Elders help parents, teachers
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Four elders in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission have found an unusual way to use their foreign-language capability in service to others.
The four missionaries gave their efforts in translating during parent-teacher conferences recently at the St. Anthony Park Elementary School in St. Paul. They did so at the invitation of principal Thomas R. Foster, who is bishop of the St. Paul 2nd Ward, Minnesota Minneapolis Stake. He spoke at the stake's Hmong Ward recently and, being aware that missionaries strive to devote some time each month to community service, asked if they would be willing to help during parent-teacher conferences."This was a service project that truly benefited our 65 Hmong families with their 133 children attending our school," he wrote in a letter of thanks to Mission Pres. John R. Peterson.
"The majority of our Hmong parents have limited English skills, and, without interpreters, gain very little information about their children's progress at a
parent-teacherT conference. Hiring interpreters is allowed if any can be found. However, there are few available, and most are barely adequate for the job."
He wrote that he was "showered with compliments" from his staff because of the efforts of the four missionaries, Elders Brendaen Makechnie, Matthew Aardema, Derek Sorensen and Thongbanh Manisone.
"They [staff members] were charmed by their friendly and gentlemanly manner and pleased to find how skillful they were in getting Hmong parents to relax and `open up' in the conference," Bishop Foster wrote. "They couldn't believe that such young men could speak such a difficult language so fluently."
He added that during an interim dinner provided by the school's parent-teacher association, he and the elders were questioned about the missionary program and the missionaries' personal backgrounds.
"Needless to say, the impression they left with my staff was very favorable."
