...when you are in language study, desperately attempting to learn a new language (so that you can actually talk to the people around you) that you for one reason or another just can't say anything at all! Your tongue is tied or you just can't remember how to form the sentence correctly so you stutter along trying to get your point across until you just want to quit and go find someone you can talk to in English!
Needless to say, we've had a few of those days lately. They tend to come out of nowhere and smack you right in the face with a load of discouragement and frustration.
What's been even more frustrating lately is that we are beginning to learn how to talk about God. Yes, I did say we have to LEARN how to talk about God. In Khmer there are different forms of speaking. You use different words depending on who you are talking to or about.
The words we use to talk about God actually come from Sanskrit and tend to be long and confusing. Jesus' hand is not just a 'hand' its something totally other. And if you want to pray, well you better study what words you can and can't use to make your requests known to God (if you are praying out loud, that is).
So today I was proud of myself for being able to have a phone conversation completely in Khmer, but then when I walked down the street with Aiden and attempted a chat with the guys at the wood shop and couldn't understand much of what they said, I was again frustrated and wondering....will I EVER learn this crazy language!
On a more positive note, Aiden has learned that he loves french fries and climbing up the stairs to our bedroom! Oh to have the heart and mind of a child....able to absorb everything around!
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