I remember, at one point during our
Monkolé language learning, reflecting that it was a bit like
listening to a bad radio signal. So much of what we heard around us
was no more comprehensible than static, but every now and again a
recognisable word would break through. Yet gradually the radio signal
was becoming clearer and we were understanding more and more.
We stopped our full-time language
learning at the end of August 2011. At that point I joined the
translation team and Marc began home-schooling Simon and preparing
Bible teaching to be used in the Monkolé churches. We wanted to find
some way to intentionally improve our language after that, but I
think if we're honest we never did much more than informal visits to
people in the village.
However, the translation team not only
translates into Monkolé, but all our conversations about our work
are in Monkolé. At first it was frustrating at times, and even now I
sometimes find myself using a very complicated way to say something
quite simple, but it has definitely improved my language no end! And
while for months I was very aware that my team members used simple
language and slowed down to speak to me, recently I realised that I
was understanding a large amount of the conversation between them at
normal speed.
My main problem at church is the volume
– some men lead services using the same voice they would to talk to
someone standing next to them – and competing noise (people walking
in and out, babies crying, motorbikes driving past, lorries revving
up), but if I can hear it I can generally understand it. Of course
these days I am also distracted by trying to keep Eve happy and
quiet, but this is just a "season" and one day I will
be able to participate more fully again!
I suppose what I am really saying is
that we are seeing the fruit of good groundwork (the fulltime
language learning we did) and perseverance, plus a generous dose of
humility (being willing to say "I don't understand"
despite feeling that I ought to be able to and that everyone else
expects me to!). On top of that, I don't think we could
have persevered this far without having so many people praying for us
and encouraging us, and so I thank our supporters too!
Language learning
goes so slowly, but when I suddenly realise that sometimes I don't
even have to think, that Monkolé does actually flow out of my mouth
quite naturally, it is its own reward! And more importantly, fluency
in the language is a great help in our main tasks here: making the
Bible available in Monkolé, and encouraging the Monkolé people
themselves to read it.
Eve, of course, is
growing up with three languages, and takes this entirely for granted! (Here we are with a mum, Marie, from church whose baby girl, Honorine, was born a week after Eve. The other girl is her 2nd daughter, Sabine.)
