Progress can be hard to see here. Even though we’ve been in this city less than a year, there are still periods of time when it feels like nothing is happening and you aren’t learning anything. Eventually, you realize you know more words than you did before. But learning another language doesn’t happen quickly. I did just get my evaluation results, and they confirmed I am making progress. I still have a ways to go, though. Hopefully, I can finish studying this language within the next year.
Recently, we had a number of extra people in town- some coworkers coming out from the interior and some visitors. About the time they left, some other coworkers also went on home assignment, so it is going to feel extra quiet around here for quite a while. But we also have a house helper doing some cleaning and cooking for us now. This should free us up to spend more time studying language.
We have started studying with some friends from church, so we are hoping to form some good relationships there. Language is especially difficult for Alisha, so that affects every other area for her, too, including building relationships. You can pray for us both to make some good friends here.
Last week, I learned a new word for being laughed at. It feels like an appropriate thing to learn for us, because in a new culture like this, that is one constant. We are a good source of (unintentional) humor.
This weekend, I finished making a coffee table. Building our own (simple) furniture is a way to save some money, but I also want to practice so I’ll be able to do stuff like that in the future in more remote locations.
One other development is that Alisha’s younger sister is getting married this fall, so Alisha and the kids will be going home for the wedding and I will be left here to my own devices for a couple weeks. I would have liked to go, but finances proved too big a hurdle. This will be a difficult trip for Alisha- probably about 45 hours with two kids and a baby/toddler who will be just mobile enough to be dangerous as he flies across the world.
Praise:
-progress in language ability
-chance for Alisha and the kids to go to the wedding
Prayer:
-relationships with neighbors and people at church
-more ability in language to be able to deepen those relationships
Thanks!
The McIlroys