Seizing Every Opportunity

If you are able to read and understand this, you have two things that is highly sought after in many parts of the world.  For one, your were fortunate enough to have someone teach you how to read, but even more so, you learned how to read in English.

Since English is my first language, I tend to see it as just another language.  It's what I use to read, write, communicate, and even think.  I seldome give it a second thought.  This past week however, I realized what an opportunity I have because of the language I speak. 

One of our first days on campus, one of the women I am discipling and I were talking with a group of girls on the humanities campus.  The conversation didn't really seem to go anywhere especially spiritual, and while Alyssa and I took turns speaking in Spanish, my mind was wandering to how to exit the conversation in a culturally sensitive way since Venezuelans highly value relationships and are known to even skip class if they feel they have not spent enough time with you.

Around the same time, one of their friends named Daniel approached us and said, "I want to learn English".  Although we were speaking in Spanish, he clearly saw us as a chance to practice the language that is considered the mark of good education, and the gateway to many oportunities for sucess.  It just so happened that the English Club Vida Estudiantil (CRU here in Venezuela) hosts every week was meeting just around the corner in 10 minutes.  We said our good-byes to the girl and headed over to the English club where Daniel was quickly pulled into a group of students from the United States and Venezuelans who had gathered for the club.  There were probably about 40 Venezuelan students who had come out soley for the opportuity to practice English!

Seated in the open air walk way, I was able to lead a small group of students through a series of questions such as "What do you study?", "What is your family like?" and "Where do you see yourselves in ten years?"  As the conversaiton wound down, I asked if any of the Venezuelan students if they had any questions they would like to ask in English.  One of the students in Vida asked me to share about how I came to know Christ.  Talk about seizing the opportunity! 

That simple question then led into us breaking into even smaller groups, with Christians sharing with non-Christians about their lives with Jesus.  I was seated next to Daniel, and I asked him if he would like to read in English and told him I had a small book about God that was in English and Spanish.  I proposed that he read the English and I read the Spanish and then we could talk about what we read.  We then got to read through 3/4 of the Four Spiritual Laws /Knowing God Personally booklet and have a longer conversation about who God is and what he wants from us.

I've always heard that English clubs are a great way to reach people, but it was so cool to actually see it in action!  Anyone up for helping me start one with the international students at NIU in the fall?

Sarah