First Bible Study

We gave our first assigned comments at meeting tonight.

My comment was about 8 words and Benny's was 2 full sentances.

After the meeting Leah sat down next to me in informed me in all honesty that I managed to say about 20% of my comment correctly (Benny got about 20% too) but at least our comments are not as bad as some of her mom's comments.

There are a few in our little group who really struggle with the language, and a couple that manage to completely butcher every single word they say.

Then we have Fuji and Talyssa (and baby Keon) who all speak Hmong fluently, and make the rest of us feel like complete failures in comparison.

About the pictures: The top picture is traditional Hmong attire. When I see those pants I can't help but think "Hammertime"

Bottom picture: Baby Keon! :)

English Meeting

The english congregation we are a part of had their meeting last night with the circuit overseer.
Since the only meeting we have as a group is the congregation bible study, we meet with them for everything else.

A little about our C.O.: a few years back they served the Auburn, Grass Valley area.
They are both from deep in the south and have very strong accents and the highlight of the visit so far; he said "I know we get a little nervous with the circuit overseer, I don't know what it is about it him. You act like he just rocks your world! I don't know why!" haha
One thing about travelling overseers here; The majority of the ones around us are hilarious, none of them take themself too seriously and they all manage to have a good time while still helping you to see important points.

Well I don't have any exciting Hmong updates. We are still preparing our comments since Bible study is on Thursday this week.

Day Two

We had a full Sunday meeting today for the CO's visit. Fuji (our only native brother) interpretted both talks and the closing prayer into Hmong.
There were 33 in attendance: The 13 previously in the Hmong group, 10 of us desperately hoping to start the Hmong classes soon and 10 visitors.
Brother Luka (the congregation photographer) had us all gather around for pictures.
Our comments went pretty well! I was surprised I had the courage to open my mouth and speak.
For the first time today my brain thought "What have we done?"
We are serving in a foreign language field, preaching to people in a language we don't speak, giving assignments in a language we don't understand and then I realized. We will never be missionaries but this is a pretty good taste of what it must be like.
I am so impressed with the willingness of our missionary brothers and sisters. Leaving family and friends, moving to a foreign contry with strange cultures, preaching in a language you don't know to people who do not speak your mother tongue. I always wanted to be a missionary and this is my little chance.
Realistically my health is too poor to travel out of the country anyway, we have been offered a wonderful opportunity to get a taste of Missionary work without having to leave home.
We have received our first assignments for meeting this week. It will take so much work to prepare our comments. I will be going in service with the Hmong group as an official member for the first time on Tuesday.
Will let you know how it goes!

Day One

As of this morning Ben and I are officially part of the small Hmong group in our area.
We just finnished up our first morning in the field and I could not sum it up better than taking our first steps into Macedonia.

First let me tell you, our Hmong consists of one word: Hello.
We made arrangements with a brother and sister we are very comfortable with and trusted them to show us the way. The were kind enough to take the first few doors, door one a young man opens the door and Leah has a conversation with the man in english only slipping n a few Hmong words here and there. I can so do this!
Door two: Leah and I approach an older woman sittng on a very small wooden stool on the front porch, as we approach it becomes clear that the woman is chopping a chicken for the days meal, A WHOLE CHICKEN! I'm the only one in the scenario that finds this at all abnormal, Leah tells me "This is Thailand. If the house were a mud hut we would be in Thailand right now. The woman speaks almost no english and Leah has a short conversation before leaving the tract in the door for her to pick up later.
Door 3 we were on our own. Benny and I step out of the car hesitantly, walk up to the door..No answered. We walk toward the car and "Grandma" is standing in the driveway with a baby on her back. "Nyob zoo" (said like Nie-jong) benny says to greet her. It becomes clear she ONLY speaks Hmong. Benny gracefully presented her with the brochure and we thanked her.

Here is our presentation:
"Nyob zoo! Does anyone in your family speak Hmong? (if yes) We would like to leave this brochure in Hmong for your family to read."
End of presentation.

We had a wonderful time, it was different and scary but we are so happy.

We have the CO visit this week, he doesn't speak Hmong either. The sister we worked with in service this morning helped Benny and myself as well as our new C.O and his wife come up with comments for meeting tomorrow. They are very simple and we are VERY bad at saying them but here they are:
Benny: "Nws ua tav pab peb" meaning: It can help us
(new oowa tow ba bay)
Mine: "Kawm txog Yehauvas" meaning : Learn about Jehovah
(Gar t-saw yayhova)

I can't wait to give my first comment in Hmong, I know we will say them completely wrong but hey..it's our first day.

One last thing, I have a joke to share!

A flock of sheep are grazing in a field, happily going "baa baa" to each other and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo mooooooooooooooooooo!" They look around and see only sheep. They carry on grazing as before. "Moooooo mooooooooooo mmmoo!" One sheep can hear it all too clearly next to him. He shuffles away a little from his friend, a worried look on his face and then asks "George, why are you mooing. You're a sheep. Sheep go 'baa!'" His friend replys gladly: " I know, but I'm serving with a foreign language group!"


If I don't get the words right, I will just MOO.