Michael,
Hope you’re doing well. Look forward to talking with you Saturday via email.I wanted to share a thought with you regarding your setting apart blessing. It is your blessing for your interpretation so I hope you don’t mind. I felt I needed to write this to you this morning.When President Kinghorn set you apart he talked about the language and it made you worry that you might struggle. I know you can master the language.You are smart, capable and hard working and you enjoy communicating with people.I think he shared some inspired words that if not followed will cause you to struggle, but if admonished will help you a lot:Two things stood out to me in the blessing regarding learning the language.
1) "Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s dangerous." Michael Llewellyn likes to be the best at things… I love that about you. But, you may not be the best in the class at this… there may be others who are better or appear more eloquent…. DON’T let this hinder your constant motivation and effort to enunciate and learn the language. It’s ok for others to excel at it… don’t compare yourself.
2) Don’t worry about how you sound.You were blessed that you would sound good to the people of Ecuador. Sometimes when we hear ourselves speaking another language we get embarrassed or hesitate because we don’t sound as good or it sounds awkward. You CAN’T learn the language if you don’t speak it constantly… don’t give up, don’t compare yourself, and don’t worry about how you sound. KEEP SPEAKING SPANISH… it’s the only way to get it!You can’t nail a back flip and not look stupid a few hundred times in the process… right… same with language… stay driven! My Spanish is ugly and broken, but I love to communicate with people and so I just go with it.Remember the language is the tool to allow you to share Michael Llewellyn and the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Ecuador.Hope I didn’t say too much.I love you!
Dad