Missionary Support Raising Training: Stories to Inspire

Missionary Support Raising Training: Stories to Inspire - Hablo Espanol?

(Coach Curt shares some real memories from his life, and his favorite sermon illustrations. He hopes you are more than entertained, but inspired and built up in your faith as you pursue your support raising.)

One of my least natural giftings is understanding or learning foreign languages, which is really too bad considering I am a missionary. That could be a lesson in itself if you think about it, but not the topic of this article. Knowing my lack of ability in this area, I was even able to avoid taking a foreign language in high school. I had almost flunked the classes in junior high, and simply didn’t want to deal with it.

After high school I received a congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. After basic training we took some aptitude tests, and I obviously was placed in the beginning language class of my choice - Spanish. What I didn’t know is that many of my classmates had taken two years of Spanish in high school, but purposely did poorly on the aptitude test so that would end up in the beginners Spanish class and have an easy time.

The first day of Spanish class was interesting. In walked a military officer in a uniform I had never seen before. The first thing he said, and would say over and over again was:

“No Hablo English en esta classe.”

I leaned over to a friend to ask him what he said and the friend said that we would not be speaking ANY English in this class. Hmmm. OK. How was I to learn? I trusted there must be a plan and it would work out.

Three weeks later I am flunking the class. Junior high all over again. So I raised my hand - again - as I had done a few times the last 3 weeks. My instructors only response was:

“No Hablo English en esta classe.”

I honestly thought the instructor was just being stubborn and didn’t care that I was flunking.

The rest of the class was doing fine because they had taken high school Spanish for at least 2 years. I couldn’t even understand the homework assignment. Finally I went up to the officer to ask for help. He held up his hand in a gesture that let me know he wanted me to wait for right where I was for him while, and he would be back. He came back with an American Officer - who interpreted.

Come to find out, this officer was at the USAFA from the Mexican Air Force to learn English! I didn’t even know Mexico had an Air Force, but that was besides the point.

With some instruction and lots of outside tutoring I was able to pass the class.

Insight to apply to your Missionary support raising training and activities:

It might be computer technology, lead management, the sales process, or something else that sounds like a foreign language to you. You may have reached out for help and even taken a class and it still isn’t clicking. Don’t give up. There are some tremendous resources for you here. Seek out more help. You CAN learn what you need to know.

One possible application to raising support:

Keep learning and growing in them no matter what level you are at. Computer skills are like a second language, but it is a language that will serve you well in your support raising efforts.