The Word Became Flesh...
- James Gonzalez
- Mar 14, 2021
- 4 min read
Gonzalez Family in Thailand Vol. 2, No. 3
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart."
-Nelson Mandela
Learning Thai
Countless seminary papers have been written about what it means for Jesus to be known as the "Word." I would never presume to understand most of the significance of that truth. However, I do believe that the words John chose to use in the beginning of his Gospel do convey God's emphasis on reaching the world through clear communication of His love and our path to redemption. God could have manifested his desire for a relationship with us in an infinite number of ways but the way he chose was to take on human form and use the gift of human speech and writing, in addition to his acts of sacrificial love, to reveal his plan for our salvation. Thus, it stands to reason that to carry out the mission he called us to, we should imitate Him in whatever way he has called us. For Sara and me, that means learning the Thai language.
I can't say learning a new language is the most enjoyable thing I have ever done. Though I am very thankful for the opportunity and I look forward to the eventual fruits of our studies, I struggle with two of the major prerequisites of the process: humility and patience. After 35+ years of learning how to speak, read and write in my mother tongue I can say I feel pretty comfortable with how far my communication abilities have taken me. Though I have never been especially skilled in English writing or speech, I don't remember the last time I felt insecure about my ability to communicate. All that goes out the window when you start learning a completely new language at the age of 38 and you have to acknowledge that your ability to communicate in that language is not much better than that of your two-year-old son. It feels like a tall and steep mountain to climb. That leads to the need for patience. I know we will get to some degree of proficiency in Thai...eventually. I just wish it could happen much faster. I meet people who have been here many years and I hear about some of the ministry work they are doing and I become eager, then I realize I don't even know the Thai word for "eager."
With that said, we would not change a thing about this path that God has allowed us to walk. We are so thankful that we have the opportunity to show our love for God and his creation by spending the time to learn the language of this beautiful country and the amazing people that call this land home. We are also thankful for the encouragement we have received from many of you as we climb the mountain. I am reminded that God will use our efforts so long as we continue to be faithful to Him. In fact, I will close with a screenshot from the FaceBook feed of a friend of ours sharing the Gospel in southern Thailand. I saw this post during a break while at language school this week and it was a great reminder of why we were there...
Pray for Myanmar
I'm sure many of you know about the current situation in Myanmar. A coup led by the Burmese military has led to a significant amount of chaos and instability. Being in Northern Thailand means having relationships with many people who are directly impacted by some of the violence and struggles taking place just a few hundred miles from where we live. What we see on the news is sad enough but to hear some of the personal stories we are hearing is simply heart breaking. It is a sobering reminder of the destructive effect of evil that exists in the world. Please pray for the people of Myanmar as they face circumstances and choices that most of us have never experienced.
The situation has had a paralyzing effect on the infrastructure of the country. Many supply lines, including food, have been disrupted. These disruptions impact both people within Myanmar and refugees here in Thailand. We intend to work with the church we have been attending and a local Burmese church to distribute much needed food to those impacted by the coup and the ongoing effects of Covid-19. We are excited that God has brought us this opportunity.
Worshipping God at Grace Suthep Burmese Church
Lanna Theological Center
Even though our primary focus has been, and will continue to be, language school, we have had the opportunity to begin spending some time with the staff and students at LTC. Every day we spend with them we realize how blessed we are to have the opportunity to learn from them and eventually help them continue the work started by the Filbeck family many years ago. God is at work in Thailand and LTC is evidence of his plan to reach every tongue, tribe and nation.
Once a year staff and students from LTC participate in a sports competition with other Bible colleges in our region.
Specific Prayer Requests
Visas - Our visa situation is still not settled, though I believe we are closer. I (James) have a 90-day student visa but our school is waiting until I get a 1 year visa next month before we apply for "dependent" visas for Sara and the kids. Please pray that all goes according to plan.
Finding a Home - This week we began looking for our long-term home. We are praying that God will help us find the right balance of affordability, location and suitability for our family and ministry goals.
We miss you - We have all gone through bouts of homesickness at some point these first couple of months. Even though every week is a little easier we still feel the longing to be with our friends and family back "home." We look forward to seeing you again next year.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5
Love the pictures and hearing about what you all are doing and dealing with! Praying for you all!