Day 4

One of the anticipated challenges of serving at a sports camp for children in the  Dominican Republic, is the language barrier. My Spanish is very limited, and there are moments when I wish I could communicate more clearly, tell a joke, explain a lesson, or encourage a child with exactly the right words.

Yet this experience is teaching that building relationships is not dependent on perfect communication. In many ways, what we do speaks louder than what we say.

When words don’t make sense then a smile, a high five, patience, consistency, and simply remembering a name can communicate care. Leadership becomes less about  the right words and more about presence and love more visible through actions rather than language.

Jesus modeled this kind of leadership. In John 13, before teaching His disciples about humility, He knelt down and washed their feet. His actions carried the message before His words ever explained it. He demonstrated what servant leadership looks like.

Working with the children this week has reminded me that love is a language of its own. While I may have no  words, I can still encourage, serve, listen, and care. Sometimes the most meaningful things we communicate are not spoken at all.

1 John 3:18 says “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Written by Mike and photos by Eva