"Going Dutch"

Of my many experiences in the last 4 weeks in the Netherlands, one of the most challenging has been learning the language.  I’ve never been very good at learning foreign languages; I just don’t have the memory capacity or brain function for them.  So living in another culture where EVERYONE automatically speaks Dutch (even though they easily switch into English when requested) is very difficult and emotionally draining.  One of the hardest things about Dutch is the vowels: they all look the same, but they are pronounced totally differently!  So when you see “ie”, it is not pronounced at all the same!  However, being fully immersed is also quite helpful!  Obviously, I’ve picked up on the pronunciations and vocabulary MUCH quicker than I would have if I was just trying to learn Dutch.  So I am glad to say that after not even 4 weeks, I can read Dutch much easier than I anticipated!  I still may not know what I’m saying, but I can at least say it (somewhat)! 

The time that this is most helpful is in singing, especially in church.  The church that we have been going to (our team leaders’ church) sings many of their songs in Dutch.  They sing some in English too, but not the majority.  As I read the lyrics with the English translation below on the slide projection, I am kind of able to sing along in Dutch.  Again, I may not actually know what I am singing, but just being able to do so reminds me that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!”

But what is arguably cooler than that was when we sang “Be Thou My Vision”.  Everyone else in the church was singing in Dutch, but the 6 of us, my teammates and I, were singing in English.  Listening to this “gemeente” (community) sing in at least two different languages is one of the coolest experiences of my life.  The fact that all of these people are GOD’S people—it just makes me think of what Heaven will be like, all of His people gathered, worshipping and praising the One True God, our cornerstone (1 Peter 2:7).  I pray that I will have many more experiences like this as I continue to learn Dutch.  The process may be challenging, but the opportunity to worship with a group of people in multiple languages is well worth it all!