Language of Hope
The bells on the front door chime as a mother, father, and young son, clearly nervous with this new and unfamiliar place, enter The Salvation Army for the first time. They are warmly greeted by a volunteer who, with the translation help of the son, begin to fill out paperwork to receive help with food, clothing, and whatever else may bring them here on this particular day.
After a short wait they hear their name called and they're invited to go back to meet with the Director of Social Services. The mother and son enter, with the father trailing behind. Mom shares, "only little English," the son says, "I'm here to help translate," the father says nothing and sits in a chair with his head towards the ground. The Director of Social Services shares, "I have something that may help us communicate better."
After working with multiple Ukrainian refugees, and trying to navigate a nearly impossible language barrier, the decision was made to purchase a small translating device. This tool gives us access to over 130 languages, providing real time audible and written translation between both parties in the conversation. In God's perfect timing this tool arrived the same day this family finds themselves at our building.
Mom & son watch as the Director of Social Services pulls out a small device from his desk and begins to speak. As Director of Social Services stops speaking they hear another voice, it is coming from the device and it's speaking Spanish, translating everything the Director of Social Services had just said. As soon as the Spanish is heard the father, who had previously been gazing at the ground, lifts his head with a smile on his face which communicates both awe and gratitude; as this tool helped overcome a language barrier the father thought ",...was going to make it difficult to get what we need."
Through the use of a simple device and an unwavering commitment to meet human need in Jesus name without discrimination; by any means necessary, a family received the help they desperately needed. We look forward to how this translation device will help us communicate with the different languages that walk through the doors of The Salvation Army looking for help. We believe it will enable us to more effectively preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in His name without discrimination.