Overcoming Pride with Portuguese

"If we don't presently have an issue that is actively humbling us, we veer with disturbing velocity toward arrogance and self-righteousness." Beth Moore reminded me again that pride is not the opposite of low self-esteem but of humility. We can be absorbed in how wonderful we are or how miserable we are...and still struggle with the sin of pride.

Such a serious issue deserves some light-hearted examples of how we have been humbled learning Portuguese, right?! When we first arrived, I had asked, "Onde esta a minha esposa?" ("Where is my WIFE?") and Mike had raised his index finger in the air and said, "Primaveira, eu preciso a minha mala." He meant to say, "First, "(primeiro) but instead said, ("Spring, I need my bag.") Needless to say, we didn't impress too many people with our language skills in Sao Paulo airport! :)

During our first weeks at the orphanage, Mike asked one of the kids, "Como se diz essa?" ("How do you say this?") and pointed at his smile. The child answered, "Barba." For the next three days, Mike asked the children to "Mostra-me sua barba!" ("Show me your smile!") and "Voce tem bonita barba!" ("You have a beautiful smile!") Then, he was told that "barba" meant "beard!" No wonder the kids had such big smiles! I, on the other hand, continue to have a problem differentiating between the words that mean "coconut" and "poop." Needless to say, I've passed on ordering coconut pie when we go out to eat! HA

Unfortunately, most of our other mistakes involve words that would not be appropriate to write--how many curse words do they have in Portuguese anyway?! We have probably embarrassed ourselves in some way or another every day since we've arrived. Although it has been frustrating, it has allowed for quite a few laughs (for us and everyone else) and has made us more dependent on God for this overwhelming task before us.

"What blessed relief comes when we finally fall on our knees and humble ourselves before God. We suddenly realize what a heavy weight pride has been. It is exhausting to insist on thinking so highly of oneself with such mounting evidence to the contrary!" Lord, I desire to humble myself before You and trust that You will lift me up. (James 4:10)