ICC
OK, the site seems to be working now… lets try ICC update 5.4
We have spent the last 10 days out in Waxhaw. NC attending the Wycliffe Inter-cultural Communications Course. It has been a challenge and a real growing experience. The classes, teachers, and subject matter is all very good and useful to all who have been or are going to work cross-culturally.
We are gaining insight into our own spiritual vitality, cultural and language acquisition, word view, and interpersonal skills (team building). christian and I attend classes 4 hours each morning and have classes many days in the afternoons. Our afternoon classes are electives such as off-road driving, medical issues and caring for your family in a third world country, MK issues/perspectives, and “field-proofing your marriage” (required class).
(click the above link to see a 1 minute video of us in action at ICC)
We are living in an apartment on the Wycliffe/JAARS base where the classes are held. Our kids are continuing to home school and a new friend, Mrs. Hudson, is coming to stay with them each morning. It has been a stretch for me personally to leave my responsibility of school, basically in the kid’s hands, but they are doing a great job learning and getting the work done independently.
Pray for us as we continue with the next 3 weeks of ICC. We are seeking God’s clear direction through this time for an answer about future ministry.
ICC Week one
freedom of speech
I am sitting here writing this and chuckling to myself. This is the 5th time I have written a newsletter in the last 3 months. I have my doubts that this one will make it to the presses…but I can hope. Writing about what we are doing is not always easy. There is always the pressure of wondering what events in our life is “newsletter” material. It is almost a joke amongst missionaries… but I see it a huge responsibility nonetheless. It has been a responsibility that, at times, has squeezed the life out of me. What do I write? Do I mention the bad stuff along with the good? Nobody wants to know the bad news….does anybody even read this???
I have been given a new lease on writing; thanks to input from people who I know do read our. I used to love to write. I loved to write about everything in our lives. Then someone called me “verbose”. I can say it didn’t bother me, but I shortened our letters. Then we received “training” on how to write our newsletters – write short bits…no one reads them otherwise, they said. I proceeded to make bullet points. Hence, the end of our letters. The job of communicating can be difficult, but it has become downright daunting trying to meet everyone else’s expectations…….
as I look at this rambling, it will probably end up on our blog, not the actual letter, but but it is good to get this out.
Thank you all for your understanding in our lack of communication.
And Nancy, thank you for the encouragement to write again.