connected to doors

"So I just need to remember that 'gozaimashita' is what I say when I'm going out the door. Right. Gozaimashita is connected to doors."

This is how Debi (my girlfriend) made a Japanese language link recently. Debi and Erica came for a week - and this is one of the main reasons why I haven't blogged in a while (beforehand = preparation, here = busy, after = clean up & catch up). It was an incredibly fun and busy week. We spent a lot of time in the flower shop and Debi noticed that sometimes I said "Arigato gozaimasu" and at other times said "Arigato gozaimashita."

Every day, every experience, every conversation brings another step in the language learning process. It hasn't been something I have particularily enjoyed nor gracefully navigated through. However, two Sundays ago, Jon asked me to pray in worship and I realized it was the smoothest, most polished and heartfelt prayer I had said in Japanese. (Gotta celebrate each small victory!) I just try to remember that language is one of the keys which unlocks opportunity in deepening a relationship - that's a personally motivating factor.

Watching Debi and Erica begin that process, too, has been exciting and interesting.