Language Barriers

This week started the first days at my service site, Walk in the Light, in the town of Haniville. Today one of the men who lives on the site, Jimmy, greeted us and one of the students responded in Zulu. Instantly, Jimmy's face became clouded with a frown and he mumbled disapprovingly to himself. I asked him to explain and he did, boy he did! Jimmy passionately discussed how he is Afrikaans and takes great offense when others speak to him in Zulu. He warned our team that we should refrain from speaking in the native tongue because people want to speak English and they believe you are assuming their lack of intelligence by partaking in Zulu conversation. So, here I am currently attempting to ease the language barrier by studying Zulu (clicks and all) and this man tells me that it is offensive! While I acknowledge that this is only one man's opinion, I have witnessed his opinion present within others. It is difficult at times knowing there is not only a language barrier in the traditional sense of, I speak one language and you speak another, but in the fact that I have to be aware that every individual has different expectations and assumptions of how I perceive them and will thus speak to them. Simply another great lesson in perspective today. Later that night, I was encouraged as we met with the college group in Haniville who all spoke Zulu and encouraged our efforts in doing so. It was an interesting time trying to learn names, which were extremely difficult for both parties. We ended the group in a prayer circle, hands clasped together. The leader said to grasp the hands next to us as if we were holding our sister or brother's hand. Both of my hands were squeezed a little tighter and I squeezed right back, smiling, knowing that we were each so obviously different but we were united under our Lord Jesus Christ. I glimpsed a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of God: a union amidst diversity.
May you remember that you are a beloved and chosen child of God and so is the neighbor right next door to you.
All my love,
Gennavieve