Goals from 2020...

This picture is from the final days of December 2019. This was my first time preaching in Spanish. It was a devotional I shared with our staff at Word of Life Chile on the leadership of Nehemiah. This photo is special to me because it reminds me of the personal victory of crossing a big checkpoint in the language learning processes I started back in the fall of 2018 at a language school in Texas.

I remember shortly after that devotional, entering 2020 and setting a goal for myself of preaching 3 times in Spanish in the year 2020. Shortly after, the pandemic started, all the churches and Bible Clubs switched to Zoom and I figured that my goal would be postponed until next year...

However, I was asked to share in a Bible Club over Zoom and I reluctantly accepted the invitation not knowing what to expect. It turned out being NOT a terrible experience:) It worked out well for me to have my notes right on the same screen that I was already looking at for the webcam window. This lead to another speaking invitation, and another, slowly building my confidence in public speaking (in Spanish) over the computer.

Before I knew it, my goal was reached and the invitations kept coming in. God kept surprising me with opportunities and by the end of 2020, I had preached 20 times in Spanish! To God be the glory!

I've never kept track before, but that might be more than I have ever preached in English in my entire life:) I've never felt that I'm gifted in teaching or preaching, so I have never pursued those opportunities, but God, time and again, has shown himself faithful and will continue to provide the abilities to do what He calls us to do. Having a very supportive and encouraging wife helps too. I can't say that I enjoy preaching or teaching (although I do enjoy the studying and writing process) but I do enjoy being used by God in an area of personal weakness, so bring it on! Let's see what 2021 brings!