I Corinthians 1:27

New Living Translation
Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

I migrate towards this verse when I see myself often in it.  I was born in a place without a name in the country but I, by the grace of God, was taken to many of a nation. I've travelled places I couldn't have dreamed of traveling. I was given opportunities that only God could have designed because there were more intelligent, knowledgeable, and able people who could have done what I did, but God. He intervened and placed me there instead.

When I go to Mexico I usually translate for the minister who leads the group. It was one of the most frightening things and most depending-on-God things I've ever done in my life. I spent two years in Mexico getting a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics. I've been speaking Spanish since about 1997. I have an ear to imitate the accent of languages so I sound nice but to those who are fluent my grammar isn't always the most accurate. As I translate, I have to let go and let God. I often depend on more fluent people in the audience to throw me words like "encourage." When they do this I smile and use the word I was given by the Spanish speaker who teaches me as I translate for the minister and keep translating. It is scary. Really scary and humbling.  My Spanish is good but not great, so God and those nice people in the audience help to carry me through. Do we have someone on the team who has better Spanish-English translation skills? Yes, we do but in my weakness and sometimes bumbling Spanish it helps the audience see someone who is African American speak their language. Also they see that I am not afraid of sounding foolish at times, and I'm okay with being corrected at times. My presence I hope shows the love of God through an unfamiliar brown face. Maybe I didn't express it so well right then but I hope you get the point. I just want to be used by God and help those who are lost or weak or in need get to know him more. So here a I go again to Mexico 6 years after my last trip. I just want to be prepared just in case I am called on to translate again and if I'm not it is okay too. Hope you have a blessed day.

Kimberly