Well I apologize that I haven't been able to write something in quite a
while. Our schedule has been pretty crazy. Let me try to get you up to
speed. First thing, I cannot speak Spanish. It is the hardest and most
frustrating thing I have ever done. I feel like I have forgotten
everything that I learned at the MTC. It gets really discouraging at
times, and I think about giving up a lot. Learning a language just looks
like such a daunting task. I'm really not sure how to go about learning
Spanish. It seems like none of the stuff I am doing in my language study
is working. I feel as if I am regressing everyday. It is just the
absolute worst feeling when someone looks and you and says something
that they expect you to be able to respond to and to not be able to.
Also, we are having a hard stuff with the actual missionary work. We
haven't had a investigator come to church in about 3 weeks. So that is
also though. But on a humorous note, it is starting to cool down here.
Its only about 70*, but poor Elder Z. from Mexico is freezing! He
usually wears his winter coat, while I stay in my short sleeve shirt
haha.
I am a bit confused; has your P-day been permanently moved to Thursday
or was that just for last week?
That was only for last week, so we could go to the temple. We didn't
even get to do a session because we got there too late so we just did
initiatories.
I am glad you talked to your zone leader about learning another
language. How is the Spanish this week? Please let us know when local
missionaries from you area come home. I would like to go to their
homecomings and meet them.
Jen and Val saw your picture of the baptism (Juan's?) in the mission
office. Any baptisms coming up? Contacts you have made recently?
No. Our area is kinda falling apart. Most of the people are pretty lazy
and don't like to come to church or read. We haven't had an investigator
in church for like 3 weeks.
How was the Newport Beach Temple? Mary North said it is pink!
Its a little rosy, not super bright pink. The local city officials asked
the church to make it that way so that it wouldn't stand out so much. I
think it is the only pink temple in the world.
This is your 6 week mark. I think transfers are on a 6 week rotation.
Are you going to be staying with Elder Z. in Santa Ana?
Yep. One or both of us will probably be transferred next cycle.
How's the food lately from other people and your groceries? Any new
tastes you have acquired?
I've been eating a lot more beans than usual. I almost always clean my
plate at dinner, so long as there aren't any veggies.
Which of your friends have you heard from lately?
I've heard from Issac, Eric, Brett, and Dalyn Van Tussenbrook this week
haha.
What do you do on Halloween evening? Camille Carlson told Dad that
Tanner is supposed to be in his apartment by 6 p.m. and stay there for
the rest of the night.
Wow that's funny. I haven't heard anything. I'm pretty sure we are still
going to go work tomorrow.
Two bits of advice that I picked up in the MTC in Santo Domingo:
ReplyDelete1 - Don't expect to feel comfortable with the language for at least 5 months. You'll understand bits and pieces before then, but by 5 months you should feel better about it.
2 - It can be daunting to learn a new language. It can be hard to know where to start. I was told to spend my language study time learning the grammar. Once you understand the grammatical structure, you can start to plug in the different vocabulary words. As you focus on studying the grammar, look for the structure to appear in phrases that you HEAR everyday. You may not understand what the verbs and nouns are, but you'll begin to see how the language functions. Jot down verbs and nouns that you hear, and look them up in your dictionary later. You'll gradually increase your knowledge base and feel better about speaking and creating sentences.
To study the grammar, stick to the grammar book you were provided in the MTC (it was a yellow textbook in my day). Once you get the basic structure, the "1001 Pitfalls in Spanish" book will help you fine-tune your grammar skills.
Grammar first, then vocab. Do a lot of listening. You'll get it!