5 Things I Have Learned Being a Part of Latin With Andy

I asked Andy recently to write down his thoughts on what he's learned over the past year in our journey of developing and launching Latin with Andy. It's been quite and adventure, and I think you'll enjoy hearing from his heart what God has taught him through this journey.

Over the course of almost a year now of Latin with Andy, I have learned much more than I could have imagined. While there are many (probably more than I realize) things that I have learned, five stand out to me that have affected my character the most.

1. The Importance of Humility

If you ever wondered, the process of making one of our Latin videos begins with the corresponding Henle exercise. From there, I create my own example that relays the concept of the exercise. This is where I hit my first speed bump. I learned the importance of humility. To make my own example of a concept, I had to first understand that concept. This sounds simple enough, but soon on I began to learn how much I didn’t know. I often had to spend much more time than I expected learning and researching a tricky concept (Or a simple concept)! Not only this, but through humility, I learned how to ask for help, and then later, how to tell others “I don’t know.” I have learned that humility is not thinking of yourself in the lowest form possible. Humility is a truthful understanding of who you are and where you are. Because of this, humility teaches me kindness and respect when talking to others.

2. The Necessity of Accountability

Something I learned in the course of helping create a business was accountability. I found that the secret to success in a business, (at least ours), was trust. If I say I will do something, (in the context of a business), I’d better do it! The more I slack off or forget and don’t keep my word, the more my buyers will likely be unsatisfied! I would be if I were them! I have crashed and burned often in this category, but it was a necessary lesson that I believe will stay with me for life.

3. The Presence of Friendship

One of my favorite things that I have gained over almost a year of Latin with Andy is a residing trust and friendship between me and my mom. I mean, if you add it up, five hundred videos times five minutes a video equals lots of one on one time with mom! We have had many laughs, but the struggles were the true factors that drew us closer together.

4. The Reality of Miracles

This one I have only realized recently in our process. There are many factors of Latin with Andy that have caused me to truly believe in miracles. The first actually began with the Andy from July, when we were only just beginning. A couple months ago, I looked back on him and, honestly, my jaw dropped. I kept asking myself, how in the world was I able to do that?

The answer came shortly: I wasn’t.

This realization only came after the lesson in humility. For that specific time in my life, God gave me the ability to explain those beginning concepts. (Believe it or not, those can be harder to explain than the difficult ones)! I have always wanted God to work a miracle through me. It came in a way I never would have guessed.

To add to this, God gives me words I don’t expect either. Every week, on Wednesdays, I present live for our Facebook community for about thirty minutes. Often, I have a concept to talk about, but not a memorized speech. God suddenly gives me new ways to explain different things that I did not expect. I say to myself, Wow, that was a cool way to explain that, God. I hadn’t come up with the ideas beforehand, but in the middle of the presentations, God gives me the ideas and the words to speak them.

5. The Gift of Confidence

With this last realization, I have learned of God’s gift to me of confidence. I do not need to worry about creating a video “right” or messing it up beyond restoration. All God asks of me is to trust him and try my hardest. “With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Apparently this includes creating an online Latin tutoring website. Who knew! One of the most beautiful gifts God has given me through Latin with Andy is merely the assurance that God has me where he wants me, and I am where he wants, doing what he wants. God does have a plan for me, and for the first time in my life, I can see that plan in action.

Overall, God has blessed me abundantly and thoroughly. I have immensely enjoyed being a part of his plan through Latin with Andy, and I am excited to continue in what he calls me to do.

Andy Strauss