Lost in Translation

As all of you already know (or should know), Spanish is the language of Ecuador. While using Spanish is challenging and I'm definitely not fluent yet, there are some really cool differences between English and Spanish. One of them is that Spanish has two forms of the word "you". One word is "usted", which is formal and is used for elders, strangers, and showing respect. The other word is "tú", which is familiar and informal; it is used for children, family, and close friends. The cool thing about these words is how they're used in reference to God. Before I came to Ecuador, I thought that we would always use "usted" when praying, worshipping, or talking about God (considering that He's the Creator of the universe and all), but we don't. We always use "tú" in reference to God- the same word used for children, family, and friends. This is such a great reminder for me that God doesn't keep us at a distance- He's involved in every aspect of our lives. He's my Father and listens to my thoughts about anything that's going on in my life, from homesickness to understanding a language to getting my computer fixed. He doesn't call us servants or acquaintances- He calls us friends. I get to call God "tú", just like I do with my best friends and my little sister. ¡Qué chévere! (How cool!) Spanish also has two ways of saying "to know". The first word is "saber", which means to know information or to know about something. The other is "conocer", which means to know a person or a place personally. In my Spanish class this week, we talked about people who "saber" God but don't "conocer" Him- they know all about His characteristics, what He tells us to do, and what He's done, but they don't actually know Him on a personal level. There are so many people in the United States and in Ecuador who live without really knowing God- they just go through the motions and don't have a relationship with Him. It's so easy to sing the songs, listen to the sermons, and follow the rules without actually living life with God. This trip has been so challenging, but I know that God brought me here for a reason. I've been able to see another part of the world through His eyes- He loves the people of Ecuador and wants all of them to conocer Him, not just saber. Sometimes Spanish explains things more easily than English- they just get lost in translation. :)

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." -John 15:15