May 21st 2008

Once again today I woke up at nine thirty. I then laid in bed just relaxing and doing a lot of thinking about multiple things. When I decided to get up I did my morning prayers. After morning prayers I was told by the maid that she would appreciate it if I would eat breakfast before eight thirty. Then I got ready for my day and started to read a book about the Alpha course that is in Spanish to see how much of it I could pronounce and understand. I was able to pronounce and understand a good amount of it. While I was reading I was told that it was time for lunch. For lunch I had chicken, rice with tomatoes and onions, and water to drink. As soon as I finished lunch I left for my classes. I had no problems getting to the language school. My first class with Maite, I went over role play situations such as buying things in a store, ordering off the menu, and exchanging or getting change from the bank. In my next two classes with Viviana, we had a conversation about our likes and dislikes this conversation lasted for two hours since I had her for two classes in a row. During this class, I felt that I spoke Spanish better than I had been. Also, I used a dictionary for words I did not know and this was the only time there was a pause in the conversation. Then, I had to wait for my last class because the professor Ana Maria had to take her daughter to volleyball. When she returned, we worked on me being able to ask questions so that I could get information. It was then time to go to Mauge’s house for dinner and a cultural discussion. I was supposed to go with Mauge, but instead Ana Maria took me because Mauge had to go home to help prepare the dinner. Everyone who came was supposed to bring something so Ana Maria and I went to a little shop to buy something. I wanted to buy drinks and Ana Maria bought half of a roasted chicken. However, Ana Maria paid for everything. Then, Ana Maria and I took a taxi to Mauge’s house and Ana Maria even paid for that as well. After we arrived at Mauge’s I met other students from the language school, some whom I have seen before and other who I have not. All of them are missionaries here doing various things. It was a great time for socialization and it was good to be able to speak and understand everything since a majority of the conversations were in English or in Spanish that I could understand. During the dinner, I socialized with all of the missionaries and had good conversations about different beliefs and the different purposes we are all here for. One particular family has been here for eleven months and is very young with two small daughters. I spoke with this family the most because they wanted to know more about the Episcopal faith. Also, I wanted to know more about their mission about bringing the Gospel to the different tribes here that have never heard the Gospel before. For dinner there were multiple dishes with chicken. There was a potatoe soup, a chicken soup, and chicken with vegetable soup. Of course there was bread and a variety of drinks as well. We even had multiple desserts, most which contained fruit so I opted not to try any. All of the food that I did try was different and good. When the evening at Mauge’s was over I got a ride from the other missionaries in their van to town where Ana Maria’s son came to pick us up and take me home. During the ride home with Ana Maria’s son, I was able to practice my Spanish some more since he asked me questions about what I was doing here and so forth. Also, I asked him questions about where he lived and did he like his house and his church. When I arrived home, Susana was in the kitchen so we talked a little bit about the night at Mauge’s and how I got home and it was all in Spanish. I was so grateful and tired from the day that I did my night time devotional and went to bed. During my night time devotional there is a time for prayers for others and myself. Tonight, I prayed those prayers and even the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish.