The new Sabbath focus

I really enjoy Sundays here, and for all lots of great reasons.  Of course I enjoy being with my family at church and seeing our cute students. Both good things that I look forward to.  But the main reason I love going is because I really have to FOCUS in order to be able to learn and take in whatever the teachers or speakers are saying.  Admittedly, by the time the third hour (Sacrament meeting) rolls around, my head feels like it might explode from concentrating so hard and  it can be very difficult to maintain my focus, particularly since I have no context for the talks or testimonies that are being shared.  Last week I glanced down our row of students to notice that most of them were feeling the same way.  They all had blank stares on their faces, looks of having completely given up on trying to understand anymore Spanish for that day.  Relief Society is definitely my favorite.  Because I am so anxious to be able to understand the fast paced Spanish that native speakers use, I study the lesson before coming to church, a habit I really should use at home more diligently.  Each week I read the lesson in English and then in Spanish, and by the time I go to Church I actually get most of what they are saying and I can feel the Spirit helping me with the rest.  I love that feeling.

This week was particularly enjoyable.  The Madrid mission president, Scott Jackson (yes the orthopedist from Provo) and his wife came to speak in Sacrament meeting in Alcala.  We had a nice visit with them before and after the meeting and loved hearing their insights on the mission (which incidentally will grow from its current 110 missionaries to 233 by the end of the year!)  Best of all, it was actually easy to understand their talks.  I felt like a fluent Spanish listener (which is far different than being a fluent Spanish speaker, but still exciting.)

It has been especially fun to watch Landon, with his non-existent Spanish, take on the church experience each week.  He goes to his classes without complaint, passes the sacrament each week, and genuinely seems to be enjoying his quorum, despite the language barrier.  He said he gave the prayer in class today (in English) and that he suspects he will do that every week since he doesn't contribute much (anything) to the rest of the lesson. :) I had to specify it was in English because of our previous experience here.  Landon was five last time around and barely speaking fluent English, but announced one day after church that he had given the prayer in primary.  We were amazed as he was rather shy about such things at that point in his life, but even more surprised when he told us he gave it in Spanish.  I have no doubt that he thought he did.  I can just imagine how dumbfounded they were by his made up Spanish words which I'm certain sounded as clear to him as their real Spanish did to them.