May 2010

Dear family and friends,



We are over half way done our TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training here at YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Discovery Bay. Wow – it has already been crazily intense, to say the least! We are learning an entire 4 month semester in 5 weeks...so we have been in the books and producing lesson plans and assignments intensely!


Highlights

Here are some highlights that are apart from the studying, note-taking, homework and presentations I have been up to! Some of them may seem trivial, but are all so special to me and know God has caused them to come to pass simply because He is good and He loves me!

- Clam digging/Goe Duck Hunting – one of the Camp Directors gave us a lesson in clam digging down at the beach front of the camp before he left for China. I was able to be a part of making homemade clam chowder....from the shell, as well as the adventure of digging for Goe ducks – we caught quite a few and a family on base had fresh sushi – mmmmmm!!

- Olympic National Park – our class took a Saturday morning and all chipped in for gas, etc. and went to the mountains, which are about 45 minutes away. There was so much snow – it was a shocker....our Mongolian friend gave each of us a face-wash like I have never experienced. What passion for snow!

- Provision – in the last number of weeks there have been two more families that shared with me that God has impressed on them to commit to support me (Word of Life Missions Director) and our work on a monthly basis – Praise be to Jesus! We are not far from the 12 committed monthly partners!! Luke 8:3...!!
(Also...the complete amount for tuition for our 5 week training also came in for the glory of the Lord! Woohoo!!! )

What is to come:

We have two and a half more weeks remaining of training and then we have the opportunity to go to Ukraine and volunteer teach for one month. This will allow us to complete our required hours of practicum teaching, which we need to receive our diploma’s as TESOL instructors.

This is not only a great way for us to get our practicum hours done in a short time, but mostly it is a means to go and serve the people of Ukraine (Turnopil) and see them advance in the skill of English, which for many of them is what they are working on to advance in work and school.

We will be working with the Youth with a Mission base in Turnopil and will be offering our classes for free out of their base. Each one of us going is required to have full support for all of our travel, work, and stay so that it is no cost to the Ukrainian people, and rather that it be a blessing to them.

We are definitely starting to get very excited about serving, loving and blessing Ukraine. Because of some of the common national issues : poverty, human-trafficking, many orphaned children, etc. we are also hoping to help and serve in various outreaches that are taking place there in our spare time.

If you are passionate and prompted to help with the Ukraine project, please contact me. We are hoping to buy more English curriculum to leave in Ukraine for resources.



Praise report/prayer

- My new guitar – God spoke to a dear friend to give me their Seagull guitar that has been an instrument of worship in many nations already. This happened about a month ago, but I am still in awe at Jesus’ gift in this!

- God’s faithfulness – again to give God the praise for providing the resources to take this training – that the entire amount for tuition and my flight to Seattle all came in good time!

That’s ALL!

So...for now...that is it.

Your prayer is always more than welcome...as we keep moving forward with all God has for this year...to be a witness of Jesus and His love in 12 nations of the world! Nothing is impossible for those that believe!

Love you all and am so thankful for each of you and am praying for you all regularly :)
Allison