Just got my mission Call...Need Help

[shammo16]

I obviously just got my call and am needing any advice anyone who has recently returned has

[Richard Davies]

Have you looked through the other posts in the Newly Called forum? You should be able to find some helpful information from answers to questions that others have already asked. Otherwise, you may get a better response by asking a more specific question...   

[shammo16]

i guess so.. my bad...anyways i'm looking as to find an english to bulgarian dictionary to start studying. where did you find one or is your advice to find one? (specifically a pretty large dictionary)

[Blindspot]

You can download an electronic dictionary for free from

http://www.thediction.com

But be careful.  There are things about Bulgarian that you can't learn from a dictionary.  Most words have multiple meanings and it is very easy to use the wrong word for a given situation.  Also, the way a word is pronounced, including where the accent falls in the word, doesn't come through in a dictionary.  Without having someone to teach you how to use those words in the dictionary, you could be creating some bad language habits that you'll have to un-learn later.

Having said that, I applaud your desire to get started.  My advice, however, would be to place your precious preparation time reading the scriptures, going on splits with your local missionaries (don't they call them exchanges or some such now?) and generally preparing yourself spiritually.  That will be of the most worth to you.  I'm not saying the language isn't important...on the contrary.  I'm just saying you might want to wait to till you get to the MTC to hammer it.  If you do want to learn something, I recommend simply starting with the alphabet.

http://www.phespirit.info/alphabet/bulgarian.htm

May the Lord bless you in your preparations.  You are coming to a wonderful country and will face many unique challenges.  If your heart is in the right place, your mind will follow.

[Brinton]

I second what Blindspot said....don't worry about the language so much as the gospel side of things.  You will get plenty of language training in the MTC, and your best language training will come in the field while talking with real Bulgarians.  (Let me tell you how great it is to hear "chist Bulgarski" spoken by "istinski hora!!")

As for dictionaries, I would wait till I was in country to buy anything language realted, there just is not a very good selection in the US.  If you are going to buy a book buy the <i>Teach Yourself Bulgarian</i> from the Teach Yourself Series.  It's basic converstaional stuff and you can learn the alphabet too, which will be very helpful.

My advice would be to get really good shoes, with traction on them and good arch support.  If your shoes fail, you will be miserable as a person can be.  I had shin splints the first 3 months of my mission because I had crappy shoes.  It was not fun.

[Blindspot]

Oh yeah!  Good shoes.  Something with a sole that will last and is very supportive.  Bulgaria is a walking mission.  There are no bikes or cars.  The mission has a few for mission business, but you'll take public transportation for everything and walk a lot.  It's just a fact of life.  Get something sturdy and comfortable.  Nothing delicate.  I brought over a nice pair of leather-soled shoes and abandoned them after one week.  Get something with good rubber soles (but that aren't ugly.  They should still be something you would wear to Church in a suit).  I believe the info packet says two pair (at least it did in 1992 - was it really that long ago?) and that's good advice.

Follow that packet and you'll be ok.  And read through the other posts on this forum.  They have a lot of good advice.

This is a great mission.  I currently live here and I love the branches.  You will love it too.

[bulgarboy]

Your best bet if you want to learn some Bulgarian before you get into the MTC is to find someone who knows it (a returned missionary or even a native Bulgarian) and have them guide you in the learning process. 

While I agree with the others that spiritual preparation is paramount to your success as a missionary, as a member of the Church that should be a natural part of your daily life anyway.  It really wouldn't hurt to put some focus on the language side of it, because that will ease some of the stress for the first week or two of the MTC, which will allow you to learn how to teach the Gospel without being constantly overwhelmed by learning Bulgarian.

My wife and I are preparing to do an internship in Bulgaria this fall for One Heart Bulgaria, so I've been teaching her Bulgarian.  It's a difficult task, but if you have any questions as you try to learn it, you can email me at tony@citihealth.com.

[shammo16]

Man I Appreciate Everyones input. Anyways what are some books that you recommend i read before i get out there?

[Brinton]

Like I said,  "Teach Your Self Bulgarian" from the Teach Yourself Langugae series is a really good conversational starter

If you want to know a bit about the history of Bulgaria I recommend "A Concise History of Bulgaria" by RJ Crampton.

You can get both on Amazon.com

[Brian]

I got my call in May. I report to the MTC on October 1, so I have a bit of a wait. Glad I had Russian classes in elementary school. Don't remember too much of the language, but I remember the alphabet fairly well, and that'll help out