LANGUAGE LEARNING AT AGE 4

I first started learning Spanish when I was 4 years old, when my family moved to Paraguay to work in church planting there. I don't remember not knowing Spanish and I don't remember learning it.

That said, I have definitely had to brush it up since moving to Mexico, as the Spanish pronunciation and some grammar is different than in Paraguay, and I had also been living in Canada for some years before we moved here and wasn't speaking it nearly as often. I did take one semester of Spanish as a brush up before we moved here, while Dallas was taking the full year.

So, I can't really say what it's like to learn a language from scratch, but while we were at language school I really had to respect those that were learning for the first time! That included Dallas, who had taken a bit of Spanish before, but learning it to speak it fluently is another matter. It's much more difficult doing it as an adult (but do-able).

Fast forward to this last year, when our newest addition, Salomón moved in with us at 4 years old last July!

When he moved in he had never heard English before. He arrived not understanding anything and so we spoke mostly Spanish in our house so that he would adapt to our family without having that barrier in the way. Bit by bit we started talking half English and Spanish and just let what came out, come out when we were together as a family in the house.

Kids pick language up naturally when they hear it a lot, and we had seen our other 3 boys learn Spanish and English simultaneously, as they were living here when they learned to speak. So we knew that Salo would eventually pick up English just by living with us and hearing it often. But I thought it would take longer!

Over Christmas break is when we really saw how much he speaks already. We had two sets of visitors from Canada over the break and so he heard a lot of English, and he said that he wanted to practice his English.

He is now talking in sentences and it is so cute and amazing.

For sure he still speaks Spanish better than English, and we still talk a lot of Spanish with him, especially when talking directly with him about something he's feeling or something that happened or just to connect better with him as he can express himself better in Spanish. But, he is doing so well and enjoying it.

It's fascinating the way our brains work, and it's fascinating to watch someone learn a language without even having to really try!

The best example of learning this way was the other day when he asked me, "Can I go grab a sweater?". He's using our expressions and sayings (grab) in context and without thought.

So, it's been fun to watch this.

Why do Missionaries go on Furlough (Home Assignment)?

I mentioned in my last post that we will be in Canada for a couple of months this winter. The purpose of this is for Furlough, or Home Assignment, as it's also often called.

We often get questions or just hear comments from people wondering what furlough is for, so I thought'd I'd just talk about a few of the purposes here to perhaps help clear up some questions you may have!

So, what is the purpose of Furlough?

1. Reconnect with Churches/Supporters

This has changed a lot in missions over the past 20 years or so. It used to be that there was no Internet - meaning no email, texting, Facebook, Skype, or any form of constant communication with people back in Canada. When I grew up in Paraguay even a basic phone call cost a fortune and I remember talking to our Grandparents for our birthdays and that was pretty much it.

These days we are in constant communication with people all over the world. This enables missionaries to be in more contact with their supporting churches which is very good. But it is still not the same as a personal, face-to-face conversation. When we're in Canada we share in different churches on weekends and during the week we take time to visit with individuals and families from our churches. We are responsible to our home churches and to the EMC Conference and so we need to be in communication.

We need people supporting us in prayer, financially, and emotionally, and there is nothing like being with someone in person to build that connection and friendship.

2. Reconnect with the Missions office

This basically means that we have meetings with our Board of Missions and this furlough we will also be attending a retreat for ministers. We also have a meeting with our home church's mission board as well as other connections and meetings with EMC personnel.

3. Rest & Renewal

It is always encouraging and renewing for Dallas and I to be able to spend time with people in Canada that support us - whether that be family, friends, or church people. It's an opportunity to be filled and supported in prayer and gives us fresh energy to return to the field. I wouldn't call this restful exactly as we fill our calendars pretty full with wanting to see everyone! Almost too much sometimes but we really love it and it is rejuvenating.

Allowing your brain a little break from another language and culture is also restful ;) Although we love Spanish and love Mexico it can be tiring to always be trying to figure out culture and language. This does go away to some extent over the years but can be present at different levels for different missionaries.

4. Reconnect with Family & Friends

Even though we are living away from all of our family, we love our family and it is so important to us to have good relationships with them and for our boys to know them. This requires visiting them. Again, in person!

This is what makes overseas missionaries different from those in ministry in their home country, as it means being away from ALL of your family (usually) and that is one of the more difficult aspects, no matter how old you are or what stage of life you're in.

Connecting with friends that "get" you is also very renewing and something Dallas and I both value very much. We connect with friends from years ago and with friends that we've made more recently in different ways as a result of teams, visitors, churches, etc.

5. Education

This is one that also has changed a lot with online studies! Dallas is so fortunate to be able to study most of his Masters online. However, he had to go to Canada for a week in October for an in-person class and he has portions of his class that he will be doing while we are there now in November and in January. This education is very helpful for our ministry while on the field.

6. Encouragement/Recruitment

Part of our job is also to encourage missions in churches and individuals, whether that be through financial giving, through helping churches become more interested in missions, or through encouraging others to consider overseas missions! This all falls under point #1 as well but it is more of a direct purpose in connecting in different places.

7. Taking care of Business

We take the opportunity to update any banking we need to do, take our driver's license pictures, have other financial meetings, buy items we can get cheaper there than here, doctor visits (although we do most of that in Mexico), any needed paperwork, etc. oh, and go to Ikea.

8. Culture learning ;)

I'll add this one for our boys. Going to Canada every few years helps the boys keep a connection with their "home" culture. They do not consider Canada their home, though. They have never lived there, besides Carter who lived there for just 1.5 years. To them, Canada is an awesome place to visit where they get to see Grandparents and cousins and everyone else! They love to visit.

And it's always a time of culture learning, especially now as they're getting older.

To be honest, it's always culture learning for Dallas and I too. Everytime you go back you have to remember what Canadian culture is...we especially struggle the first couple of weeks with wanting to hug and kiss everyone ;) as that's the Mexican greeting. So if we get a little too close to you for comfort just bear with us.

This picture is from 7 years ago, the last time we were in Canada in winter. Carter was 3, Logan was 1, and Brady was 3 months old. So they don't remember winter. They are super, super excited for snow. We'll see what they think of the cold!

All right, I will leave it at that for now! I hope this gives you a bit of an idea. As you can see, it serves several purposes which can make it seem a little ambiguous at times. 

See you soon Manitoba.

PARAGUAY 2017!!!!

A couple of weeks ago we had the chance to do something as a family that we never really thought would happen - we went to Paraguay for two weeks!!! 

Most of you, if you know us, probably know that I lived there for 8 years as a child, where my parents were church planters. It's where I learned to love the Latin culture and the Spanish language and where all of my first memories are from. I had an amazing time growing up there with my parents and brothers and also had amazing life-long friendships that were formed there. 

Dallas and I were able to go there twice shortly after we were first married, and it was fun to experience that together. But this was the first time we went for holidays (the 2 times were with missions teams) so it was much different. It was a bit of a two-fold trip - I wanted to have time to visit friends and see specific places (and eat specific foods), and we wanted to see where my brother Travis and his family are church planting right now, as they are in a city that we had never been to, and we wanted to be part of their life there for a bit. 

It was also a dream to go with the boys and they LOVED it. They have talked everyday since we've been back about it and keep asking if we'll get to go back sometime. 

I just wanted to post a bunch of pictures here and share about the trip for memory's sake!

First of all, the plane ride. Can't leave that out, as we do enjoy the traveling aspect as well. And I think the boys spent at least 20 minutes describing all the movies they watched on the plane to their poor Grandparents so I think that was a big deal ;) 

We flew Guadalajara - Mexico City - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Asunción, Paraguay. The boys are great travelers, and while flying overnight makes it hard to sleep, like I said, the movies kept them well entertained and quiet for their fellow passengers. 

15 hours or so later...we arrived in Asunción! While I haven't lived in Paraguay for 23 years (!), it's still the place that makes me super nostalgic and feels so familiar while so distant. 

My brother and sis-in-law, Trav & Rosey, and their kids were at the airport to meet us, as well as 2 of my childhood friends and their families!

My brother lives 6 hours from where we landed, so we all spent the first few days at Hannes and Gabi's house. Gabi was my best friend growing up, we were attached at the hip while we lived there, and we were so happy to spend a good amount of time with them!! Her sister Anja also lives there with her husband, and my other friend Wendy stopped in with her family. So there were 5 of us MK's there, including Trav.

It was sooo good to spend time visiting with them, we talked a lot about our lives and it was so refreshing to have that time together. 

The boys with their cousins and new friends. 

We then headed 6 hours east to Minga Guazú, which is were Trav & Rosey work. As we were 9 people in total, Rosey and I took the bus for the longer trips. Which meant lots of chip for me.....!!! It's a typical Paraguayan cheese bread that is sold everywhere. 

Below is a chipa stand, a little hard to see, but on top of the stool is a basket that is covered and that's where the chipa is. 

Our time in Minga with Trav & Rosey and their kids was so good! We did life with them, we went to their church for the different activities, and did some other activities together. 

Below is their church, with their car. The dirt there is very red and clay-like, and it rained several days while we were there making for some good mud. 

Good mud = scrubbing shoes

The boys with their cousins, Zippy and Moi. I feel like we didn't have to take care of the kids a lot, they were so busy playing together.

Trav & Rosey's backyard...just a small part of it.

Road to church.

 Brady and Moi...the troublemakers.....

Our boys like to tell everyone that they went for ice-cream 5 times while we were there. I guess that is important.

Besides all the food we love to eat there (although Logan wasn't the hugest fan of it all), Paraguay is known for tereré and mate. Tereré is with ice cold water, while mate is with hot water. Below you can see my niece Zippy drinking...Carter is saying "chug, chug, chug!".

My friend Wendy was in their town also for a couple of days to visit so they came over, and the boys made some new friends.

I think it was so nice that our boys know Spanish, as they weren't uncomfortable in Paraguay and had no problem playing with the other kids they met. We went to the wedding of a couple in the church and they had a good time with everyone.

Wedding food - bbq'd chicken with a rice salad, chipa guazú (corn & cheese dish), and sopa (corn dish like cornbread).

As it was raining for several days, we looked for something indoors to do, and went to an art museum. There are paintings covering the walls, floor, and ceilings that are 3D. 

One other activity we did was head into Brazil (just 1/2 hour from Minga as they live at the border) to the Iguazu Falls. It's a beautiful place. 

These 2 also love to be together, we would often find them lying in bed reading books together or just hanging out. It was often these 2, and then Logan, Moi, and Brady together.

There is also the Argentinian side of the falls, as the falls lie at the border. However, to get into Argentina we would have had to pay $75 US per person!

(Perhaps I should have broken this up into more than 1 post ;) onward we go though!)

Something I did not get any pictures of were the other missionaries we visited with. Several that worked there when we used to live there still live in Paraguay, and it was neat to say hi to all of them again and visit.

We also stopped in at Caaguazú, which was the city Trav and I lived in as kids, where we wanted to visit some of our Paraguayan friends. We said hi to Richard and Suni, who work with the church conference and who we had met on our previous trips. We also visited Nidia, who was one of my best friends a child also, and her sister and family.

We drove by the house we grew up in, we went to the cementary where another best friend is buried (she passed away when I was 8 years old but we spent a lot of time together), and we drove by the churches my parents worked in.

After that we headed back to Asunción where we spent another couple of days with our friends there, visiting and laughing and making food :)

Carter loves his cousin Zippy and his new friend Nadine...he has decided to save his money to visit them again one day ;) 

It was so special to spend this time with Trav & Rosey, as we love to hang out with them and their kids! And it was also special to re-live memories, spend the time with Dallas and the boys there, and see old friends again. While we love being in Paraguay, the people are what made the trip and we are so thankful for the opportunity to have gone. It was a bit of a last minute decision to go now when we did, but I'm so glad we did it.

Maybe after another 8 years of saving money we can go again?? ha!

💗💗💗💗

I am also so thankful to God for the peace he gave me in being able to return to Mexico. Just before we went, I became a little fearful that going back to Paraguay would make it hard to come back, as I spent many years coming to terms with not being there anymore and asking God for peace no matter where I was living. And He gave it to me! We have always been at peace with being in Mexico, but, I became nervous that going there would "un-do" that process. I am soooo thankful that we had an AMAZING time there and even more thankful to see that God has my heart and that I truly can love life where I am in the moment. Do I want to go back? For sure, I will always love it as one of my homes. But God has given me a measure of a home here in Mexico also and as that's where we live at the moment, I'm grateful. I believe the one thing I would ever wish for more than anything is peace and contentment with God and with life, than to have a "thing" that I wish for and always be looking for something more.