Humbled Like Children

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
-Jesus

"I get jealous when I see a three year old talk better than me." We have come to find that one of the easiest ways to feel like a child again is to not know a language. I was sitting at one of our favorite pizza places today and say a girl who couldn't have been older than 8 years and 243 days, but was on a cell phone talking with someone. First, I can't believe almost every child in this world today has a cell phone. That is a rant for another time. But secondly, the way she was speaking made me feel like she should be leading our Summer Project. Her pronunciation was flawless, using words that sounded big and important (like arrabbiata); she had such a command of the language. Of course she would though. She is of course, Italiana.

But it is still difficult for all of us to be around people decades younger than us who speak and understand the language better than we do. One of the most frustrating things for an individual is to communicate and not be understood. Being here however is an immediately humbling experience solely due to our inability to communicate. We have become like babies cooing and babbling before a world of adults, even if those "adults" are only three years old.

Although the above passage is in the context of greatness and inheriting the kingdom of heaven, the theme of humbling one's self like a child is vital in our understanding of bringing the gospel to Italians and to people everywhere. Being in a foreign country we basically became children humbled by the new culture and foreign language, but in that humility we also want to be like children in their fearlessness, boldness, curiosity, and joy as we seek to share the love of Jesus Christ with Italians.

Things have been going strong as we have been here over week now. As students get the chance, they should be posting stories of friends they have made and gospel conversations they have had so continue to be on the lookout.

Please be praying for us as we must persevere in humility, unity, and community in order as we seek to be faithful witnesses of the gospel, depending on God's Spirit, trusting He will bring people to Himself.

By His Grace,
Andrew