1. If anyone doesn't know what SALT is all about, please check out http://salt.mcc.org/. Furthermore, check out http://www.mcc.org/ to learn more about Mennonite Central Committee - what they do and where they do it. I am so excited to be a part of their work for a year! Their staff has been great this past week and I look forward to meeting the MCC Indonesia team in several days!
2. If anyone would like to make a donation, please send cheques to:
MCC Canada
134 Plaza Drive
Winnipeg MB
R3T 5K9
The memo line must read " Elisabeth Schrottner - PDA", for Personal Drawing Account.
3. I have changed the settings on here so now anyone can leave a comment on this blog! :)
Lisi
Monday, 13 August 2012
Akron, Pennsylvania
Hello everyone!
Thank you for your continued support and love. I am so blessed to be here!
My week has been awesome. There are 53 SALTers and 29 IVEPers participating in Orientation. The International Volunteer Exchange Program is a counterpart to SALT (Serving and Learning Together) in which young adults from around the world come and work in North America. I have had a great time getting to know people from Laos, Cambodia, Korea, Bangladesh, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Argentina and Egypt. I've also enjoyed getting to know my fellow SALTers from around N. America. This week has consisted of lots of rest, hanging and playing around the MCC compound, sessions on culture and mission, prayer, displays of cultural talent and lots of good Mennonite food! We are wrapping up the Orientation on Wednesday and most of us fly out the next morning. We are going to be in every continent except Europe and Antarctica! It has been amazing to prepare spiritually and mentally with everyone and to be surrounded by similar goals and passions. I can't wait for Re-entry (when we all return to Akron next July) so I can hear stories of crazy adventures and especially how God has worked!
Here is my schedule for the first few weeks in Indonesia, starting Aug. 18th:
1. A few days in Salatiga, Java, home of the MCC Indonesia headquarters, for rest and a "crash language course" in Bahasa Indonesia
2. A week in our placement communities (Yogyakarta, Java for me) with our host families. I am anxious and excited to meet the family, as I have no idea who they are! SALT has a reputation for being ambiguous in the details regarding one's position - which makes life just that much more fun :)
Until next time, may the joy of the LORD be with you all! I hope you are all enjoying your summer!
In Him,
Lisi
Touring the MCC Resource Centre
Thank you for your continued support and love. I am so blessed to be here!
My week has been awesome. There are 53 SALTers and 29 IVEPers participating in Orientation. The International Volunteer Exchange Program is a counterpart to SALT (Serving and Learning Together) in which young adults from around the world come and work in North America. I have had a great time getting to know people from Laos, Cambodia, Korea, Bangladesh, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Argentina and Egypt. I've also enjoyed getting to know my fellow SALTers from around N. America. This week has consisted of lots of rest, hanging and playing around the MCC compound, sessions on culture and mission, prayer, displays of cultural talent and lots of good Mennonite food! We are wrapping up the Orientation on Wednesday and most of us fly out the next morning. We are going to be in every continent except Europe and Antarctica! It has been amazing to prepare spiritually and mentally with everyone and to be surrounded by similar goals and passions. I can't wait for Re-entry (when we all return to Akron next July) so I can hear stories of crazy adventures and especially how God has worked!
Here is my schedule for the first few weeks in Indonesia, starting Aug. 18th:
1. A few days in Salatiga, Java, home of the MCC Indonesia headquarters, for rest and a "crash language course" in Bahasa Indonesia
2. A week in our placement communities (Yogyakarta, Java for me) with our host families. I am anxious and excited to meet the family, as I have no idea who they are! SALT has a reputation for being ambiguous in the details regarding one's position - which makes life just that much more fun :)
3. Return to Salatiga for 6 weeks of language training
4. Return to Yogyakarta to begin working as an English Language Coach and Community Worker for the rest of the year
Until next time, may the joy of the LORD be with you all! I hope you are all enjoying your summer!
In Him,
Lisi
Arrival in Akron - welcome to Pennsylvania Dutch Country!
MCC's "Welcoming Centre" - a small retreat compound of lovely guesthouses. I'm in Asia house
Time well spent in fellowship
The dining room
SALTers having a "campfire"! Sonia going to Indonesia and Erica going to India
Wade, our SALT coordinator, Teddy going to Mexico, Frank going to Bolivia and Erica
Quilting done by volunteers. There are so many devoted workers in this great organization!
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Departure!
Well this is it, I'm off on my SALT adventure and blessed opportunity to serve the LORD in Indonesia! I'm currently sitting at YVR (Vancouver Int'l) and waiting for my flight to Chicago. Eventually I'll end up in Pennsylvania tonight and head to Akron for a week-long orientation session at the MCC headquarters. I am so excited to meet my fellow SALTers from North America before we all head to our respective countries! On August 16th, I will fly with 7 other SALTers to Jakarta Indonesia. Bouncing around between Yogyakarta (my city) and Salatiga (MCC Indonesia headquarters) for a while, I will learn Bahasa Indonesian and settle into the Indonesian context. Then I start my position as an English language teacher and Community Worker! Can't wait :) But for now, I need sleep, a real meal and the peace of God to sustain me through this next time.
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Almost there
I'm leaving Kamloops in 3 days! The past few days have brought about so many new stresses and emotions. It didn't help that the other Indonesian SALTers and I had to suddenly apply for a different single-entry visa on Tuesday! I still don't have my passport back from the consulate in Vancouver, but hopefully Canada Post will do its job well and get it back to me asap!
Aside from not having a passport or visa, there's packing to be done. I've never packed for 11 months before! What do I need to buy that will sustain me for a year and that cannot be bought in Yogyakarta? Should I pack anything that will be damaged by ridiculous humidity levels? Oh dear...
So the excitement is here- yes - but it's seemingly contained at the moment. I am, however, praising the LORD every day for this opportunity to go and serve in Indonesia. Man, he is doing great things everywhere and we need but to recognize this and join in his grand mission! God desires the shalom - peace, justice, righteousness, mercy - that was initially present in every aspect of humanity and his created order. Let's have a heart that beats in time with God's and crave the world that he made so perfectly! I pray that you all, wherever you are, and me in Indonesia will take every chance we get to spread his love and shalom.
Until next time (sooner than last, I promise) and all for God's glory,
Lisi
Aside from not having a passport or visa, there's packing to be done. I've never packed for 11 months before! What do I need to buy that will sustain me for a year and that cannot be bought in Yogyakarta? Should I pack anything that will be damaged by ridiculous humidity levels? Oh dear...
So the excitement is here- yes - but it's seemingly contained at the moment. I am, however, praising the LORD every day for this opportunity to go and serve in Indonesia. Man, he is doing great things everywhere and we need but to recognize this and join in his grand mission! God desires the shalom - peace, justice, righteousness, mercy - that was initially present in every aspect of humanity and his created order. Let's have a heart that beats in time with God's and crave the world that he made so perfectly! I pray that you all, wherever you are, and me in Indonesia will take every chance we get to spread his love and shalom.
Until next time (sooner than last, I promise) and all for God's glory,
Lisi
Sunday, 22 July 2012
18 Days til Departure!
Hello everyone!
This trip is getting closer and closer - am I ever going to be ready??
At least my blog is now set up! I'm looking forward to keeping you all updated on what I am doing during the next 11 months. I am so blessed to have such wonderful support!
Check back with me in the next while and I will have more to say, I promise.
Shalom!
Lisi
This trip is getting closer and closer - am I ever going to be ready??
At least my blog is now set up! I'm looking forward to keeping you all updated on what I am doing during the next 11 months. I am so blessed to have such wonderful support!
Check back with me in the next while and I will have more to say, I promise.
Shalom!
Lisi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)