Soy beans and Donkeys

We continue to plug away in language study. DJ is in Unit 6 out of 9 units of national language study, so he will probably be done with formal language study in September. I am in what our mission calls the “assimilation unit” right now. It’s a month to meet with language helpers, do more hands-on learning, and review the huge amounts of material we have gotten in class so far.

After this month I will have units 5-9 to complete, so I will probably be getting done with my formal language study in November.

Language learning is an adventure some days, a chore some days, and just plain hard work every day. We have to un-train all the patterns and habits from our first language, and for adults that isn’t an easy job. We’re thankful that this is not an extremely difficult language structurally, but every language, of course, presents its challenges.

Here’s a list of a few words that are easy for us beginners to mix up (and some that you really wouldn’t want to get wrong!)

Muda–young
Mudah–easy (yes, that “h” on the end is pronounced)                                                                      Murah–cheap (the “r” sound is flapped like the Spanish “r” and sounds much closer to a “d” than to an English “r”)

Penjahit–seamstress
Penjahat–criminal

Kedelai–soy bean
Keledai–donkey

When you think of us, please pray for:

• A focus on the big picture of why we’re here. We desperately need that focus to get us through the days when language study seems like drudgery.
• Health for our family. We praise the Lord that we have been healthy for the most part ever since we’ve been here. But Galilee seems to get high fevers with every little cold or virus, so that can be scary sometimes.
• The Lord’s direction about what area of the ministry we should serve in after we are finished with language study. We have considered several options.

Thanks so much for your prayers.

In Christ,
DJ, Jennifer, Areli, and Galilee