Pentecost Party

This post dates back to May 3rd. Sorry for the delay -- I'm trying to catch up :-)


At the end of each 6 week English class session, we provide an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) party for our students. This is an opportunity to get to know our students better, meet their family members, and share God’s Word with them.

This session, the party began with fellowship teamed with playing cards and dominoes. Snacks consisted of apples, crackers, ham and cheese, cookies, peanuts, raisins, and the popular homemade “rice crispy bars”.

Volunteers and craft projects welcomed the students’ children. Coloring sheets, crossword puzzles, and crafts kept the little ones busy the entire afternoon.

The English teachers hosted an activity similar to the popular game show “Jeopardy” focusing on things the students learned in class. Topics included “numbers”, “verbs”, “animals” “weather”, etc…. There were even two topics labeled “Helena” and “Julia” to see how well the students knew their teachers. The final bonus round featured the topic “Pentecost”, highlighting the theme of the occasion.

The event concluded with a Bible study led by Pastor Shiloh Monday. A blessed opportunity to share the coming of the Holy Spirit and message of the Savior with all!

[Thank you, Julie, for writing this post. We thank God for both Julie and Polly for their volunteer service as English teachers this last year.]

The Lord bless you with His peace,
NW

Reaching out through English classes

This is just a quick post this morning to thank the Lord that our English as a Foreign Language (EFL) program is off to a wonderful start. We have received over 200 different names of people interested in learning English. Our two Kingdom Worker (more info here) volunteers, Julie Majerus and Polly Clark, together with members of the congregation, have started conducting personal interviews with the first 120 students to get to know them, evaluate their English proficiency, and design the classes to meet their needs.

They are putting in a lot of work, and it is already bearing fruit by God's grace. Already in the interviews, people have asked why we are offering these English classes for nothing more than the cost of materials. Julie and Polly took the opportunity to explain that it is an act of Christian love. "Jesus loves me, and I want to share that love with you by helping you however I can."

I've asked Julie and Polly to "introduce themselves" in a paragraph or two, so you can expect that in another post, coming soon. :-)

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW

Apartment hunting

God is good!

Through the generosity of WELS Kingdom Workers (for more info on WELS KW, click here) and our Christian brothers and sisters who support it, we will be starting an English as a Foreign Language program to "open up" our church to the community.

As we get to know the men and women who come to learn English -- and as they get to know us and see examples of our genuine Christian love -- it creates a natural bridge for us to share the Gospel with them, just as Peter wrote: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope (and love) that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).

More details of the program will come in future posts, but at this time, we ask for your prayers as we look for housing for the two volunteers who will serve as the English teachers. Due to rising costs here in the DR, we are having trouble finding an apartment that is secure, close enough to the church, and within our budget. We trust the Lord will provide what we need, in his time, as we continue the search.

The Lord bless you with his Peace,
NW