Monday morning we began our year at BBTI (Baptist Bible Translators Institute) with World Survey Class. Only half an hour long, this is where the students prepare and share with the class different missionaries that have trained at BBTI and now are on the mission field, different countries of the world and their needs and a different people group each morning. It is just a quick synopsis of each item, but it gives us a deeper look into our task of spreading the Gospel to ALL the world. It is sad how many people groups around the world have yet to have a Gospel witness among their people.
The major foundation class we commenced on Monday was Phonetics. What is phonetics you ask and how does it apply to World Missions? Well it is the study of every human sound that is used in any language around world. The goal is hear the sound, know how to reproduce it and do so in such a manner without an accent. Some people mistakenly believe that one has to grow up making a certain sound in order to make it and that if you try to learn it as a much older person, you'll never accurately produce that sound. However!, every human is built with the same exact "equipment," that is, everyone has the same type of speech tract (structure of oral, nasal cavities, etc.) So, one can learn how to produce any sound that another human being can make, it just make take a little more training and practice than other sounds. Now, how does this apply to Missions? One needs to know another person's language to effectively share the Gospel with them. Simply using a trade language or teaching them English will not cut it.
Anyways, Phonetics class has been very interesting, thought-provoking and challenging. But I see the need for it and will continue to strive to master phonetics. Actually I am enjoying it, but it will get harder, I know. :)
Also, we have a Culture class currently during the 2nd part of morning. Basically, a class to teach different cultures, how to adapt to them, use it in a way to share the Truth of the Gospel without being offense to their culture, how to deal with culture shock, etc. Too many missionaries in year's past went to different countries and in the process of evangelizing the people of that country, also tried to Americanize them. In order to effectively communicate the Gospel and convert others, one must first understand their culture and lifestyle. So far, everything taught, I have been convinced of already, but have been given many good examples of why knowing a culture is crucial to the spreading of the Gospel.
Ok, now for the spiders.... I'm sure some of you are wondering how they tie in. Well, I'm from Alaska.... which means our spiders are the size of a dime or smaller. Good size if you ask me. Well, for our first day of work detail, Mary and I were assigned to clean all the outdoors kids playground equipment. We wanted to be sure it was safe for all the little kids to play on, basically no spiders. First off, we go to the washhouse to get a bucket of water, big spider in the drainhole of the sink. Maybe the size of a quarter, ok no biggie, we killed that one. Moving on.... we clean a few pieces and then! Mary discovers a large black widow spider with a large egg sack. Uh, yeah those are the really poisonous ones. Great! Scary, but we dispose of the mama and all her little babies yet to be born. No that is not cruel and unusual punishment! :) We cleaned the rest of the equipment killing a couple other nonharmless spiders. Whew, yes we are done!
That night I am on the porch talking to my sister on the phone (not good cell reception inside my house). I set the phone down for a couple minutes, when I come back and go to pick up the phone.... aghhh!! LARGE spider less than 5 inches from my phone!!! Like large in that its body was the size of my thumb, not counting its legs! Maybe that's not large to some of you, but remember I'm from Alaska. Sscccarrry! shudder.
So, if you think of me.... pray that I'll survive the intense phonetics class and all the huge, crazy, dangerous, scary spiders!!! :D
