Tina Update

It's been a couple days since we've written an update, but we have received many encouraging words from people back home who are praying for Tina.  Thanks!  Her symptoms are improving day by day, and she is getting lots of rest at the home where she's staying for the time being, and also eating to make up for lost time.  Her attitude has been amazingly patient, and she is realistic about what might be involved in a recovery scenario.  The return visit to the doctor is on Monday. 

We just got back from spending the day (after language lessons, that is) at a small American school that represents quite a variety of nationalities.  The team was in charge of several hours' worth of activities with the high schoolers that included skits, music, games, sharing life testimonies, sports, and serving an American meal (German hot dogs from a jar....hmm....).  It's amazing how quickly friendships can develop - and the comment was made that Facebook makes it so much easier to stay connected with new friends.

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Lisboa

Here we are, three days after arrival, though it feels like a week’s worth of experiences has been packed in to a very short time, and it’s hard to know where to begin.  Because we are being housed in a building that serves as both a theological training center – and a dorm - for Portuguese seminary students, our ICS students are quickly making friends with some of the young men and women who are attending the school.  The evening after our arrival, some of these students treated us to an impromptu guided tour of the local metro train system and trip to a beautiful historical town called Sintra, dating back to the Moorish occupation centuries ago.  The climate and vegetation around us give the feel of Southern California, but the similarities end there.  Lisboa, the Portuguese way of saying and spelling “Lisbon,” is modern, yet has old-World charm; busy, yet slower-paced; the food familiar, but different.  The café (coffee) and pastries beg to be sampled in nearby coffee shops (and have been).

Monday morning, the students began what will be a daily routine for two weeks:  a beginning course in the Portuguese language, taught by a lovely instructor named Minna.  They’re diving in with enthusiasm, and throughout the rest of the day, you will find them practicing what they’re learning with people they meet.  The biggest challenges are the pronunciation rules:  why does that same letter sound like a “sh” in that word, but a “z” in this one? Why learn a language for such a short stay (in case you’re wondering)?  Even a few phrases and words of greeting will help build relationships here and in Portuguese-speaking Mozambique in a few weeks, plus it serves as a language-learning “lab” experience for languages these students will learn in future years.

The schedule for the week includes things like cultural orientation lectures, visits to some local Christian ministries and churches, and preparing for presentations and organized activities that will be carried out later this week.  Our wonderful hostess and organizer, Vicky, is making sure that we don’t miss out on any valuable learning experiences while we’re here.  She and her husband, Tom, are with us almost 24/7 despite their own busy teaching schedules.

We want to share a major concern with you so that you can be praying.  One of our students, Tina, wasn’t feeling very well when she left on the trip, but it seemed like she was on the mend from an ordinary sore throat and would soon be better.  But after our arrival, the fatigue from the travel brought things to a head, and a very sick-feeling Tina had to be taken for medical treatment.  She was tested for, and found positive for mononucleosis.  The best treatment, of course, is rest and being isolated from the group; not anything we would wish for a social, enthusiastic member of our group.  We know that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and we trust Him to show us how best to take care of her.  Tom and Vicky have graciously opened their home for her to stay in for an initial recovery time.  So, as of yesterday, Tina is staying with them, and each day and night, we are rotating one of the other girls from the team to keep her company and to help her get down soothing foods and drink. We are thankful for the loving hands to take care of her and a homey place to stay.

Going, going, gone to Portugal

We've safely arrived in Lisbon, Portugal after our overnight flight to Amsterdam, and then on to Lisbon, just a few hours ago!  We were met at the airport by a couple of instructors from the Baptist Seminary who are hosting us, and though we are a bit bleary-eyed and jet-lagged and ready to head off to bed, everyone's glad to be here.  The sights and sounds outside our apartment windows are tempting us to go out and explore; that will wait till tomorrow.  More to come!

Almost Ready!

We are now in our "countdown to blast-off" week.  The final weeks to departure have been packed full for the students.  First-quad papers and projects have been time-consuming but so productive, all related to being better informed and prepared for the countries we will be visiting.  The team devoted a good part of the past weekend to working at Homecoming, helping with set-up, running kids' booths, and selling home-made cookies, with all proceeds going to the trip.    Good-byes to families and friends are getting squeezed in between the last-minute shopping and figuring out how to pack one check-in bag with 40 pounds of the necessities of life for two months.  Someone gets to have a guitar as their carry-on.  Students have to come to class tomorrow night with their packed bags to make sure nothing's been forgotten!  There's a spirit of excitement in the air, and a lot of gratitude for how God is cementing the team together.  And thanks to all the supportive parents, families, and friends who are standing behind these students as they embark on this life-changing experience.

Get Set....

Here's the 2011 Team!  

Getting ready is beginning to have a "family" feel as team members interact in class, share ideas, laughter, prayer, newly forming friendships. This weekend the team is off on a quick road trip to Zion,Illinois (near Chicago) for an orientation to a ministry the students will be involved with in South
Africa.

On Your Mark...

Welcome to the launching of the offical blog for our 2011 ICS internship trip, with destinations to Portugal, South Africa, and Mozambique.  The team leaves in four weeks!  Are we ready?   We're getting there!   I should explain who the "we" are.  First, we have the team leader, Dr. M., with his wife and co-leader, Connie (also the blogger.)  Then we have a group of enthusiastic students from a variety of majors who will be gaining cross-cultural internship credits.  They'll be learning about the cultures of each country, having a chance to develop team-building, cross-cultural living and ministry skills, and I'm sure, a lot more.  Plenty of study and preparation has gone into the trip so far in and out of class - in fact, the first half of this semester is devoted to preparing.  How many ways can you mis-pronounce Portuguese words before they come out right in songs you're learning? Do you know if you really have to get that yellow fever shot before you go?  These things are minor compared to the "big picture" of the ICS trip.  Have these dedicated students wrapped their hearts and their minds around the life-changing lessons that God might have for them?