I began to think...

I’m living in Latvija… in a place where the language is different than my mother tongue…in a culture that is quite different than that of my native culture…
If I’m going to communicate with someone, or speak to a group of people in Latvijan, it must be done through a translator…at least until I become proficient enough to speak on my own. How my words and cultural stuff will be received is all dependent on the translator. Pretty awesome responsibility, eh?!

A friend of mine, who has worked as a translator, says I’m difficult to translate. The challenge lies, she says, in being able to convey the fullness of what’s being said, not simply the literal words used, but also the metaphorical and emotive language. Perhaps I’m a bit metaphorical and emotive.

So I began to think about my role as a ‘translator’; a ‘translator’ being one who will 'pitch their tent', 'dwell among' and serve to translate the reality of who God is to a misdirected and hurting world. What are the conditions for need of a translator? In order for a translator to be needed, there must to be something to communicate. In this case, it’s the gospel of the Kingdom. Also, one needs to step out of their own language and culture and enter the places where other languages and culture exists. In this case, it’s out of the Christian community and into the community which exists outside the church. I began to think about what is my voice? In other words, how do I communicate – through what mediums? Translation isn’t always easy, we make many mistakes along the way, or we need to restate it so people can finally understand…and it is necessary if people are going to understand.

Jesus pitched His tent (‘and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth’. - John 1:14 NASB) among us, and translated His Father God to us, so we could see, understand, and come to know God (‘No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him’ – John 1:18 NASB).

I began to think of those places I go, here in Latvija, where other languages and cultures are expressed. Plainly stated, where do I enter the world of outside the ‘church’ in an attempt to do some translating? How many relationships, or even points of regular contact, are there where translation is even necessary? There’s the art studio, the 3 women at Amelie café where my Latvijan lessons and hours of study often take place, etc. How can these relationships be enriched to better translate.

I began to think that it’s time to become more intentional about translation…