Kristen House

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2 month anniversary!

I’ve been in Albertville, France a little over 2 months! Two months of learning a new language, a new culture, new food, and a new role has been exhausting. The glamour of this new French way of life is starting to wear off. Things are beginning to get tough. At first I had all the motivation in the world to learn this beautiful language. Now the exceptions to the rules, the grammar, the difficult pronunciations, and the increasing confusion are starting to set in.

Language learning is like this: each new lesson and each new day is like a meal. It starts off with the delicious pastries which get you hooked. You know the eclairs, the bonbons, the chocolate croissants... It all seems wonderful and surprisingly easy, at first. As the days continue, the food changes from a simple dessert to a five course Thanksgiving meal. The food still looks incredibly appetizing and your mouth waters at the sight of it. You can hardly wait to start the feast. The problem, you quickly begin to realize, is that there is no break between courses and you must eat all you’re served. Now imagine a week of Thanksgiving feasts everyday. In a strange way that’s what learning French is like. There’s so much packed into each day and into each lesson, it feels like there’s no room to digest the information. After a week, you feel exhausted and stuffed. You feel like you need a month to practice and understand everything you’ve learned, but instead the food keeps coming and you keep plugging along.

It’s so easy at times for me to get discouraged and frustrated with my progress. Then I look back to my very first week here and I realize all the things I can do now that I was unable to do on my own before. Now I can actually communicate with the woman at the bakery, the women on the soccer team I’ve joined, and the man at the convenience store. These “little” conversations really help boost my confidence that the things I’m learning in class are really starting to sink in and take hold.

I’ve also realized the importance of giving myself some time off from studying and some time to digest the new information. Even if it’s just watching a movie in English or reading a good book, the time is necessary to relax and rest.
Thank you all who have sent notes in the mail, through email or on facebook. It really is encouraging to know that I have wonderful friends and family back home who are praying for me and rooting me on. These things, as well as skype calls, really help me strengthen my resolve to learn this language.

Please pray that I would have a quick mind to learn and understand French, that my ears would be quick to hear and understand what’s spoken and that my tongue would be loosened to respond. Right now I’m not even worried if it’s 100% correct, I just want to be able to get the words out. Pray I would continue to have good opportunities to practice in real life, what I’m learning in class.

Thank you so much, Kristen

P.S. I have my first soccer match tomorrow! Pictures and stories will follow shortly after, I promise!

Also, please visit my blog kristenhouse.wordpress.com to see more pictures and more frequent updates about my life here. In addition, if you would like to support through financial gifts please visit www.cmalliance.org/worker/house-kristen There are several giving options including giving to the great commission fund (GCF), which is the fund used to support all Alliance international workers. There is also an option to give individual gifts towards outfit funds and special projects. You can also send gifts made out to the Christian & Missionary Alliance. P.O. Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. Please specify “Kristen House outfit fund or general support” Thank you so much for your partnership. This would not be possible without your prayers and support.

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Please pray that I would have a quick mind to learn and understand French, that my ears would be quick to hear and understand what’s spoken and that my tongue would be loosened to respond. Right now I’m not even worried if it’s 100% correct, I just want to be able to get the words out. Pray I would continue to have good opportunities to practice in real life, what I’m learning in class.

Mali

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