     We all suffer from some form of communication barrier - even when we speak the same verbal language.  Yet in the desire to come together in the name and glory of Christ, we can rise above those barriers and care for one another and through the gift of the Holy Spirit be able to understand each other in spite of our spoken words.

     I pray that you, too will experience a "Pentecost moment" in the week to come.  That you will find yourself doing something out of the leading of the Holy Spirit - and not your own strength or desires.  That you will see Christ in the faces of the people around you in your daily walk and that you will experience a moment of understanding one another beyond the abilities of spoken language - all for the glory of Christ!