Over the Christmas break Jonathan, Dian and family, who serve in Asia-Pacific at the mission’s national training centre were able to visit Dian’s family that live on another island. It was a blessed time, especially as they will be returning to Europe next month for a year of home assignment, and they are not sure when they will next spend time together.
In recent years, the team at the national training centre in Asia-Pacific has become increasingly aware that they needed to redesign the curriculum so that the students are better prepared and equipped for service. They had intensive meetings in January. The result is a new curriculum with more emphasis on the Bible school, which will now be for three years instead of two. The mission course will now only take one year.
Due to a lack of staff, it was no longer possible to offer the practical electives. The desire and the need for this training was discussed repeatedly but it was not until February that this programme was restarted. Now once a week training is given on using computers, mechanics, music, cooking, and spelling lessons in the national language.
Dian was able to get involved with teaching computer skills and it was a blessing for her to see their enthusiasm and progress.
There was an intense time during which Jonathan and Dian, were both teaching lessons, some of them at the same time. Jonathan about leadership, teamwork and conflict management and several letters of the New Testament. Dian taught about serving as a family.
In April, Dian had to travel to the state capital to apply for her visa for Europe and the homeschool helper who had been a huge blessing for six months, returned to his home country.
In addition, there was also: the successful renovation of a large semi-detached apartment for staff, mission simulation, personnel changes in the management team and among the teachers, and a serious work accident in which a colleague suffered a life-threatening electric shock.
Soon this school year will end, and thirteen young people will complete their training.
Please pray for their transition back to Europe!
The last few months were not easy for them and in many ways, they do not feel ready for departure.