Hearing+ translating+ speaking=exhausting!
“All I can say is this. At the end of the day, I felt like I had thought so much that entire day that I couldn’t think or speak anymore. In any language. And, out of sheer exhaustion, I went home and passed out and slept so well. ”
That describes one of my days recently here in Costa Rica.
Let me explain what I mean by starting with a question. Have you ever felt that way?
For instance, how about that time when you put so much thinking into your job, a project, or strategizing? The same also goes for speaking. Remember when you were in the counseling session, preached a message or spoke in front of all of those business leaders? So many of us have done that deep-thinking and speaking part of life, right? And often the end result is an all-out exhaustion followed up by a much-deserved rest!
Keisa and I both felt that way after the first day of serving in a medical clinic that was so incredible and practical in how it met the needs of others.
But what I forgot was how taxing translating and speaking can be for longer periods of time. Normally I (Steve) speak and translate every day in certain pockets of my life. I know how to ask for gas at the gas station (yes, that’s a thing here) or ask about how many burpees we are doing in the workout today or how to talk to my dentist about how I’m not a big fan of dentistry. That alone takes a lot of mental energy to hear it, translate it, and speak it.
I often hear the same kind of joy and exhaustion from our friends who are Spanish speakers first and then jump into English as well. “Ah, my head hurts right now and I can’t speak either language. I feel exhausted!”
What I find is that often in speaking another language, is that it’s easier to stay inside of your comfort zone linguistically and stay with what you know. “I know gym Spanish, gas station Spanish, and dentist Spanish. I’m going to say there and not venture too far out.” But the real growth comes when you jump outside of those comfort zones and learn something new in the language. (There’s a good Biblical message there too!).
Which makes understanding and translating in a medical clinic so challenging, joyful, and exhausting. Frankly, the only time I talk about anything medical in English is when I have to describe something to my doctor back home. Now just imagine doing the same for someone else in a completely different language. This was outside of my comfort zone for sure.
I was learning new words for what itched, what hurt, or what was infected. I’m not joking! I had to learn to ask basic questions about diabetes, hypertension, or past medical history. I believe I even learned the Spanish words and phrases for how to tell someone to take a med, use this if you have trouble going to the bathroom, or how to apply a topical ointment. Can you imagine?
Again, the reason why I share moments like this is to help people understand all the different aspects of what it feels like and looks like to serve others in this context. I want to paint that picture, especially for those who support us, those who pray for us, or for those who are curious about what we do.
I went home after that day of translating for several hours and I probably had one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had since being here. It was a day that was joyful, productive, crazy, and exhausting. But again, aren’t the things that are truly worth it in life, often like that? Aren’t they truly joyful, productive, crazy, and exhausting?
The end result of the week was that over 400 people were treated in a medical clinic. Yes, it was helpful. Yes, it was practical. Yes, needs were met.
But even more importantly, it was all done as a demonstration of the love that Christ has for all people, and we get to be the people who are a part of it.
~Steve
