Volunteer: Led to Language

Articles:

Thursday, 05 February 2009 21:11

by: Yolanda Gonzalez Laman

I was born in Spain and my family and I moved to the United States when I was five years old. My parents were seeking a better life for my brother and me, and knew they would find it in the USA, the land of opportunity. We moved to northern New Jersey, where my father and mother found good employment, and were able to purchase their first home. Their children were able to attend college and eventually go on to find their own employment. This certainly couldn’t be attributed to good fortune, chance, or even to my parents for moving us to the USA. Instead, we give all glory and honor to God, our Father, for providing for us and bestowing His grace and mercy upon us.

The Lord led me to a nursing degree, and two years after graduating, I married my high school sweetheart. We have been married for six years and have been blessed with a healthy little boy who will be two this December. The Lord led us to Saint Johns, Florida, where we have lived for almost two years.

It was my brother-in-law, Paul, who first suggested I might be able to help out Word & Deed by using my bilingual skills in translating. My first inclination was that I wasn’t sure I would be capable of what I thought would be translating official documents. But after praying about it, I felt prepared to help out however I could. It certainly wasn’t what I had thought. I was given forms to translate according to my own ability and I translate as many as I comfortably can. It is a pleasure corresponding with Heather VanMeppelen-Scheppink, administrative assistant, and she has helped me out when I needed it.

Translating for Word & Deed has brought joy along with many new perspectives into my life and I am thankful to God for it. Consider volunteering and sharing the gift given to you for the benefit of God’s kingdom. If you have been given a talent by God to know another language, what better way to put it to use than to fulfill God’s commission and to glorify Him who sent His own Son so that we may have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Yolanda Gonzalez Laman lives with her husband, Steve, and small son in Saint Johns, Florida, where they attend Christ Church. Yolanda translates Spanish documents for Word & Deed.