How Do You Say “…?”

This past weekend introduced itself with a beautiful story; and one that I would like to share. A few weeks ago, I was honored to be a part of the youth group’s mission week, where the particular task I am sharing about, involved delivering cookies to upcoming sixth graders (to invite/remind these students about attending youth group.) While driving from house to house, it was becoming quite easier to grow discouraged due to there not being any teens at their homes.

The entire time, I knew that these deliveries were on a whim, and so there would be a chance that because it is summer, and people take vacations, that we would potentially have to leave cookies (with notes) on peoples’ doorsteps. I mean, that was fine and we were still getting the job done; however, being the talkative, people-person that I am, I just wanted to personally put these cookies in those sixth graders hands.

Nonetheless, house after house, we approached empty doorsteps. My patience and attitude were definitely slipping, but as the adult leader of this task, I was challenged in more ways than not. One, was to remain upbeat and hopeful for the other teens that were serving alongside me. Another, was to remember the purpose of the task. (Which was not for me to personally “feel happy” about seeing others, but to instead get the word out and let others know we are praying for them).

We were approaching our last house for the day, and to my surprise, the family was just arriving home from running some errands. I was ecstatic!!! Finally!- some real, live and breathing human beings.

Just when I was down and grumpy, God gave me a quiet whisper, “All I wanted was for you to be patient.” Because little did I know, He had a huge task waiting for me.

I walked up to one of the girls [who appeared to me to be a teenager] and I introduced myself. With a huge smile across her face, she murmured some words. I could not understand her by any means, and I did my best to speak slower so that she would perhaps grasp what I was communicating.

Little did I know, as the adult walked over, that I was talking to the wrong child. Not only that, but the young lady I was trying to talk to was actually deaf.

In that split moment, I felt as terrible as I possibly could have. I wanted so badly to be able to communicate to that young lady that I was so sorry. However, her mother was kind enough to reassure me that I had done no harm to hurt her feelings. As I continued talking to the mother, I found out that months ago, their family had actually attended our church, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, they have not been able to find their way back. One of them being, that the older daughter felt as though she could not participate in church since she was deaf.

I took that as an open door and shared about our church’s deaf-assistance and the mother laughed with pure joy. I informed her that I did not have the coordinator’s name or number, but would talk to that person as soon as I could.

Life got busy, but low and behold, just this past Sunday, I bumped into the deaf-coordinator and she offered to go meet this family if I would introduce her to them. I, of course, was all for it, and so we went.

As we approached their home, I was praying that they would be just as welcoming as they were the first time and that God would move mountains.

Well, the conversation could not have gone any better. The mother was blessed to feel as if this church could be their home, and the deaf daughter was expressing so much joy that even though I could not understand her…I did understand her. It. Was. Amazing. Ah… And so…God, has decided to show me how He wants to use me yet again. I must say, I am humbled. I never saw this kind of opportunity coming my way, but I am sure glad He did. On top of that, I get to feed my passionate learning desire for sign language. (Especially since I have already done some work with it).

As I walked away from one of the most beautiful conversations, or lack there of, that I had ever had, I learned not how to say, “Goodbye,” but to instead say, “See you later…”

Until we speak again…