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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.)