Always be Prepared with a Speech

Boys receiving their gifts at event

It was another last minute invitation to some kind of event. As usual the specifics were vague— both timing and the nature of the event was unclear. But a friend had asked us to go and going to events is usually about relationships here. We knew the approximate location, the approximate time and that it was for her son who was involved in some kind of vacation soccer program. We imagined a bunch of boys getting awards or something.

We weren’t that off. When we finally got to the place, it had already started long ago. The surprising thing was that there weren’t that many people attending the event. We imagined waiting along the outskirts of a big crowd and coming forward to give our congratulations to our friend’s son at the end. But there wasn’t much of a crowd, there wasn’t much room along the sideline of the soccer field. Our friend was front and center with our teammates. As soon as people saw me, they asked me to come forward. Tom begged off— he wasn’t dressed to be upfront with men in full suits, so he stayed with the kids. While I crammed into a non-existent opening on the bench in the middle of everything.

Soccer exposition

All the boys were given gifts of cleats and socks, already being dressed in matching soccer outfits. Then it seemed like it was already over. The boys left the field and young adults started playing a game. Apparently it was an exposition game to show-off the program. Neither me or my teammates really knew anything about the program. We didn’t know anyone involved in running it. All we knew was one kid who played with the young kids. As the sun was starting to go down we all stood up. The young adults were getting certificates now. Tom and the kids were getting antsy on the outskirts. I considered trying to slip away but I didn’t want to be rude and it seemed like it was almost over.

Men with the microphone kept giving little speeches in the local language as they moved on to giving the coaches certificates. I could see the man with the certificates, this was the last one. I grabbed my purse, ready to make my exit as soon as it was over. Words were still flowing from the man with the mic but I wasn’t really paying attention. Until suddenly there he was in front of me saying, “Now, let’s hear from this lovely lady…” Our friend supplied my name and I was handed the microphone, along with the final certificate.

Megan just before the fateful moment

They wanted me to give a little speech with some nice words and give the final certificate. The problem was I didn’t know the person I was giving the certificate to nor what he had done to get a certificate. Not to mention it was in a foreign language which doesn’t flow quite like my mother tongue under pressure.

I managed to fumble through a couple very short sentences of generic thanks and congratulations before I handed the certificate and mic away as soon as possible, thoroughly embarrassed by being thrust so unexpectedly into the limelight and by my failure to be more eloquent.

My teammates and husband thoroughly enjoyed my discomfort, mainly because they were so glad it didn’t happen to them. If only I had been given a moment to prepare, if only I had been paying more attention, if only it made any sense why I would be chosen to give a mini-speech, I wasn’t involved in the slightest! 

At English ceremonies we expect that we may be asked to give a speech at only a moment’s notice, even if it wasn’t discussed beforehand. So we always have generic comments about learning language, about the importance of study and words for congratulating students in our repertoire for spontaneous speeches— looks like I need to broaden my repertoire. You never know when you might have to give a speech.

Note: Sorry for no blog last week, not sure what happened. We just forgot— hasn’t happened to us in a long time.

Visiting a newborn

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our teammate made it back safely to the islands! As a team, we had a week of meeting regularly to push our local language deeper (we do this a few times a year)— we’re thankful to be continuing to grow in the extent and depth with which we can communicate. We are thankful for our youngest— who turns 5 years old this week! We are thankful for his life, energy and excitement. Our friend had her baby— a beautiful little girl! We are thankful for a smooth delivery but continue to pray for a better relationship with her husband.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
The islands are without an inter-island airline. The final airline stopped flying because of problems with the government. This is a huge problem for the islands as a country and for many of our friends who count on traveling easily between islands and connecting to international flights. Pray for some kind of solution and especially that greed/corruption would no longer cripple this country. We’ve been looking into taking a few vacation days but all our plans to get away keep falling through— pray that we could get break when we need it.   Continue to pray for the two ladies preparing to come out to the islands long-term. Their target is to come in November, pray that the funds and logistics would come together. The language project has been hampered by computer problems— pray that they can have reliable computers to keep the work going.