Learning Chinese

This is just a recap of how we are progressing with the Mandarin language. We have a board that we write 5 words to learn for the week. (We write a word, then the pronunciation of the word in Chinese and the way it is written in it's Chinese characters).  The following week we add five more new words to the board.  So far we have learned how to say Jehovah, Bible, Genesis, and the numbers 0–10. (Which interestingly, we have noticed that once you know the numbers 0–10 then you know numbers 0 through 99. For example: to say 32 you would say, "three ten two".)  We have also learned other words like "hello" ( Nǐ Hǎo) and "thank you" (xìe xie). 

The bottom right hand corner of the board is how you would write Aimy (top) and Andy (bottom) in the Chinese characters. 

We've also aquired meeting books that have not only the Chinese characters but also the Romanization of the Chinese pronounciation (known as Pin Yin) so that we can sound out the words. Which is awesome and helps out a lot in learning. 

It's awesome how Jehovah wants his people to be well educated. 

We went to the Chinese meeting today but this time we had an English talk and a sister was translating it to Mandarin. 

This hall has 2 English, 1 Chinese, 1 Koren,  and 1 Spanish Congregation. 

We hope to learn enough Chinese before Baby Boca teaches us. ;-)

3rd Trimester!

30 WEEKS!

We can't believe that I'm already at 30 weeks in my pregnancy.  Time does fly! I'm getting bigger as we speak.  Baby Boca is very active and loves to move around a lot.  At a doctor's appointment, we got to hear his hiccups on the Fetal Doppler.  It was so adorable!  We have begun to attend the Child Birth classes in our hospital.  It has really helped us be more informed on what to expect and how to handle whats to come.  We are getting more and more excited/nervous about the time coming up. What has been keeping us busy is setting up our new home.  We have moved in even though the kitchen is still under construction.  The baby room is coming along but still not completed.  It still feels odd for us that we are going to have a baby.  We look at each other while putting away baby clothes and toys and say, "This is so weird.  We're having a baby!"   

Before we moved in to our new home, we got to stay with a family from our hall that has a 6 month old girl and a 3 year old boy.  There we got some serious training.  :-)  I was able to put a crying baby to sleep a few times and was very proud of that.  (Especially since it was not my baby)  Andy too got some training on how to change a diaper for the first time.  (See below)

We have been excited about other developments as well.  As mentioned before, we are learning and helping out in another language field.  We have attended our first Chinese Congregation last Saturday, while they had their CO visit.  We loved it!  Although we needed some assistance from the friends next to us on what scriptures he was telling us to look up.  So we have been teaching ourselves through different apps and through an app that a Chinese sister made.  Then that following night we received a great surprise.  The new JW language app!  We were so ecstatic to see how Jehovah really wants all to reach out to those of other languages, even if its an intro or so.  But this will be of great help with us learning Mandarin.  Now we can practice on the theocratic terms and progress in the ministry with it.  "Ni Hao!"

In addition, we were so excited to see the new JW Broadcasting, that featured our dear brother and our congregation!  We have been pioneering with him and it has been such a privilege. That video barely touched the surface of what he has been through.  You can stay listening to him for hours.  Not only that but he is widely known in the community.  When in the field ministry, people recognize him and are quick to listen.  It's amazing the impact he has on people.  And of course he shows us that you are never too old to serve Jehovah to the full. The video seen was originally made for the delegates that came to Seattle for the International Convention, but then the Branch saw it and wanted to share it with all!  Did you catch a glimpse of Andy and I in the video?

(Front row on the right)

At our Circuit assembly with friends from our hall, including Burt at the bottom