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LANGUAGE
In high school I didn’t really know what my options were regarding electives, so after the requisite 2 years of foreign language (Spanish), I continued…with another year of Spanish and then 3 years of French. Little did I know that I would actually use it, and if so, I would have thought I would use Spanish before I’d use French! But here we are, over a decade later and I find myself in a francophone West African country.
Back in high school I learned to read and write French fairly well, but I never became conversational. Since moving to Togo I’ve been so thankful for a structured background in French grammar, and I took weekly lessons with a local tutor for 7 months. I’ve also used Duolingo to practice and refresh my memory, although I wouldn’t recommend it to someone trying to systematically learn a language.
Practicing in the wild is definitely the hardest but fastest way to learn conversational language skills! At this point I feel like I can catch about 60-70% of what’s being said, depending on the speaker and the subject. (The missionaries are the easiest for me to understand because they generally speak more slowly and I’m familiar with their accent. Hearing a Togolese person speak French is like hearing someone from Mississippi speak English. There’s just an extra level of accent to work around!) I can reply in simple language, but my vocabulary is pretty limited. Thankfully everyone is super helpful and encouraging. French is usually a second language for the Togolese as well; almost everyone speaks a tribal language too. The better educated someone is, the better their French is.
Constantly being around a foreign language is mentally exhausting. The first several weeks we were here I could feel my brain always on overdrive in the background, trying to recall what I knew. And every few weeks I could feel these developmental leaps happening, kind of like what happens in a young developing child’s brain. My head would be so tired from subconsciously trying to translate stuff all the time, then the next week my comprehension would improve and the synapses would fire faster when I tried to make conversation.
Ryan came to Togo with zero French and has somehow managed to function. He gets by with Google Translate, nurses that speak broken English, and lots of gesturing and writing prices on his hand in market. He’s picked up some words here and there, of course, but he’s been too busy figuring out the medical side of things (especially considering that most of his patients here are very sick children, and he’s not trained in pediatrics) to spend much time learning French. I don’t know how he does it, deciphering hand-written notes in a language he doesn’t understand!
It’s been fun seeing the children pick up on things, and I try to practice my simple French on them. Having a French-speaking nanny one day a week has been an asset, for sure, and I’ve been very impressed with Hadassah’s pronunciation!
It’s amazing how many of our English words come from French, and upon reading a paragraph in French you could probably pick out a lot of words you know. The only problem is that something might look the same but sound completely different! Idioms are always fun too. Like…
- to crawl = faire quatre pattes (to do four paws)
- That works! = Ca marche! (Literally, “That walks!” marcher = to walk)
- To keep an eye on = Jetter un coup d’oeil (to throw a cut of the eye)
And I was today years old when I found out that the French term for “midwife” is sage femme (literally “wise woman”).
Je parle seulement un peu français and Désolé, je ne comprends pas! are two phrases that now roll readily off my tongue, although thankfully I don’t have to use them as much as I used to!
(I speak only a little French and Sorry, I don’t understand!)
CHURCH
On Sunday mornings (when Ryan isn’t working) we attend a local French-speaking Baptist church. It’s such a fun and interesting blend of Baptist like we know it from the States and Togolese culture. I always enjoy the singing; many of the tribal languages are tonal so people have keen ears and sing parts quite well!
Sunday evenings there is an English service at the guest house here on compound, and different families take turns planning the services.
Wednesday evenings we go to prayer meeting at someone’s home; I do enjoy being able to walk or bike to prayer meeting under a sky bright with stars! Even with 3 rambunctious children, prayer meeting is a highlight of my week. This stage of life keeps me pretty close to home, but on those nights I get to hear about what other people are doing, how God is working, and how the Gospel is being spread here in Togo. One thing I really appreciate is how we always start with prayers of praise to God for Who He is, along with or followed by prayers of thanksgiving for the things He has done. That’s something too often overlooked, in my experience!
Friday mornings I’m part of a Moms in Prayer group that has been a huge blessing as well. We get together for an hour and a half at someone’s home and focus on an attribute of God while praying for our children and any other needs. It’s always a precious time of fellowship, and the teen girls take turns watching the children. Bless them!
Being Mennonite: I may write a bit in a separate post about what it’s like being a Mennonite at a Baptist mission. If that’s something that would interest you, or if you have any specific questions along that line to help me focus my thoughts, leave a comment below.
If you missed it, check out the previous posts in this series about our life in Togo:
I’d love to hear the difference between your church and the one in Tonga. What you liked about it. Thanks
So enjoyed your letter. We are church planters in George, S Africa with ABWE. Any chance your hubby is working at one of the ABWE hospitals in Togo?
May the Lord bless your dear husband, yourself and your precious little disciples.
In Christ
Sharan Crane
Yes, the Hospital of Hope in Mango!
What about the bunnies?!?
I enjoy your writing and your stories. I’m sure it”s been tough going at times but you are upbeat in handling it all.
I took four years of French in high school. Not much of a speaker of it though. When I went to Belize and was confronted with Spanish, I had a hard time giving answers. It was French words forming in my brain.
God bless you and all those whose lives you touch.
Love reading your updates! Such an amazing experience for you and your children! Love that they are picking up other languages and cultures! I wish you the very best and keep us updated! Hugs and stay safe!
Love hearing about your life in Tongo.
I enjoy reading your posts. I was raised in the Baptist Church and I would really love to hear your comparisons and insight between the Baptist and Mennonite worship. Fyi…I am now and have been for quite some time, a member of the Chrstian Church. Very similar to Baptist but different in some ways. We take communion at every service on Sunday but the Baptist churches I’ve attended only took communion quarterly or monthly.
WOW, 3 children!!! BLESSED!!
GOD is good💖🙌🐑
I would like to hear more about the Mennonite Church and what it is like being a Mennonite attending a Baptist church. I know little about the Mennonites and would like to become familiar with that faith and how it is different from the Amish. Are there Mennonites where you are?
Where we are currently in Omaha there are a couple of Mennonite communities about an hour away in several directions.
I would find it very interesting to hear your thoughts on being a Mennonite at a Baptist mission. When Jesus is at the foundation of our faith, we can worship with all believers.
Thank you for sharing your journey.
Blessings on your family,
Linda
Yes, I’m very curious what it’s been like to be a Mennonite at a Baptist Mission! I so appreciate you taking the time to share your journey!
I found it quite fascinating that you were at a Baptist mission! Yes, that’s not often something you hear from Mennonite background people. I’d love to hear more about that! And I love your comment about your dad teaching you that you can learn from everybody, even non-Ananbaptist churches. That’s, sadly, often not practised among Mennonites.
I would love to hear your thoughts about a Mennonite in a Baptist compound! We had very good Baptist friends when our family lived in Dominican Republic. I remember my dad commenting that they had things we could learn from! My mom let us go to their house regularly for play , and while that was my first introduction to TV, I don’t remember that it was the main focus of our visits there and never anything objectionable 😊
Thanks, Karla! My dad (who was, coincidentally, not Mennonite) always drilled into us children that “you can learn something from anyone, and the moment you think otherwise, you’re too proud.” I’ve definitely found that to be true! We’ve gotten to know some amazing people here.
I would love to read a post about being Mennonite in a Baptist church. I grew up in a Mennonite church in Holmes County and often went to church with my Baptist friends. However, I’m betting my Baptist friends’ church was different from a Togo Baptist church.
Thanks for the input!
I’ve really enjoyed your posts about Africa. Please share more about the differences between Mennonite and Baptist. In my area we have a lot of quite traditional Baptists that are KJV only,some ladies wear head coverings and many wear skirts. What difference is there in scriptural views and practices? Thank you
Thanks for that question! Hopefully I can dive into that!