I think language changes you. To truly speak another language you often have give yourself over to another culture - to think differently. Sitting at a table last night, breaking bread and surrounded by amazing Chinese friends made me realize how much I have missed fellowshipping in the Chinese language.
I text and speak Chinese every day, but to be in fellowship together, eating, bonding - that is truly something else entirely.
@sinbach ¡Sí Señor Sinobach, es la verdad! Working in another language changes us. Cybernetic fellowship with others from another culture or in person does change one. Most of my personal prayer time isn’t even in English anymore.
So true brother! Many in the free western churches are only now appreciating the value of the fellowship they enjoyed in church before covid. May these times draw us closer to our brethren in other countries where church fellowship was always difficult and even costly.
@sinbach
@sinbach I don't have any expeience with language, but I was in Uganda in 2012. The cook at our orphanage lost his little daughter to malaria. He was out a week. When he returned, he looked exactly like you would expect in the situation. A flood of compassion and I ran to him and embraced him. He was Muslim. I was a western Christian. He did not refuse my embrace. But afterward the onlookers, all Christians, were shocked and told me that was not permissible what I did. But I was behaving from outside the culture. It was such a lesson in the affect culture has on us. I notice it too when I spend lengthy times in my native Minnesota. An absolutely different culture than Texas. It is the frog in the water. We adjust.
@sinbach ..... I stumble with English🤣🤣 you impress me.
@MaryMamuzich I shouldn't impress you at all. all of my languages - including my mother language of English - are laughably riddled with grammatical errors.
@sinbach 🤣 well, then I wish I knew all those languages so I could laugh too 🤣
Seriously, my brain just won't go past English other than names of food... Taco, burrito,....
@sinbach When I studied psychology in college I learned language and culture go hand and glove. To embrace one is to embrace the other and as children of the most high dual language speakers bring healing between the races and cultures.
@sinbach Oh to be able to speak several languages. I have tried to little avail. Those who can switch back and forth amaze me; what a gift! Enjoy the richness of your fellowship.