A few days after settling in here in Bulgaria, Paul asked a very important question, "Dad, when are you going to go to work?" My response was "I'm working right now!" I think my answer was a bit confusing to a kid who remembers that when Dad worked before, he went somewhere - usually alone. In as simple a way as I could, I explained my job to him, at least the first few objectives of the job. I also thought that I should probably give an explanation to our supporters back home who are wondering what we are doing now that we are actually on the field. For the first year my primary job is to learn the language. There are a few options, but at least for now I am following the pattern of current team members. I have hired a language instructor. Her name is Elka. She has a reputation for being tough, but her students learn. What can I say? I love a good challenge. So far I have had two private sessions. Elka has told me at the end of each session to do my homework and come back knowing the material "like a song." I am praying that God would grant me favor in language learning. The plan is to take four sessions per week. We have not been able to nail down the schedule as of yet because Elka has responsibilities for a very sick cousin. I would ask you to pray for healing and grace for him as you read this entry. In addition to class time, I have ventured out and used the few phrases I know with people around me. I have gotten help form cashiers and old men on buses. Kids on the playground have taught me during soccer, sorry, football games in the courtyard. I am also playing on a men's baseball team. I have always loved baseball, but thought my playing days were long gone. I have always felt at home on the diamond, but when the language is unfamiliar, I have found that even on the baseball field I feel a little disoriented. So what does baseball have to do with my job? One of my assignments from Elka is to find Bulgarians with whom I can speak Bulgarian. The men who play baseball here play from sometime in April through September. Not many show for practices, which are leisurely at best, but they have three scheduled days a week where they get together. I am learning that you can speak Bulgarian or English on the baseball field. For instance, on a pop up you can call "I got it!" or you can call out "Topka!" which means ball. While English is acceptable, Bulgarian is preferable and necessary at times, like when I was standing next to an open gate and everyone on the field including the umpire was yelling for me to close it. None spoke in English. I never understood them until I noticed a teammate pointing at the fence. Then it made sense, "They want me to close the fence." So I did.
Dave Culmer, along with many others on the team gave me this piece of advice. "The most important thing you can do is learn the language and learn it well." The point being that getting below the surface with Bulgarians, down to the heart issues, will require really understanding them and learning the subtlties of their words and expressions. When I ask a Bulgarian how he is doing, the only answer I am currently prepared to hear is "Dobre/Good." If he doesn't say "dobre," I won't understand. That's a problem and that's why language is my job this year, Paul.
As for Susan, she will be teaching the younger two and teaching a class at SCA (school for missionary kids) as well. She too will be putting a lot of effort into language learning. I have to show her how to access this blog so that she can share experiences from her perspective. Chao.
