Idaho State Journal from Pocatello, Idaho • Page 29

14-Sodioii'C- Idaho Stole Journal POCATliLLO, IDAHO; FRIDAY, JULY 1071 11 HOURS A DAY Mission language training intensive By BETTY HALE Journal Church Correspondent Each year more lhan 2,000 LDS youth 19-22 must learn a totally new foreign language when they are sent lo servo In foreign missions, and a new, intensive eight-week course is providing a foundation heretofore unavailable. In the past, the missionaries required Ihe flrsl six months to master enough of the language to be useful, and this, say officials, wasted much valuable lime. Establishment of the LDS Language Training Schools is there- suit of a search for a better and faster method of teaching the language to youth. Missionaries learning Spanish, Portuguese, Gorman, Navaho, French, Italian, and Afrikaans attend the language training mission at BYU In Provo, Utah. The Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian languages are taught at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho.

At the Church College in Laic, Hawaiian missionaries study Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Samoan, Tonga, Korean and Tahitian. Talking to missionaries who liave been at the language training mission for only four weeks can be frustrating because in every conversation from the time they arise until they retire they asked to think and speak their mission language. On a typical day they arise at Ga.m. They recite yesterday's three page discussion assignment by memory to their companions before breakfast. By 7:30 they are in the classroom.

Eleven a.m. is time for devotional with songs, prayers and sermons in the mission language. Lunch hour is from 12 to 1 followed by active practice in Studying language retention by discussion, repeating drills aloud in sitting and standing positions. Three days a week they go to the gym for a physical workout at 4 p.m. Dinner is at 5:30.

Evenings are spent in missionary experlencessuchas conducting meetings, giving talks, singing songs and giving prayers-all in the mission language. receive no visitors during their training and are Over 300 LDS missionaries will train in Ricks College classrooms under language in- instructors like Elder Frank L. VanderSloot and other teachers and returned elders this year. Pictured are, from left, Eldars David F. Stewart (behind filing cabinet), Jeffery H.

Summers, Wallace G. Baker, B. Kesler Armstrong, Steven F. Hepworth, Brian L. Stinson, Jerry V.

Soolen, John G. Jongejan, Val W. Dawson, Richard K. Jones. Not pictured is Elder Andrew G.

Mortensen. The group is preparing for a Netherlands mission. instructed to write letters only on Saturday--diversion day and the only day for outside activt- ties. With this intensive eight-week training behind them the new missionary arrives in his mission with a workingknowledgeof the mission language. Dr.

Ermel J. Morton is president of the Ricks College training school where the aries begin learning the lan- guages of Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. The school was organized in February, 1G69. Since that time more than 650 missionaries have received language instruction which means a minimum of 11 hours of classes daily. They learnhowtodiscussGos- pel principles in the language they will use in the mission field, along with general conversation and grammar," Dr.

Mor- ton said. "Work on the Scriptures also Is emphasized." There will be 20 instructors for the missionaries. The teachers include returned LDS missionaries from the various countries and some natives of those countries. Dr. Morton said five to six groups come eachyear.

The missionaries have all their classes in buildings on the Ricks campus. They live in dormitories and have their meals in the school's Congregationalists appoint youth to diaconate positions New Catholic Priest to serve American Falls MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) Ann Magsladt is 15, blonde and bubbly, sometimes even given to girlish giggling. A high school sophomore, she's enthusiastic alxmt skiing-- and also alwut her new duties as a ilunconoss of First Congregational church Ir. suburban Rol- binsclalt'.

Kirk Atkinson, also III and a sophomore, is a deacon at HIE same church. Tho youth rise to office was begun at the 17th annual mooting of First Church, congregation of 7-IG In past years, the meetings frequently had been lio-lmm affuirs, says Pastor George Macaulny. But this time, it was different. What happened reflects a general trend in the churches of most lienominaliuns toward incroaslmj voice for youth, Ijoth at (lie local level and on naliiuml agencies. Younger people ni'o sharing (lie reins.

At (he First Church annual nit'etimv, several high school college students shoved lip for Ihf first time and maitr- themselves hoard. When the nominating committee's slato was wasn't the cut-and-drioil-quick' tlon for acceptance and election. Why, the young people asked, wore none of their age group nominated? Tho board has 18 members and more than one should be a person of student age, tho young people argued. Maybe next year, they were told. "I'm not sure we'll bo inler- osled next year," a high school pupil persisted.

The discussion, recalls tho Rev. Mr. turned into a genuine confrontation, Some of the older persons argued against increased youth representation; others, including A5rs. William Kucthcr, backed (lie young people. Mrs.

Kuethor, a candidate of the nominating committee for a (hree-year deaconess term, withdrew and nsked that a youlh lie chosen instead. Miss Magstadt was nominated. Her election was unanimous. A few days later, I lie diaco- nate receives! another resignation from William Middluton, a holdover member and a deacon or elder for 20 years. "Hopefully, you will appoint one ot our young people to fill my nnexpirod term," he wrolo, The Irani chose young son to replace Middlelon, "I was tickled to death to see the young people ask to serve," says Middleton.

"They can bring vigor and new thought to our church, and learn a lot about our church at the same time." Says Mrs. Kuether: "I see no reason why a young girl can't do as well as I could. How can the young people really got a feeling for the church unless they truly become involved. I was delighted to step aside." Tho licv. Mr, Macaulay says lie can't account for It but there's a new "youth swing" in the parish and he's happy to see it grow.

"The young people hail an interest obviously," lie says. "It wasn't a faddish thing to do. They did it because they meant it, because they had a very understanding commitment to do Deaconess Magsladt says she feels a major need of most churches is "getting more kids interested in becoming a part of (lie clmrcli." She hopes, too, that churches will become involved throughout their communities, "and not just within the parish." FATHER THOMAS FAUCHER New Catholic Priest Father Thomas Faucher has arrived in Pocatello to servo as an Associate Priest in St. Anthony Catholic Parish. Fie will assist Father Francis E.

De- Nardis, Pastor, in parish work and instruction, and will have charge of St. Mary's Parish in American Falls. He was born in Boise, Idaho on October 4, 1944, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard A.

Faucher. Father Faucher entered Mount.Angel Seminary In Ore- gon as a high school student and graduated in 1063. He then entered St, Thomas Seminary in Kenmore, Washington, and graduated in 19G7 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. He later entered the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. as a resident in the Theological College.

In 1970 lie received the Pontifical Degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology, and in 1911 he was granted a Master of Arts Degree in Dug- matic Theology from mat institution. Father Faucher received his Sub Diaconate orders in St, Mary's Parish in Boise, in December, I960, conferred by Bishop Sylvester Treinen. The Diaconate was conferred in March, 1970, at the Theological College in Washington D.C., will) Bishop Edward Herrmann, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, D.C. offieialing. Father Faucher was ordained a Priest this year in the Cathedral of St.

John me Evangelist in Boise by Bishop Sylvester Treinen. During his student years Father Faucher assisted in St. Mary's Parish in Boise, St. Patrick's Parish in Washington, D.C., and atSacred Heart Parish in Bowie, Maryland. He served as a Deacon in St.

Nicholas' Parish in Huperl, and at St. Hugh's in fjreenbelt, Maryland..