Bethany's Bulletin

This semester was off to an interesting start at Black Forest Academy. Within a week of getting back to school after Christmas break, the students and staff were hit by a combination of flu/virus/cold epidemic. At one point approximately 70 students were home due to various ailments. This figure does not include the staff that were hit by it either! I too had been stuck a virus and tried to avoid missing any school, but due to another bout with bronchitis I needed to stay home for a few days.

Discovery-ing Madrid...

At the end of January, I was able to join ten other NILD (National Institute for Learning Development) Educational Therapists for a gathering in Madrid, Spain. The purpose of this time was to refresh and review some of the techniques used in Discovery. A pleasant surprise for me was to see a lady from Russia I had taken Level I training with in 2003! It was encouraging to meet with other therapists who are working with missionary kids all around Europe!

I have already posted a picture of the whole group
(on the following post),
but here is a picture of the ladies that I work with in the Discovery Department.

Missions Trip to Poland!

In my last letter I told you about an opportunity I have to go on a missions trip to Poland. There are 15 students and three leaders. We will be working in the town of Wraclaw where the parents of two BFA students are currently ministering. While we are there we will have the opportunity to help them renovate a building they use for their church. This building is also being used to facilitate other outreaches of the church to the community. The students have chosen to learn some drama skits so that they can do some outreaches while we are there as well! During some of the evenings the team will also have various opportunities to interact with other youth from the community, like a pick-up game of soccer for example (Sports are a great tool to introduce the un-churched to Christ.) Some of the details are still being worked out, like transportation. Please keep the team and the coordinators in your prayers as the time approaches. The dates for the trip are March 15 through the 22.

The missions team gathers for lunch and shares prayer requests.

This trip, however, comes with some needs and I was wondering if you would consider helping out. I have never been in the leadership role of a missions' trip and would covet your prayers during this time. I am looking forward to this trip and getting to know the students as we work together. Some things you could pray for include

• Health of the team, especially since we will be doing some manual labor
• Safety in travel
• Pray also that I would show the heart of Christ to those on my team as well as for the people we are serving

I also have some financial needs as well. As a leader, I need to raise 250 Euro, which is approximately $360 for this trip. This seems like a hurdle, but I know that if God wants me on the team, He will provide. Would you, though, consider helping out? If you are able to help out by giving financially that would be a huge blessing!

Please let me know if you will be praying for the team as we head to Poland. It is an encouragement to me to when people are praying for me. This way I can also give you more specific ways that you can pray for me.

As a side note, I love getting notes and letters from you as well!

Blessings to you!