Some of you have already heard but our english group was dissolved. It was pretty sudden. We went to the meeting one Sunday and after the meeting was over they made the announcement and that was it..not one more meeting after the announcement. So we had 2 choices:
1} Go to the next closest english group which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away.
Or
2} Stay in Uvita and go to The Spanish Congregation that had been hosting us.
We decided to stay in Uvita and join Spanish. Just before the announcement was made we had turned in our slips to regular auxiliary pioneer and we were wondering, " Can we really do this now that we will be totally in Spanish?" We decided, for now, to continue on Pioneering and take advantage of the opportunity to be totally immersed. Slowly but surely it is coming, but learning a language takes time and endurance! I had so many misconceptions about learning a new language! It can be very hard at times. I had a week where I wanted to perform a slow burn of everything I owned that was Spanish! LoL The words aren't just different, the meanings are different. For example: In Spanish you don't bring something to a party, you carry something to a party..HUH?? I have tried so many different things to help my learning and I have come to this conclusion.. It cannot be rushed. You have to talk like a baby and look kind of dumb ( Its very humbling), You can't pass over being corrected constantly, and it just takes time. The meetings are hard because I want to give the same comments that I did in English but I just can't because you have to start from the bottom and work your way up. I give simple answers just a few sentences most of the time and occasionally read a scripture that I practice in advance. This is all just part of the learning process and its hard at first because you have to realize that you now have different limitations. Learning another language has got to be the most humbling experience ever! I am very thankful though because it has made me realize that I had some changes to make in my personality and I needed to work on being a more humble person. I am learning how to communicate without a lot of words and to listen more without the intent to answer because ..well I just can't sometimes because I just don't have the words. For a few months I really struggled to keep a positive attitude because I felt so out of place. Every time I went to the meeting I felt so scared someone would talk to me..in Spanish!!! Ahhh! I really hate awkward conversations but I have to say... I'm getting really good at them! :) Sometimes I just stand near by as sisters are talking so that they know that I want to be apart of the group and I want to understand. For the most part I do understand but I have a hard time putting together sentences. Then when I don't respond people often think that I don't understand and thats frustrating. It helps having people in the congregation that also speak English because we are all learning together. I am doing much better now and I am feeling more confident. Tyler is doing great, he has a good memory and isn't afraid to use the language so he will learn fast. The kids are like little sponges ( I ask them when I have a question)! Asher gave his first bible reading and he did awesome.
I have 2 bible studies now and I would love to tell you how that's happening but I have no idea..every week it just happens LoL All said and done, I would not change a thing. Life here is simple and uncomplicated. Of course we still have some stresses but who can avoid that?!
A few weeks ago we went to our english assembly in San Jose and of course..our car broke down on the freeway just 7 miles outside of the city. There we were on the side of the road in the dark trying to figure out what was wrong. Tyler had a hunch that our engine might be toast because of a snapped timing belt so he had a tow truck tow us to our hotel. Okay, one issue with Costa Rica.. people like to take the weekends off. How dare they, right? Well our option was to miss the assembly and get the parts we needed to fix the car on Saturday because nothing would be open after 5 on a Saturday and nothing is open on Sunday. Or go to the assembly and just wait until Monday to find out wether or not we would still have a car. Really, there wasn't an option, we decided to take a taxi to the assembly and worry about it after the assembly. Fortunately a brother and sister staying at our hotel gave us a ride to the assembly so we avoided having to take a taxi. Once our friends heard what had happened to our car, they all pulled together to get us a ride home (which is 2 and a 1/2 hours away). A brother recommended a good mechanic but Tyler knew that the chances of our engine being fine after a timing belt snap like that was slim. But Sunday morning the mechanic came and picked up the car and we headed home waiting for the news. Tuesday morning we got the news that our engine wasn't damaged!! We couldn't believe it! The mechanic couldn't either! :) So we headed back to SJ to get our car and have had no trouble since! Phew..a close one! Thank you Jehovah! The assembly that weekend really helped us focus on our trust in Jehovah and not our problems, so as usual..our food came at the perfect time!
In other news: We had an exit to Panama. That went well and we went over to the caribbean side of Costa Rica. Tyler gave a talk in the Cahuita English Congregation. We even got to go to a sloth sanctuary and take a jungle cruise while we were over there. We had so much fun! The beaches are amazing there!
Our memorial attendance was 143 with only 35 publishers:)! We have never had that many so the whole congregation was really thrilled!
Peyton had to have a tooth pulled but he was a trooper!
Asher gave his first bible reading in Spanish and he did great! We are really proud of our kids. They have made a lot of changes since we have been here. It makes me feel so great that they are all talking about pioneering one day! Even Peyton. He wants to "work" at Bethel :) He's so cute! He keeps asking when we can go to Bethel so he can see it:) Warms my heart.
Okay here are a few tidbits I wanted to share with my fellow language learners..: It's not easy! In bible times, Jehovah didn't confuse the languages to make things easier:) It can be difficult to feel like you are making a difference. You are! Just being there to support the group or congregation is bigger than we all think. Not being able to form close bonds ( like you have in your mother tongue) due to the language barrier doesn't need to stop you. For example, in the Spanish culture it is the custom to greet each individual person at the meeting with a hug..no words needed for that! perfect! :) When the meeting is over it is also the custom to say a farewell to every person ..every person, and of course another hug. If I ever move back to the U.S.. I'm going to be a hugging machine! LoL So it is really good to learn the culture of your new family because it will really help you to show that you care since right now you may not be able to say it. You can always show it. This is how close bonds start! I really underestimated the importance of learning about culture because I thought. " Culture shouldn't be a big deal because we are all Jehovahs people". Well guess what..it is! Culture influences how people are raised, which influences how people think and feel. I didn't realize that until I was taken out of my own culture. Also The advice the faithful slave gives is so balanced so pull out that letter every so often and remind yourself that studying 12 hours a day is not going to help you. We all want to learn our new language so badly, but nothing can speed up time. It just takes time. Hang in there! Its okay to cry or feel like you can't do it sometimes. YOU CAN! Every hurdle you get over will make the next one easier. If you are really struggling, take a day or two off if you need to.
I recently had to learn that it is okay to say," I don't understand". Sometimes it feels so wrong to tell someone that you don't understand. Its easier to just pretend and nod:) Your learning it's okay!
I'm not ashamed to say that I am the girl at the meeting carrying around flash cards. Yep..flashcards! They have questions, responses, numbers, verbs and a a few other helpful things for me when speaking with people. This doesn't tell people you are dumb..No No No this tells people, "I want to understand you and I want to know you". Last but not least, it won't be like this forever, just a few years..Haha sorry:( Learn to laugh at yourself! The other day a sister was making a comment and she just laughed at herself because she said holes instead of eyes. I love her for her confidence! She isn't afraid to laugh or, more importantly, to open her mouth and speak! You must speak to learn.:) Well I love hearing about everyone so keep me posted on your lives:) Love to you all!!!!!
Copas at Playa Ventanas
Palm trees and a blue sky never get old!
The view from one of my favorite territories
Random Waterfall ..
A little service day fun at the beach
Sarahs farewell:(
...aaaaaaand then there's Peyton...
