Needless to say, our time was explosive, but not of the nuclear variety...more along the lines of the love and power of Jesus Christ!
English Classes Wrap - Up
As you were aware from previous emails, we went to Ukraine to serve and minister to the people there by offering FREE English classes by native English speakers. In case you did not know....if you are a native English speaker, you are a hot commodity to foreigners who are so hungry to learn our native language. In my last update I had shared about the large amount of students we were already seeing come to classes...it was amazing! The enthusiasm and interest by the community was overwhelming. Not only were the students excited about English, but they were so grateful that we were giving the classes for free and with lots of love!
We were working with the Youth With a Mission Base in Ternopil, which was established over 15 years ago and is really a “centre” of Christian Ministry for the city of Ternopil. Very wisely, the English classes were advertized in the newspaper and all around the city and for the entire month we were able to serve and reach out to over 100 students, many of whom we and the other missionaries at the base developed strong relationships with. So many of the students truly improved their English skills in such a short time, and as Armand, an African student studying at the Medical University in Ternopil said, “The best thing that has happened to me this week is feeling more confident in being able to have an English conversation. I can say and understand things now that a few weeks ago I could not.” One of my students, Galena,
who is a doctor
Our team had the opportunity to love these people with Jesus’ love by teaching English Grammar – who would have thought!!!!!
For me this was a very valuable experience, in seeing how our practical skills, whatever they may be, serve as one of our greatest gifts and investments into the lives of others who are needing those things that we might see as common. My understanding of evangelism and outreach to foreign people groups has expanded in seeing how many things we can offer and serve to people in a spirit of true love through teaching the English language. Many of our students dream to someday study in English universities, gain higher paying jobs because of their English skills, become English teachers themselves, and my personal favourite: go into English speaking nations as missionaries!
In our classes we were training future and present doctors, business people, children, missionaries, ministers of the Gospel, high school teachers, children from orphanages, etc. What a blessing to meet and relate to such a wide variety of people....people who God loves and longs to be one with through Jesus Christ! It all starts with loving relationships!
The icing on this cake was certainly on the final night of classes. As teachers we decided to throw a big party and encourage conversation, photos, goodbyes and the whole bit! We had a short program where we thanked the students and presented our translator and co-labourer, Tamara, with a gift and card. We had students share some of their English accomplishments, such as the Hokey Pokey song (lol!) and some advanced students read a famous speech. To our surprise the students took over and presented us teachers with flowers, a very official certificate and a Ukrainian gift. We were so amazed and BLESSED! Many hugs and tears were had and our good-bye’s were said!
Lots of laughter.....here is our translator, Tamara (full time missionary) to my right and Oles (missionary to India) to my left.
We will continue to believe God to complete His good work in each one of the student’s lives. He is faithful to do so!
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR PRAYER, LOVE AND SUPPORT! More posts to come following this one.....trying to break it down into bite size peices for you all :)
In His love,
Allison
For a fuller photo album, please click on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=451221&id=741610340&l=27e8653a82
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