CANADA AND TORCHBEARERS
In Mid-January I travelled back home to Abbotsford for a visit while Steve & Jen, Directors of Torchbearers Yamanakako, were back in Canada. It was a good time for me to connect with my supporters and church family; and to start preparing for my return to Canada at the end of my term with SEND Int. in August. On March 9th I returned back to Torchbearers Yamanakako in Japan.
While I was home I enjoyed reconnecting with the members of my home church in Canada. The past two years the church has gone through a lot of changes. As The Life Centre seeks the Lord, I pray they receive a clear vision regarding its future.
I have been asked by a supporter what my future plans are in relation to Japan. Right now I know at the end of my term I need to be back in Canada and engage in the church and serve my community to the best of my ability. I believe that using my teaching experience in Japan and the opportunity to return to school is a means for me to have a good career back in Canada.
When I returned to Canada from Japan in 2007 I didn’t transition very well; I do not want this to happen to me again. So while I was home in January I knew it would be best for me to start making plans for my return. I applied to Columbia Bible College (CBC) in their 13 credit Education Assistant Program; I believed that this could be a very good fit with my teaching experience and I was accepted to attend CBC this fall. This is an opportunity for me build on the education I already have without committing a lot of time and money to additional studies. With the completion of this program I see the potential for me to work in two areas, either with students whose second language is English or with students that require assistance to be successful in school.
In April, Torchbearers Yamanakako has received more staff; two individuals have come from the United States for six months and another has come from India for two months. They have already been a great addition to our community; they have made the daily work load much lighter for the Torchbearer staff, enabling us to work on other projects for the Centre.
This month on May 7th, the Torchbearers Yamanakako school season began; it runs until July 4th. I am looking forward to a fun season of serving the students and providing hospitality to them while they attend classes by guest lecturers.
Please Pray
For my focus to be here at Torchbearers in Japan even though it is necessary for me to start making plans for school and work in the fall.
That the students will learn as much as they can during the two months they are studying in Japan.
