We have asked for prayer as we seek to master Spanish--before it murders us! Well, in an effort to help you grasp what is involved in acquiring a new language to the point of being reasonably fluent in it, let me explain some of the daily issues we wrestle with.
A Peruvian friend who is fluent in both English and Spanish gave me this illustration. Imagine you are a recovering stroke victim. You know how to walk and move your arms, but you cannot quite get that foot to obey what you think in your head. You struggle to raise your arm or flex your hand. You know HOW to do all these activities, but your brain does not respond at the rate it used to do. You must retrain your brain. THAT is what we are doing with our minds in the process of language learning.
Pam and I know what we want to express, but we cannot get the words we know in Spanish to come out at the rate we desire. Or, we do not even know the vocabulary we need to express some concept. So our brain does a fast "search" of "currently available vocabulary" for words that maybe will approximate what we want to say. Yes, the Spanish language can express everything we can utter in English--and, I am learning, sometimes Spanish is even richer with amazingly more flexibility and variety than in English! But OUR BRAINS just do not seem to want to cooperate with OUR DESIRES to express our thoughts. We have so much vocabulary to gain, and it seems so little time to acquire it.
To further illustrate the vocabulary challenge: I am teaching a Master's level class, The Use of the Old Testament in the New. All students have a B.A. or better who are in my class. So here I sit, reading student papers--but with my Spanish-English Dictionary in hand! I have been a college or seminary professor for more than 25 years. I occasionally have had to look up a word I might read in a student paper written in English. But in this class taught only in Spanish, I regularly look up words the students use. They are functioning with a college-level or better writing vocabulary. I maybe have an eighth-grade reading vocabulary. You get the picture. Once the translation has been made, I understand all that they say, but there are a couple of additional steps in there in the process of understanding that I have not had to do in a class taught in English. Not only does this take more time to grade papers, but it is mentally draining as well.
Basically, we are re-mapping the mind! Now I hope you can pray more specifically for us concerning "language learning."
Monday, April 14, 2008
February '08 Update for New Readers
For those who are new to our blog site, we are posting our Feb '08 Letter to bring you up to date and give you some historical background.
Elmore Update February 4, 2008
Greetings from lovely San Jose, Costa Rica, where we are enjoying mild 75 degree days and cozy 64 degree nights! Honestly, we do not miss the snow!
What’s happening in our lives
Since returning on January 8, we have experienced some unusual situations:
1. Assaulted on the street: While walking to a friend’s house one Friday evening about 6:30, we suddenly had a motorcycle swerve and come up onto the sidewalk right next to us. I (Floyd) felt the hand of one of the two riders in my back pocket, fishing for my wallet. The other jumped off to grab Pam’s purse. She had it securely around her neck, and he could not get it loose. Screaming, Pam pushed him away, but he pushed her to the sidewalk. He still could not get her purse which she was now lying on. I had been separated from her by the motorcycle and seeing her on the ground flipped me out! I did what you are told never to do: I attacked the other guy on the bike with a small flexible tree that was planted in the grass next to the sidewalk! After whopping him a couple of times, his friend came to help. The next “whop” broke the tree and now I had a 2-inch “pole” in my hand, brandishing it around and swinging for their heads. They gave up, jumped on the bike, and started to pull away. But I lunged at them and made a flying tackle take-down of them both! After they got up and picked up their bike, they jumped on and sped away—with nothing! I have not had an adrenalin rush like that in years! (Even more than playing racquet ball with the Faircreek Church guys!) But after reflection, I am very thankful for God’s protection.
2. Small group Tico (short form for “Costa Rican,” pronounced “tee-co”) style: We have connected with many missionaries here in San Jose. There is a Saturday night Bible study that I have been invited to teach on occasion in English. We sing, study, pray and socialize—sounds like a Faircreek “Growth Group” meeting down here! It meets about five blocks from our house. We walk, but I now carry a baseball bat with me. (Now there is one to add to your Growth Group manual: “check your bats at the door!”)
3. Counseling women: Pam has had doors open up to counsel in English and in Spanish. The Spanish Language Institute is nearby and many of the women seek out Godly counsel for a variety of reasons. Pam has been asked to assist a team of counselors at the Institute. She had her first session last week with a woman from Venezuela.
4. Teaching The Use of the Old Testament in the New: I have enjoyed having nine Master’s level students in my class this term. Studying how the apostles used the Psalms and other passages in the New Testament has been a real eye-opener for me and for the students as well. Teaching in Spanish is still a challenge. Thankfully, I sense I am improving weekly.
5. Tutoring in Spanish: Pam has begun meeting with a Spanish tutor twice a week for one hour at a time. Conversation time in Spanish with this retired Costa Rican school teacher is paying dividends for Pam. She senses gradual improvement in her quest to master Spanish.
Cultural Differences—sometimes “clashes” and sometimes, well, just different!
It is more likely that a missionary will be killed while crossing the street as a pedestrian than by terrorists. (Memo to self: Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way here!)
In a culture where the poor can make money by collecting recyclables, when taking a walk, watch out for missing man-hole covers! (or drain gutter grates, or meter plates!)
The infrastructure, like sewage drain pipes, is very old and has not been updated in decades. So remember not to flush the toilet paper. Fold it up and toss the paper in the waste paper can. (And pray that the City Planners will catch up to “modern” times!)
Prayer prompters for February
1. ESEPA will be having a special banquet for Christian business men and women on the 21st. We are praying for 50 in attendance. James Blankmeyer will be our speaker, with a challenge to allow God to make us “kingdom benefactors” and not just “successful.” Pray for this event and the financial health of ESEPA.
2. Our local church is developing a missions support team for cross-cultural outreach. Pray for wisdom to know at what level we should be involved.
3. The Cuban seminary Master’s program is about to be kicked off this summer. Please pray for wisdom on the part of all parties involved in making this educational effort a blessing to the Cuban churches.
4. Spanish language improvement - -for both of us. We want to be effective in ministry here, and facility in this language is a MUST.
5. Safety on the streets- -as we walk and drive around town.
6. Separation from loved ones: being away from aging parents and from our children and grandchildren is not easy to take at times.
Thank you for your faithful financial and prayer support. Special thanks to Faircreek Church for the moving expenses reimbursement. What a blessing! You are making it possible for us to minister here in Costa Rica and, hopefully very soon, in Cuba as well.
Floyd & Pam Elmore email: felmore2@yahoo.com
Personal Mail: Apdo.782-2350, San Francisco de Dos Rios, San Jose, Costa Rica
Mission Mail: Messiah’s Outreach, P.O. Box 230, Wheaton, IL 60189-0230
Elmore Update February 4, 2008
Greetings from lovely San Jose, Costa Rica, where we are enjoying mild 75 degree days and cozy 64 degree nights! Honestly, we do not miss the snow!
What’s happening in our lives
Since returning on January 8, we have experienced some unusual situations:
1. Assaulted on the street: While walking to a friend’s house one Friday evening about 6:30, we suddenly had a motorcycle swerve and come up onto the sidewalk right next to us. I (Floyd) felt the hand of one of the two riders in my back pocket, fishing for my wallet. The other jumped off to grab Pam’s purse. She had it securely around her neck, and he could not get it loose. Screaming, Pam pushed him away, but he pushed her to the sidewalk. He still could not get her purse which she was now lying on. I had been separated from her by the motorcycle and seeing her on the ground flipped me out! I did what you are told never to do: I attacked the other guy on the bike with a small flexible tree that was planted in the grass next to the sidewalk! After whopping him a couple of times, his friend came to help. The next “whop” broke the tree and now I had a 2-inch “pole” in my hand, brandishing it around and swinging for their heads. They gave up, jumped on the bike, and started to pull away. But I lunged at them and made a flying tackle take-down of them both! After they got up and picked up their bike, they jumped on and sped away—with nothing! I have not had an adrenalin rush like that in years! (Even more than playing racquet ball with the Faircreek Church guys!) But after reflection, I am very thankful for God’s protection.
2. Small group Tico (short form for “Costa Rican,” pronounced “tee-co”) style: We have connected with many missionaries here in San Jose. There is a Saturday night Bible study that I have been invited to teach on occasion in English. We sing, study, pray and socialize—sounds like a Faircreek “Growth Group” meeting down here! It meets about five blocks from our house. We walk, but I now carry a baseball bat with me. (Now there is one to add to your Growth Group manual: “check your bats at the door!”)
3. Counseling women: Pam has had doors open up to counsel in English and in Spanish. The Spanish Language Institute is nearby and many of the women seek out Godly counsel for a variety of reasons. Pam has been asked to assist a team of counselors at the Institute. She had her first session last week with a woman from Venezuela.
4. Teaching The Use of the Old Testament in the New: I have enjoyed having nine Master’s level students in my class this term. Studying how the apostles used the Psalms and other passages in the New Testament has been a real eye-opener for me and for the students as well. Teaching in Spanish is still a challenge. Thankfully, I sense I am improving weekly.
5. Tutoring in Spanish: Pam has begun meeting with a Spanish tutor twice a week for one hour at a time. Conversation time in Spanish with this retired Costa Rican school teacher is paying dividends for Pam. She senses gradual improvement in her quest to master Spanish.
Cultural Differences—sometimes “clashes” and sometimes, well, just different!
It is more likely that a missionary will be killed while crossing the street as a pedestrian than by terrorists. (Memo to self: Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way here!)
In a culture where the poor can make money by collecting recyclables, when taking a walk, watch out for missing man-hole covers! (or drain gutter grates, or meter plates!)
The infrastructure, like sewage drain pipes, is very old and has not been updated in decades. So remember not to flush the toilet paper. Fold it up and toss the paper in the waste paper can. (And pray that the City Planners will catch up to “modern” times!)
Prayer prompters for February
1. ESEPA will be having a special banquet for Christian business men and women on the 21st. We are praying for 50 in attendance. James Blankmeyer will be our speaker, with a challenge to allow God to make us “kingdom benefactors” and not just “successful.” Pray for this event and the financial health of ESEPA.
2. Our local church is developing a missions support team for cross-cultural outreach. Pray for wisdom to know at what level we should be involved.
3. The Cuban seminary Master’s program is about to be kicked off this summer. Please pray for wisdom on the part of all parties involved in making this educational effort a blessing to the Cuban churches.
4. Spanish language improvement - -for both of us. We want to be effective in ministry here, and facility in this language is a MUST.
5. Safety on the streets- -as we walk and drive around town.
6. Separation from loved ones: being away from aging parents and from our children and grandchildren is not easy to take at times.
Thank you for your faithful financial and prayer support. Special thanks to Faircreek Church for the moving expenses reimbursement. What a blessing! You are making it possible for us to minister here in Costa Rica and, hopefully very soon, in Cuba as well.
Floyd & Pam Elmore email: felmore2@yahoo.com
Personal Mail: Apdo.782-2350, San Francisco de Dos Rios, San Jose, Costa Rica
Mission Mail: Messiah’s Outreach, P.O. Box 230, Wheaton, IL 60189-0230
Monday, April 7, 2008
Today we've learned to blog...
Here we are, sitting at our computer with our friends, teaching us to make a blog! Until tonight we did not even know what BLOG meant! Now here we are and we are blogging! "I blog!" (from What about Bob).
To our family, we are coming into the 21st century! To our friends in our age category, we may be ahead of all of you, who knows.
To the unknown out there, you will hear more from us later!
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