10/7/11

More Then Just a Song

Have you ever worshiped God in a language that wasn’t even your own?  I don’t mean have you sung a song about God in another language. I mean have you ever connected with God, spilling out your heart in a language other then your own?
In the often crazy world of going through the process of learning a new culture and language, God has been reminding me over and over to cling to Him and run to Him. He alone is more then able to hold my world in His hands. Isaiah 40 and Psalm 90 are favorite chapters that get read often.
A few of the teens came over last night and we begin discussing music, and the fact that I really need to work on learning some songs…more then just the songs we sing with the kid. As I enjoyed having an actual conversation in Malagasy, I asked them to write the words to a song they often sing at Bible Study on Sunday nights since it isn’t in my hymn book and I love the tune. I figured I would learn a few new words and be able to sing along next time they sing it. My plan was to have them write the words so that I could ask Haja the meaning the next day. Sitting down together, I decided to ask them about the meaning of one of the words, since they know some English. To my great thrill, they explained the meaning of each of the words I didn’t know to me in Malagasy, and the exciting part was that I understood! Even more amazing was the meaning behind the song. It talks about God being our dwelling place forever, our shelter during storms, and how he carries us. The end of the song professes trust in God and a declaration to live under His shelter forever. It was truly a God thing as we sat there discussing this amazing song that was an expression of what God had been doing in my heart. Being able to sing from my heart to God in this language that each day I strain to learn and comprehend, made me fall in love with Malagasy all over again and increased my desire that this beautiful language becomes my heart language.
They let me record them singing it so that I can practice and learn it by heart. What amazing kids. J I wish you could hear it and sing it along with me, but I figure you might at least like to see what it looks like.
Efa fonenanay hatrizay hatrizay ianao Tompo o
Fialofanay amin’ oram-pahavanatra ianao
Fan a inona hiseho sy izay ho entin’ny hapitso
Efa fonenanay hatrizay hatrizay ianao hatrizay ka hatramin’ izao

                Tompo o matoky anao foana aho
                Mialoka aminao foana aho
                Efa fonenanay ianao hatrizay ka hatramin’izao

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Could you share the song of the two(2) last chapiter please? "efa fonenanay hatrizay..." is a malagasy song that, for the first time i herad it, is song by Eglise évangelique Shine