The Language of Dance

There are two primary languages spoken here in Mahaplu: French and the local African language. My team and I have one translator for the entire community. He taught himself English, which I am very impressed by, and he does a great job translating between us and so many people, but one person can only be in one place at a time, and we have gotten pretty creative with communicating and interacting with the people here.

The other night we we did some children’s ministry (without the help of our translator) and were unsure about how it was going to go. We had a few songs and things we wanted to try but knew we would just have to figure it out as we went.

It was during this time that we discovered that there is actually a third language here in which people are fluent-

Dance.

Someone at Launch said this and it really captured my attention:

“The Holy Spirit is wild.

Let him have your body, let him have your mind.

Your physical posture can change the spiritual”

Already this month I have found myself kneeling in the dirt and sobbing (that is perhaps another story for another time) but this also can look like an African church dance party where you release your reservations and fears of judgment and just let your body do whatever it wants to do.

I have danced more freely this month than I ever would have at home (family kitchen dance parties not included) and it not only has it been so much fun and such an amazing form of worship, but it has also been an incredible way to connect with the people here. Expressions of the face and body surpass language and bridge language barriers.

On a nearly daily basis here I find a child taking my hand and pulling me into the center of a dance circle where we dance and kick up dust until we can’t breathe.

I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that I have connected with these kids so much more than I ever would have if we had simply spoken the same language and had small conversations and led little Bible studies.

These kids are full of fire and passion and love and the Holy Spirit has invited me into that place and I have been able to share that with them.

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!

Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

Let them praise his name with dancing, make melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.”

-Psalms 149:1-4

Thank you all so much for your support, encouraging comments and most of all for your prayers. We have very little access to wifi here in Africa so I am posting a few blogs today from the past couple weeks. Also keep an eye out because I might sneak some poetry into my blog feed without sending updates so I don’t overwhelm you with emails.

Much Love,

-Hattie

p.s. I have learned enough French to say Hello, thank you, good morning, what is your name, pleasure to meet you, and a few others.

One phrase I use a lot with the kids is “Jesu t’aime” (pronounced “tem”)

it means Jesus loves you.