another big challenge...

from the Abbot's email:

1/7/08

Dear Brother John Baptist,

Blessings to you! I was told the other day that you need a computer in order to study English and that you have only had one class in English since you arrived here.

As you prepare to enter the novitiate here, I want to encourage you to speak with Father Romualdo, even if it means only writing to him in English on e-mail, or asking someone to come with you and translate.

Also, please try to speak with me about once a month.

I will work to get you a computer so that you can study English. Our policy in our Customary says this:

Novices, postulants and candidates generally do not have access to the Internet except on Sundays in order to keep their time of formation more focused on the monastic life.

So your computer would not be hooked up to the Internet, but on Sundays you are still free to use the computer in the Computer Work Room outside of the Accountant's Office.

As you know, I have assigned Brother Lawrence to work with you one day a week on English. Probably this will change to two half days a week, since that would allow him to work more consistently in the Gift Shop as well, but we can work that out with Subprior Christian when he returns home.

I am very happy that you are here in our community. May the Lord bless you as you continue your life here and help you become a very good and holy monk.

Your brother in the Lord,

Abbot Philip


===========================================>>
So, this is it. I am gonna go back to teaching again! The other day, the Abbot already talked to me about the possibility of teaching brother John baptist English. Of course, I am always willing to do any job the Abbot gives me!...So be it. I am gonna start with ABC's on him, then will plunge into syllabification and sentences etc etc...

John Baptist (Vietnamese Postulant) and me during one of our recreations