Worship Experience
July 1, 2009
Costa Rica View
For those who didn’t know, I just got back from Costa Rica. I wanted to share a little about my time there, and specifically the worship I was experienced. One of the things I was able to bring to the team was my ability to play and sing, to lead worship. My time in Costa Rica consisted of leading worship 3 times in formal worship services and during our team’s own studies as well. That being said, I’d like to share with you my experience of leading worship in a different country!!!
On Wednesday night the youth at Lluvias de Bendenciones (Blessed Rain), met for their youth group. Eliecer (our team’s leader) had asked me to lead worship for youth group. Leading worship is my job here at Hope, but in Costa Rica and in spanish?? Was a little more intimidating, especially not speaking spanish fluently. So I picked my songs, most of them I could do in spanish and english! This was a big step for me as a worship leader….leading worship in a different language, in a different country! Well, God was there and helped me through every step! To be able to connect to God, and to help their youth connect in a language I wasn’t familiar with, was an amazing feeling! I may not have understood every word I sang, but I knew that it was for God, so I gave it my all! To look into the crowd and see them singing and worshiping, there was a sense of accomplishment, like I did my job!
Sunday rolled around and again I was asked to lead worship. This time I did some English songs and 1 in Spanish. It was amazing to see that even though they didn’t fully understand English, somehow God was translating for me! When I sang in English the congregation knew exactly what I was saying! The smiles, the eyes closed, hands up, God was really around and stronger in my heart as he has ever been!
We went to a private bilingual Christian school called La Palabra De Vida (The Word of Life). I was asked to lead worship in their chapel for k-6th grade. Now I thought leading worship in the church was scary, but in front of over one hundred kids, was a whole step up! Yes they go to a Christian school, but everyone was not necessarily a Christian, and it could be harder to connect, and to lead! I was leading with my friend Sarah and there were some other people too, so we had a full band. When the kids came in I got even more nervous, and was just anxious to get it over with. But when we started playing, the kids were super into it! I was soooo suprised when I started singing and they sang with me at the top of their lungs! Worshiping with me and worshiping to God! To see all their smiles and clapping and enjoying the music made me happier and I felt way more comfortable.
God has just had boosted my confidence as a leader and in leading other people in worhsip!!! I just have this exciting feeling in my heart to sing and sing and not be ashamed or scared!!! God is working in every country, and he has leaders there working for him! One of the best parts was that the language barriers were always broken. God always finds a way to have us (Americans) and the the people there connect. It’s great to see people worship God and it doesn’t matter what language you speak and what language you’re singing in, you are worshiping one God!
So to all you out there, just worship God without shame and don’t be scared to do your thing, regardless of what language you speak or what culture you’re from! Most of all, just let God use you…don’t hesitate or fight it! God has plans for you and when he is pointing you in a direction go and take advantage of that. I promise it will be worth it…it has been worth it for me!
Arty
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