Language dilemmas and our visitor

 The school year is under way now.  I have begun to teach Adele as well. This year won't be too complicated for her. Just the basics of reading and numbers. We are rethinking our choice of languages. I am torn between two languages: Japanese and Chinese. We have a friend at church who is fluent in Japanese. She has offered to teach my kids and a couple of other families. Another draw is that there are several RP churches in Japan that we might be able to strike up conversation with as we progress.
The plus for Chinese is that  it is the native language for 1 billion people. There are many, many Christians over there that Lord willing will one day be more free to communicate with the rest of us. Should we be preparing now? There is also a large Chinese population around us, our library has an entire section in Chinese. We wouldn't have to travel far to reach them.

As of last Monday we have a Chinese student (I shall call him by his surname Gu) living with us. We are really enjoying him staying with us and I hope that he will choose to stay longer than his one month stint with us. This is the first time he has been away from his home town. I suppose due to our travels I have a heart for those sorts of people. We know what it feels like.

Gu came to our presbytery church camp last weekend with us. It was the first time he had ever seen a tent. Brandon helped him set it up. God provided during camp by bringing two of our Christians Taiwanese friends to camp. They well both able to speak easily with Gu in his native tongue. I am thankful for this because they were able to explain the Gospel to him as well as what our church is all about. Gu has picked up an English Bible on his way out of China but was struggling a bit with the names and such. I told him not to worry, we struggle with the names at times too! Right before camp I had time to find a Chinese Bible iPhone app. With the use of my phone my two Taiwanese friends were able to help Gu navigate the Bible during camp. If you think of it pray for Gu. Our friends are coming up this weekend to talk to Gu some more about the Bible. Pray that he would continue to read it and that he will be willing to come to church with us.

Because Gu is living with us I am researching Chinese. So far I have learned Ni hao ma? Which is ruffly translated "Hello, how are you?" Don't ask me to write it. I have also learned that mom, hemp, horse, to scold, and the intent of asking a question are all spelled "ma."  They each however have a different tone. So depending on your tone you might end up calling your mom "hemp" instead! Not easy. Which is why if we are to study choose Chinese we must find a teacher to help us with the tones.

I recently found a free iPhone app that has a few Chinese lessons on it. I am going to go make dinner now and listen to another lesson. Maybe I can cement mom, hemp, horse, and to scold once and for all.

Zai jian (without the proper tone markers, so who knows what I am really saying!)