Posada Infantil

This year, our mission congregation, Cristo Resucitado, hosted several special activities for Christmas.  I had the joyous privilege to design the invitations and posters for the special events.  We had them printed at a local print shop right across the street from the mission. Then we gave the invitations to all our congregation’s prospects, English students, friends, and neighbors.

The first event was the End of Session/Christmas Party for the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students.  We had a full house and WKW Joel Hering taught everyone how to play Bunko. (Note to fellow Bunko players: I ended up being the winner with only 1 loss!)

Another event targeted a younger audience, the children, a Posada Infantil — similar to a Christmas for Kids night.  Upon arrival, they registered and were assigned to a group (0-7 yrs old or 8+).  We had several Christmas coloring sheets, words searches, and crossword puzzles to keep them busy until more arrived.  The parents stayed to set up the snack table and help with crafts as they watched their little ones enjoy the activities.

We began the first session, 45 minutes late, which is quite common.  The younger group went with Pastor Brad to learn more about the Christ-child, while the older ones stayed with Heidi and me to make bastone de navidad — candy cane pins with safety pins and beads.  A few of the adult English students came to help with the project.

An hour later, we switched groups.  As the older group participated in an interactive devotion about Jesus’ birth and the little ones came to Heidi and me, full of excitement.  We began making candy canes out of red and white pipe cleaners. Then they moved onto a door-hanger project using Popsicle sticks, colored paper, markers, pipe cleaners, and foam stickers.  Nate presented the story of the candy cane to both groups with a handout.

Towards the end of the evening, everyone gathered together to sing Silent Night in Spanish and English.  Then it was time for snacks.  One of the families brought a malt machine with enough ingredients for everyone.  The Chocomil — chocolate milk is a type of milkshake in various flavors.  It was delicious.  Many of the families brought drinks and holiday favorites. Our homemade Christmas cookies disappeared right away.

We invited all the children to come back the next morning to sing in church.  Then all 37 children received bags of candy with the book, “God’s plan of salvation for the world”.  We also gave them sticks of sugar cane as they were heading out the gate.

A wonderful night of fellowship with some new contacts as well as many familiar faces and opportunity to share the joyous story of Jesus’ birth.

 

Substitute

Last week, I was a substitute English teacher.  I taught three English conversation classes for Ryan, one of our mission’s WELS Kingdom Workers volunteers, and loved every minute of it!

In the past, I have taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Ashikaga, Japan; Blantyre, Malawi; Santiago, Dominican Republic; and Torreón, México. I also served as a tutor and summer teacher for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program (which recently received non-profit status as English Language Partners of Wisconsin) at Gethsemane Lutheran Church located on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Each of these opportunities gave me valuable experience in teaching and working with others in different cultures.

It is interesting how the students interact differently within conversation activities. The students of one class may find a comment or question hilarious and when I try it out on the next group, I receive stone cold stares.  Well, that may be a bit extreme, but I continually learn new things from each class and adapt accordingly.

One thing all my classes in León had in common is that they immensely enjoyed the activity “12141″.  At first, I ask the students to guess what those numbers mean. “A zip code?”  “A phone number?”  “A code?”  Then I add, “one to one for one” on the whiteboard. Several giggle and understand the homonyms of two/to and four/for.  Now, some guess it is a proverb-”we are all one and will help each other.”  Then I add, ” one person to one person for one minute” on the board. I still get puzzled looks. I demonstrate how this is a conversation activity and they catch on immediately. I write the theme of the conversation on the board. “Today, we will discuss ‘what things or activities help you study English’.” Then the students line up in two rows facing each other. I call out, “on your mark, get set, go!” They discuss what things have helped them study English in pairs. When one minute has passed, I yell “change” and one row advances so each student has a new partner, until the next minute passes and they change again. This continues until each student has talked to everyone in the class. Often, if there is an odd numbers of students, I will participate with the group. I have found that this activity is a great way for students to interact with one another while gaining confidence, and it’s a lot of fun!

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I am extremely thankful for this teaching opportunity and enjoyed being back in the classroom.

 

“Catarstrophic Disaster!”

Tonight, I received an email from a good friend and former English student from Japan. The title of his message was “Catarstrophic Disaster!”

He writes:

“Please forgive me for telling the following gloomy stories.

As you know, Japan have been facing with tremendous crises. The catastrophic disaster by earthquake and Tsunami is indeed an unspeakable nightmare. In addition to these, radioactive trouble is the biggest crisis trouble now.

My house (or my shed) is located in next to the Fukushima Prefecture where is located the nuclear power station and in about 160 km to the Southwest from that power station.

By a wind direction, the influence of radioactivity is reported in our prefecture too. Many kind of vegetables, large areas’ soils, mushroom, fish and so on are contaminated by radioactive material.

These power station will be scrapped. It is said that it will take several months at least to shut radioactive materials into the power station.

As of April 5, the numbers of victims are more than 12,000 and the numbers of missings are more than 17,000. It is said that there will be many unreported missing people yet.

We are now receiving assistance of many other countries including USA. We are encouraged strongly by their assistance. Thank you so much!”

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The photos are of friends, English students, students from Bible studies, congregation members, and prospects during my time as a WELS Kingdom Workers volunteer in Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi-ken, Japan in 1998-1999.

Please continue to remember and pray for the souls in Japan that their physical needs are met, but more importantly that they find spiritual peace in Jesus.

Click here to view an episode of Lifeline updating you on WELS Christian Aid and Relief’s work in Japan.

 

Un Día de Amor

This Saturday, Mexico’s recent seminary graduate married a former WELS Kingdom Workers’ volunteer in Puebla, México.

Kerry & Jorge - February 12, 2011

Pastor Jorge and Kerry met in the summer of 2008, when Kerry arrived to teach English in Torreón while Jorge was studying at the IELC’s seminary. Both activities were held on the same property. In January of 2009, I had the pleasure of teaching English with Kerry and also meeting Jorge.

Kerry & Jorge  – January, 2009

After a year of service, Kerry returned to finish her studies at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota and graduated this past December.  Jorge completed his seminary training and graduated last month. This month they were married and will move to Mahahual, Quintana Roo to serve a new mission.

Kerry & Jorge with his Family

… he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”   Matthew 19:4-6

Please keep Pastor Jorge and Kerry in your prayers as they begin their new life and ministry together.

Follow their blog updates at http://kerryinmexico.wordpress.com/

 

Miles Apart, Still Close to My Heart

I want to personally thank all of you for the birthday greetings-Facebook messages, emails, phone calls, and e-cards.  It is a wonderful blessing to hear from all of you around the world-Mexico, Ukraine, Japan, Norway, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, China, Malawi, Colombia, Hong Kong, and the USA.  It really makes me feel not-so-far away.

I also received a couple birthday cards via snail mail.  The amazing part is that they not only arrived in less than a month, but also with a $0.44 stamp. The current international postage rate to Leon, Mexico for a regular size letter is $0.79.

A special treat was an e-mail greeting “Tanjyo Bi Omedeto Gozaimasu” from a friend named Kei-san who lives in Japan. He attended our English classes in Oyama and stayed afterward to study the Bible with one of the missionaries. Kei-san has traveled the world studying English and continues to keep in touch.

He sent this picture of my teaching partner, Marcie (Tillema) Kieckhaefer, and me touring Coco Farms Winery in Ashikaga, Japan — 13 years ago.

I did have a wonderful birthday.  Nate surprised me with two bouquets of flowers-one of African daisies and the other of red roses.  The roses included a beaded necklace and a pair of earrings.

 

Christmas Series – Part 2 – EFL Party

This month our mission hosted a Christmas Party in a nearby park for over 100 English students and visitors. The fun began by decorating a Christmas tree.  The previous week, English teachers-WKW volunteers Ryan Kolander & Tim Patoka-had asked each student to bring an ornament or other decorations to share.

Then we moved onto the potluck meal full of tortillas, pastas, salads, crackers, salsas, chips, oranges, vegetables, hot dishes, cakes, tortes, cookies, and so much more brought by the students.

Seminary student Gerardo was in charge of grilling chicken, sausages, chili peppers, quesadillas, and anything else put on the grill.

The rest of the afternoon was full of games, including egg relay races-on a spoon, on a knife, on your back…

The kids, and even some adults, enjoyed trying to break open the large piñata full of candy.  The piñata has several different historical traditions behind it. In Mexico today, however, the piñata seems to have lost those historical meanings and is purely fun entertainment at fiestas throughout the year, especially during Christmas.

Piñata - Before

We did manage to sneak in a few toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste (donated by stateside supporters) into our piñata this year!

Piñata - After

The day was a great event for the students to practice their English with our mission team as well as a time for us to get to know the students better while welcoming opportunities to witness our faith in Jesus-the Reason for the Season!

 

Crossing Paths

Almost two weeks ago, we welcomed another group of visitors, the Sadlers.  Ben Sadler graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary-Mequon, Wisconsin this past May and was assigned to serve as pastor in Orlando, Florida.

Ben and his family came to México for a brief immersion into Latin culture and language.  His wife, Emily, is currently taking language classes.  They spend the rest of their time putting the Spanish lessons into practice all around the city.

The Sadlers

It is amazing how ministry paths cross!  Ben and I met several years ago after he served as a WELS Kingdom Workers volunteer in the Dominican Republic (DR).  Upon his return to the US, we worked together as I scheduled mission presentations and he presented the work in the DR. We also bumped into each other at different activities with Southside Ministries-a Spanish ministry serving prospects and members in southern Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This 2009-2010 school year, Ben served as a senior vicar at my home congregation, Immanuel-Campbellsport, Wisconsin, where he got to know my parents.

Our most recent connection was at the “Taller Mequon-México” this past January in Puebla, México.

During their visit here in León, I found out Emily graduated from the same high school as I, Winnebago Lutheran Academy-Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, but quite a few years later than me. We did figure out her sister graduated a year behind me.