"Karibu Tanzania!"

“What?”

“Karibu Tanzania. ... Welcome to Tanzania.”  The immigration officer in the airport pointed to the sign above his head, where both languages were used. 

“Oh, ok.  Thank you,” I replied.  “Man, this language is going to be tough,” I thought to myself! 

That was my first introduction to Swahili, except for Lion King, I guess.  (“Pumba” does not mean wart-hog, by the way!)  Learning the language was not as tough as I had thought, though.  Less than one year later, I was giving short ad lib talks in front of a church, in Kiswahili.  Near the end of three years, I was able to preach 24 meetings in 21 days, purely in Swahili. 

So, in Tanzania I found out that I have a propensity for learning languages.  I am not at all the fastest language-learner I have met, but I realize that language learning comes easier to me than to many others.  As a child I was always fascinated by people who could speak more than one language, but living in America, I had very little exposure to anything other than American English.  Had I stayed there, I may never have known that I was one of those blessed people for whom language learning comes relatively easily. 

I am convinced that many people are born missionaries without even knowing it.  I am convinced that God has specially prepared thousands of people to be part of the final movement of taking the gospel to the unreached people groups of the world, and they are ignorant of the talents that they possess.  Because too few calls are made for them to participate in active long-term mission service, they never know what they could accomplish if they would leave home with the gospel for people who have no other opportunity to hear it. 

Maybe language-learning is not your talent, or maybe it is.  There are many different skills needed in missionary teams around the world.  If the Lord is calling you, it is because He wants to use you in a way that He will reveal as you move into that calling. 

A short-term mission trip will not suffice.  Many people participate in short-term mission service, but the nature of those events is almost designed to insulate the participants from confronting the reality of the culture they are visiting.  Going as a Student Missionary is better, but even then I believe that for most people, the time is too short.  Until you have been in a culture long enough to learn a significant amount of the language, you don’t really know what is going on there, or how the people think.  I would recommend at least three years of service.  The first year you begin to learn the language, the second year you become proficient, and the third year you can really produce. 

There are many service opportunities available, and you can find one that fits you.  I personally believe that AFM is one of the best mission organizations available.  Their training is second to none.  They have short-term service opportunities that would give you a perfect opportunity to find out if mission service is where you should spend your life.  And you can be a great blessing while you are finding that out, too! 

If language learning is not something that comes easily for you, don’t fear!  AFM training is full of practical and useful tips for learning language.  Whatever language.  Who knows?  Maybe in the near future you, too, will find out that you were born and bred to be a missionary!