You've got to be brave enough to stammer and stutter to the natives, despite the embarrassment and the risk of being laughed at. You've got to brave the skeptics among your own friends who think that you are just a "wannabe" wasting away your resources of time and money because you want to be cool. And yet, at the end of the day... your patience, perseverance, hard work (and often frustrations) are rewarded. Not merely with a better grasp of the language, but also the fascination and satisfaction of delving deep in the culture of that particular people-group. You learn the nation's history, grow to appreciate the indigenous values, be familiar with their modi operandi, understand the common struggles of the people and empathize with their pains.
It all ends with love. Loving these people whom God Himself loves deeply - and for whom God sent His Son. No wonder it is mandatory for a missionary to learn the language of the people-group to whom he/she is called to reach out. One cannot share God's heart and burden for His people until he/she is ready to identify with them. The most fundamental of communication, corporate prayer, worship and theology are words in one's heart language. How can a missionary identify with the people to whom he/she has been sent by God if he/she cannot understand the people's heart language, and hence their culture?
If you are a missionary reading this... and are dealing with the frustrations of learning or mastering a foreign language, I really want to encourage you to hang in there... and press on because you are not alone. Difficulties aside, let us see it as a way to honor and yet enjoy God. Perhaps even a spiritual discipline that facilitates spiritual growth, strengthens our character and leads us to God's throne of grace.
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