Many of you know that I get totally anxious when I have to go to see the doctor, the dentist and even the eye doctor. It is not out of the ordinary for me to pass out if there is a needle involved or sometimes even a test (like “which do you see clearer?”-true story). So let me tell you that my anxiousness has continued here in PNG with the Language Evaluations/Test!
Let me set the stage for you. A well-experienced Missionary will grade your language ability through a various set of grammar sentences, have you explain foreign concepts to a national, and a comprehension check. Ok, here I am 5.0 foot Lauren and here comes my Evaluator 6 foot 3 inches, grew up in PNG (so his Pidgin is flawless), and has a successful tribal church plant in the Sepik...Brooks Buser (have you heard of his Dad, Brad Buser???) with a clipboard in hand! Intimidated much? Well as always my heart pounded and I felt a wave of heat rush over me. My language helper Meta thought my nerves were so funny and laughed at me. Of course this was a particularly hot day with NO breeze so I was aware of the sweat that was rolling down my face and back-that is the worst. Brooks sat down and the Test began. First I had to explain my sister’s upcoming visit- how she will get here, what it will feel like to see her, what are we going to do, what I anticipate it will feel like when she leaves. Then i had to explain the Olympics! I barely know how they work and had to ask him some clarity questions because I have never really thought through all the details. I talked about them being this summer and that ice skating was my favorite sport. Come to find out afterward that ice skating is not in the Summer Olympics, oops she doesn’t need to know that! I listened to Meta tell me a story and had to rephrase it back to Brooks. Then the grammar check. Lastly, he had me explain 2 expressions:
“The early bird catches the worm” and “He who laughs last, laughs the loudest”
(Tall man holding Paisley is Brooks)
By the grace of God I was able to translate them literally first and than tell the meaning of the expression. It was funny to try and explain those because I found myself thinking of other idiomatic expressions to try and clarify but that would only make it worse. I realize that English is confusing and doesn’t exactly play by the rules but it is my heart language- the way I think, feel, live, love and laugh in. With that said, I did pass my test and am looking forward to continuing my relationships here with people in their heart language. To encourage, challenge, joke, and love through their language.
