In my life of almost, now, seventy years I have been privileged to have some (many) cross my path whom I call “Friends.” I spell that with a capital letter in that I honor them above all else. My closest friend refers to me as “Dearest Friend.” She got that from a book about one of the Presidents of the United States… perhaps Andrew Jackson’s wife called him by that title. At any rate, my own dear wife calls me that from time to time – in written form. So, I shall start with Deborah W. Harrold, truly my Dearest Friend.
Funny about friends isn’t it? They’re always around, through thick and thin. Of course, the Bible mentions a friend, “… who sticks closer than a brother.” I imagine that must be Jesus, for in fact He is the basis of all friendships one may develop. Even, He’ll likely tap you on the shoulder, kind of like Jiminy Cricket, and say, “Hey Pinoke’… remember that ‘bad guy’ I was telling you about? Well, there he is!”
I’ve known Jesus to make me aware of things and people I might otherwise have taken for granted – or, a perceived face value.
So, I thank God for my Dearest Friend. He has provided me with others. I will proceed from there.
Brother Stephane’ (He’s the guy on the front page!)
A blessing… In français:
Note: 4 May, 2017 Begin English Language training
Brother Valdas – From Lithuania
Begin training:
Familiarity w/ NH
- meet @ train station 08:45 (get 60€ cash for day).
- take to home – coffee danish … walk along river “coffee walk)”
- to house – look over Bro. Stephan’s info. (Mass liturgy, etc.) pray, now. See what Valdas actually knows.
- work on common words- items in the room
- 11:30 – break for lunch – DaNico’s (Italian language? – what else?)
- Home, to review – set pace – practice lines for next meeting – Thursday May 11.
- Bus 14:35… 16/30
Summary: All mass items covered – last two lack the “body” of the readings.
- Breakfast / coffee / walk @ home – intro.
- Studied first Mass & cadence of style till 11:30 – then to DaNico’s. Lunch till 14:00
- Studied 3rd & 4th Mass & communion lingo & benidiction – made pronounciation notes on all – Note: LACK “BODY” OF LAST TWO SUNDAYS.
- Departed for bus @ 16:10 – bus @ 16:35
PLAN FOR 2nd SESSION
Thursday
April 11, 2017
08:45 – 16:00 (bus @ 16:30)
- Coffee / danish @ home – river walk. Lean in direction of MORE conversational English.
- Study Masses – and missing portions.
- DaNico’s – lunch @ 11:30
- Review/rehearse Masses/Eucharist/Benediction
NOTE: Prior to meeting – establish, w/Stéphane, the use of recorded sound/video/live interaction w/ Valdas
SUMMARY
A great day with brother Valdas.
He arrived at 08:40 and was seen at the front of the bus ready to exit as the bus pulled in to the stop.
He wished to have a butter croissant instead of the Schneckennuss so I provided such and drove him home, we had coffee and then proceeded to walk the length of of the river. We talked much going and coming and are progressing with new English words. I have provided work notebooks and a large notebook for him to keep the new words in.
Our work today centered on the mass, communion, and the closure of the mass. He is readily mastering various words that he had trouble with last week.
I have instituted a handheld recorder to give him a tape and the recorder to take home with him and study during the week. As well I will connect my computer with his this week so that we can converse on these various mass issues.
We had lunch at the house – I used the pan fryer on the BBQ grill from the shop to prepare the meat. I sliced steak meat and duck breast and provided that and a salad with sliced cheese and bread, he ate voraciously and had also some red wine, several glasses, which he felt able to consume because we were not running up a tab on these items.
I am glad to do this. I am providing some joy to a very important brother in Christ. God will do with this what he will.
Bro. Valdas left on the 14:35 bus, instead of the 16:35. The later would have been better for our purposes. Next week, 16:30.
Next week I hope to follow the same pattern to some degree. But, covering all of the mass in the writings that brother Stefan has given us to learn. The restaurant may be called for next week, perhaps the Panoramaweg, where we could spend some time going over our accomplishments and setting a course for the future weeks.
END
18/May. 3rd session
Normal pace for morning: bus/breakfast/coffee/walk
Morning study till 11:30 – met w/ Bro. Helmut @ DaNico’s for lunch.
Mostly Helmut talking – mostly Deutsch
Afternoon study -usual
Recorded some of the mass for review (Tom’s old mini-cassette recorder)
Departed @ 16:30
4th session
Tuesday. May 23 (Nathan to arrive Wed. pm)
09:00 – 16:30
Morning
Coffee/croissant/walk
Study – 11:30 start lunch
Talked about: grill/fire/chicken/corn on cob
Corn dishes/knife set from Deb’s grandfather.
Afternoon
Study & record rest of mass
5th Session
June 1. Thursday
PLAN
Normal morning: bus/coffee & croissant/ walk & talk – ENGLISH
P/U Deb’s car – start walking and conversing @ 11:00 – car/lunch – maybe at the “carnivore place” – meat platter/wine/beer(s)
Afternoon – usual study – look at whole mass for Aug. 6 service.
6th Session
June 8
PLAN
Ditto – above
Lunch: hamburgers/hot dogs on grill
14:Valdas sliced potatoes- asked to do so:
“Can I help?”
‘Is this OK?”
Session went well ~ 08:45 to 16:30
Much English acquisition and use. Good progress all around.
7th Session (w/ Stéphane attending)
June 15
(08:00 – 17:45) – Deb came home @ 16:45, met and conversed w/ Valdas – sat and talked w/ Stéphane and Valdas – a humming moth came to visit- we all conversed over that.
Note: Stéphane seems troubled over Valdas’ handling of the service (we rehearsed @ the chapel) – placement of communion items;proper folding of the hands; some pronunciation- holy not holly, and so on.
Lunch was two bags of chicken wings (grill) and salad. Much discussion (German) during my cooking. After lunch, Stéphane slept on lounge chair (schnapps poured on cake did that) – Valdas and I smoked pipes, spoke of many things (past, present, & future tense). We two walked up the river – conversing in English all the way – plants, American lack of tolerance for unpasteurized milk (Valdas likes it straight from the cow, or sheep, or goat).
Summary: Overall, a good “session.” Stéphane contributed some angst with his “pickiness”, but Valdas seemed to take it in stride.
8th Session
June 20
Valdas to arrive on the 8:30 bus – Stéphane at 11:00 or so.
Breakfast/walk/all Masses – then to church w/ Stéphane.
Lunch: Grilled bratwurst, sliced potatoes, salad. They should depart at about 16:30, as Deb is due back about 17:00 or so.
