Sunday, June 27, 2010

My First Possible Quichua Bible Study!!!

Well...as any of you that have attempted to preach in a new languange can testify to...sometimes you are feeling it, and sometimes not so much!...So, this morning, we didn't have class because the instructor had to travel to Quito for the day. Anyway, so our assignment was to support the group today offering bible studies using the direct approach.

Let me tell you...when I woke up on this VERY cold morning...the thought of preaching in the market was not really my idea of fun. But, I prayed to Jehovah that he help give me the strength to do it. I was assigned with one of the other students in the class...so off we went!

I tried a few, but none really gave me the time of day..they were incredibly busy selling their vegetables, or shelling their green beans, or shining their mandarines (yes, they really do that...you can almost see your face in them!)

I said another silent prayer...just please let someone give me a half a smile, and let me do my presentation...(you see, the Quichua speaking people are very sweet, but they have a very timid and stern outer shell). Partly because they are looked down on by other Ecuadorians. So, it is rare that I have seen them smile...well, bible students and of course the brothers and sisters do!

There was a woman sitting on her stool with her little baby...here it goes!! Well, I started my presentation and she says, (as they often do) "I don't speak Quichua"...My first thought was, here we go again...just turn and walk away. But, because she was OBVIOUSLY from Riobamba..where almost everyone speaks Quichua...I decided to continue my presentation...partly in spanish, partly in Quichua. At this point, she "still did not speak Quichua". But, then I pulled out the tract in Quichua and her eyes got as big as saucers! She says," Actually I do speak Quichua, and I can read that!" (with not only 1/2 a smile, she had a whole smile!) So we picked out the question Does God care about us and did the paragraph inside the tract that answers the question...I asked her if she would like to know more and she said SURE! So, we made arrangements to talk again next Sunday. She says she is always at the market on Sundays....

Not a FANTASTIC experience...but for someone who has the vocabulary of a 3 year old in Quichua...I was pretty happy! Jehovah gave me what I asked for and more! And it did help...the rest of the morning I had a much better attitude about the market!

Not too much else here...busy busy busy learning another language!
Hope things are going well...just wanted to give a quick update!

10 comments:

Just Me said...

YAY!

Unknown said...

YAY!
Glad you shared your experience. I commented this morning at the Wt study about how reading of your and others experiences are very motivating to me. I look forward to seeing how your rv on this woman turns out.
How is Quicha pronounced?

Chad and Michele said...

Thanks for the comments guys...and you pronounce it Kichwa...actually in Spanish you write it Quichua, but in the language Kichwa, it is written Kichwa...did I completely confuse you now? haha

Aggidio - JoAnn said...

Awesome! It is so intimidating to preach in a new language, especially if they won't own up to speaking it - yikes!! Miss you both!!! :)

Unknown said...

haha.
Got it.
Thanks!

Jeff and Meli said...

Hey guys thanks so much for your comment and encouragement. We needed it. just like you we are trying to learn a new language and a new culture and man it's tough!!just looking at you guys not giving up and doing those silent prayers gets our fire going!! We will not give up!!

Damaris said...

Very nice experience! Where are the pics of Chad wearing his new poncho??

Unknown said...

thats awesome i love your guys blog its awesome

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for writing about this experience. We loved it and it motivates us to continue our efforts to move to where the need is greater. We dont know eachother, I have been trying to email you guys, but dont know how or where to get intouch with you. we are looking to move from the USA to possibly Chile, so we need some pointers.
Darwin & Mayi (losreyes654321)

Chad and Michele said...

Hello Darwin and Mayi! Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and for your comments! We would love to get in touch with you. Our email is chadandmichele@hotmail.com Feel free to get in touch. We are happy to help in any way we can! My first and most important pointer is: Just do it! I know I sound like a commercial...but it is true...you will NEVER regret it! Thanks again for your comment!