Ladies and Gentlemen

Ladies and Gentlemen?

A young minister took a short missions trip to Latin America. He was going to use a translator when preaching, but to identify with his audience; he wanted to begin his message by saying in Spanish, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” He arrived at the church a little early and realized he did not know the Spanish words for ladies and gentlemen. Being somewhat inventive, he went to the part of the building where the restrooms were, looked at the signs on the two doors, and memorized those two words.

When the people arrived and he was introduced, he stood up and said in Spanish, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.”

The audience was shocked. He didn’t know whether he had offended them or perhaps they hadn’t heard him or understood him. So he decided to repeat it. Again in Spanish he said, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.”

One person in the congregation began to snicker. Pretty soon the entire church was laughing. Finally, someone told him that he had said, “Good evening, bathrooms and broom closets!”