With graduation just a few short weeks away, our students, all six of them, are beginning to think, 'after graduation, what will I do?' It is a huge step for them as, if they do look for work, it will be a first time for many. The first pay check, the first real world job, the first time one needs to get up Early to get to work, and lots of other firsts.
I teach the class, "After Grad, What?". As an assignment in class I ask the students to think about the next step, what do you want to do? The answers have been as varied as the girls...one is trying to decide between going to Bible school and getting a job as a seamstress. One definitely wants to work as a seamstress but not sure where. One would like to become a fashion designer and has been looking into further education. One is not sure yet, but 'something'. The other two are talking it over, bouncing ideas off of one another.
Each one then made a list of the steps needed to reach her goal.
For me, that each left our class not discouraged about the future was a blessing. Of course, we will monitor and help where we can with this next part of their journey.
Post Praise:
1) Next week will be our Field Conference, gathering together to have fun and fellowship with the missionaries of ACTION International.
2) Safe arrival of our guests for the International Council meetings.
Post Prayer:
1) Please pray for GG and her daughter who are both sick with bad colds and coughs. GG works in our workshop.
2) Please pray for our Field Conference.
3) Yesterday a text message was delivered and passed on to others that there was an syndicate working in our area; one that snatches children, kills them and puts the internal organs on the black market. It turned out to be a hoax but schools were asked to close early and parents come pick up the children. It was a time of confusion and fear. These type of people do operate here, but this time it wasn't true.
Blessings,
Barbara Burchert
Mustard Seed
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Half Way There!
It is unbelieveable to think that we ended today the fifth week in our fourth term. Just five weeks to go and then it will be graduation.
We began back in June 2007 with 10 new students, this being our Batch 3. Over the course of the last 35 weeks, four have dropped out for various reasons. And now we are at six remaining.
Yesterday I watched the students work on making stuffed animals. They designed the patterns, they sewed the creation and stuffed them. It is amazing for me to think that 35 weeks ago all of this was new to them. They walked into the sewing classroom and faced 15 high speed industrial sewing machines for the first time. Now they are all pros on the machines.
Has it all been wonderful? No...there have been the struggles. Sewing a straight line, remembering the right size of seam allowance, how to put in a zipper. The joy for me came while looking at their creations and seeing all the practice, teaching, and encouraging come together.
So we will graduate six young women from the program.
It has been the same with their study of the Bible. Watching these young women dig and consider, discuss and grapple with the word of God over the last four terms has been a blessing for me. As with the sewing, it has not all come easy for them. Some dealt with issues from the past and emerged victorious. Some are still in the process of changing, as the word of God goes deeply into their hearts. But the climb continues to be upward! Amen.
What our graduates will be doing after April 26 will be the topic of the next post. They have been thinking and praying and have been putting together some very good plans! Until then...
Post Praises:
1) We have finished our fifth week in term 4.
Post Prayer Requests:
1) Graduation on April 26.
2) Some are still struggling with math weaknesses. Pray that these will get sorted out before they leave the program.
3) One student is still struggling with allergies.
4) Plans for the future. Please pray for God's guidence in this area for each of the six young women.
Blessings,
Barbara Burchert
We began back in June 2007 with 10 new students, this being our Batch 3. Over the course of the last 35 weeks, four have dropped out for various reasons. And now we are at six remaining.
Yesterday I watched the students work on making stuffed animals. They designed the patterns, they sewed the creation and stuffed them. It is amazing for me to think that 35 weeks ago all of this was new to them. They walked into the sewing classroom and faced 15 high speed industrial sewing machines for the first time. Now they are all pros on the machines.
Has it all been wonderful? No...there have been the struggles. Sewing a straight line, remembering the right size of seam allowance, how to put in a zipper. The joy for me came while looking at their creations and seeing all the practice, teaching, and encouraging come together.
So we will graduate six young women from the program.
It has been the same with their study of the Bible. Watching these young women dig and consider, discuss and grapple with the word of God over the last four terms has been a blessing for me. As with the sewing, it has not all come easy for them. Some dealt with issues from the past and emerged victorious. Some are still in the process of changing, as the word of God goes deeply into their hearts. But the climb continues to be upward! Amen.
What our graduates will be doing after April 26 will be the topic of the next post. They have been thinking and praying and have been putting together some very good plans! Until then...
Post Praises:
1) We have finished our fifth week in term 4.
Post Prayer Requests:
1) Graduation on April 26.
2) Some are still struggling with math weaknesses. Pray that these will get sorted out before they leave the program.
3) One student is still struggling with allergies.
4) Plans for the future. Please pray for God's guidence in this area for each of the six young women.
Blessings,
Barbara Burchert
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