A Prayer Request

River and James enjoy "un asado".

 "Yo quiero aprender espanol mas rapido*," said James Matthews as a prayer request tonight at the school vespers in the church sanctuary.  I shouted, "Amen!" and so did many others.  The school chaplain challenged the student body, "How many commit to not speak any English to James for the rest of his stay?"  They all lifted their hands in encouragement.

Now, would you find it encouraging that everyone around you would commit to not speaking to you in your primary language?  Would that put a smile on your face or would you look like a deer in the headlights?  That is where the rubber meets the road, my language learning friends!  That is what it takes to do this, and James is taking it head on.

James is really showing me what he is made of on this trip.  He has never been out of the United States before, and his Spanish experience before coming to Argentina was rather, shall we say, uneventful.  But he is making it happen for himself, and I salute him.

I want to ask all who read this blog to pray for James in particular and for each member of our group here.  We all need it.  God created the languages, and he has given the gift of tongues.  He can open ears and loosen tongues.  That is what we are asking for.  Please remember us in your prayers tonight.  Muchas gracias!!!!

* google translate it!  :)

Added note:  River just told me this morning at 7:00 (before the day's opening cermonies) that he promises to speak only Spanish from here on out.  Not solicited by me, but of his own accord.  That is an answer to prayer right there.  These students are serious!!!!