This past Saturday, I went to a birthday party for a family that just moved into our ward a couple of months ago. Their daughter was turning 1 year old, and they invited us over to celebrate. I had a great time, and spent about 3 hours of that time next to a cute middle-aged couple from Bolivia who spoke little English. It was a chance to use my Spanish.
I served a Spanish speaking mission and returned home about 11 years ago. It’s gone by fast. Immediately after my mission, I got jobs that were Spanish speaking positions for me, and was able to keep up my Spanish pretty well. Then, with the birth of my first child in 2006, I stopped working, and stopped speaking Spanish. Whenever I have the opportunity to speak it, I don’t always take it. I guess I have become a little shy about speaking it when I am so rusty. But, my husband is a great example of determination.
He was also called to a Spanish speaking mission and learned Spanish in the MTC. He had a back injury that prevented him from ever making it into the mission field. He has never given up hope of learning Spanish. He is not afraid to speak it whenever he has a chance, including speaking to his patients he sees at work. He takes every opportunity that comes his way, so why don’t I?
I’m not sure what it is, but speaking it this past Sunday, made me miss the culture, and the love that I have for the hispanic population. They are so kind, patient, and humble, and getting to talk to this couple reminded me of that. And, I wasn’t as bad at speaking Spanish as I thought I would be. I was able to carry on a conversation about a myriad of topics for almost 3 hours! I have to admit my brain hurt a little bit afterwards, but it was more fun than work.
The man that I spoke to encouraged me to speak it at home to my children and to my husband. I don’t know why I find that so difficult, but I do. It’s just so much easier to not have to think about every word spoken when trying to communicate in every day life. But, I do cherish the ability to speak Spanish, and hope that I don’t ever stop. After all, I do feel that it was a gift from the Lord to be able to learn it, and I don’t want to take that gift for granted.
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