Learning Maba

Very recently, I made the decision to start learning the Maba language. I have to say, I was not initially excited. This will be my fourth foreign language to learn, not counting high school and college Spanish. For good reason, I have felt ready to be finished learning languages. Did I really have time to add space in my schedule to learn Maba? I did not enjoy learning Chadian Arabic. When I began, I was still new to the culture, new to the method of language learning we chose to use, and I was learning in the afternoons when temperatures were rising.  It was a challenging experience which still evokes negative emotions in me.

The drudgery of learning a foreign language and achieving the level we need to reach in order to effectively communicate the gospel to the Maba people is a large commitment to make. So, as I became convinced I should study Maba if we were going to do what we say we want to do – plant churches amongst the Maba people – I simultaneously began questioning whether it was worth it and whether God was worth me investing years more of my intellect and time. I was scared to ask myself that question.

The reality is, since we have already given up so much in moving to eastern Chad and learning French and Arabic (not even reaching a level where we feel we could effectively disciple someone), you and all our supporters think we are doing a great job. Why should we continue even farther? Why not just stop here and stay in a place of comfort since we get so much positive feedback from you? The motivation for investing years more in even further language study can only be that God is enough and that He is worth it.

So, in a place of honesty before the Lord, admitting to Him I didn’t know if I believed He was worth it, He graciously reminded me of His love for me and His presence with me. For so long, I have tried to obediently live out the Great Commission, but I often disregard Jesus’ last phrase, “And lo, I am with you always.” Through His word and through the testimonies of others who have gone before us, God comforted me that He is with me as I enter this season of learning the Maba language. He has changed my heart, and I am encouraged and sincerely joyful to have the honor of learning a language that only one other worker is currently learning. What a privilege it is for me to get to be one of the first to bring the gospel to women who otherwise will never hear the good news of the Gospel!

Throughout the world, reports of Muslims are coming to faith, but the truth is, it is mostly men who are believing. How are the women going to hear if only missionary husbands learn the languages these unreached people groups are speaking? Mothers have so many home responsibilities that it is only by much sacrifice that we will learn to speak the heart language of the people we are trying to reach. But I have decided it is worth it and that God is worth it.

Praise God with me for His comfort and reminders that He is with me and that He is worthy of my life poured out for the Maba people.

Pray for our family as Josh homeschools the boys part time in order to allow me time to study the language.

Pray for perseverance and continued encouragement in language learning.

Pray mostly for the Maba people to have hearts prepared to hear and respond to the Gospel when they hear.