There was no Training Tracks newsletter last month. But it was a very full and eventful month. Bertha and I were in the middle of MOP in the Philippines when the month of March began. We also became grandparents for the first time during that MOP. Bertha just flew to Canada yesterday to spend a couple of weeks with our grandson and his parents.

For the first time in recent history, our Member Orientation Program had no married participants. The trainees were 11 singles, from 5 different countries. Our MOPers set a new record – they finished the puzzle (without border pieces) by the end of the second day! For the first time ever, one of our MOPers was from mainland China! A teammate sat beside her and translated the entire training into Mandarin - also a first! For the first time, a MOPer is headed to India with SEND. We trust that these are the first of many more to come

With my additional role as Director of International Services, I am looking for help with the overall leadership of SEND U. Our SEND U Leadership Team and our International Director have encouraged me to put together a profile for this role and present this profile in this newsletter. I am willing to mentor this person into this role, but he or she needs to be from a younger generation than myself. I do not expect this person to move to Farmington. I am looking for someone who serves on one of our fields, and is willing to stay on the field and take on this role as a part-time assignment.

Profile:

• 45 years of age or younger
• male or female
• a SEND missionary living and serving in one of our receiving areas
• has a passion for training and developing others
• at least 5 years of experience in cross-cultural missions
• buys into the mission, vision and values of SEND U (see this document )
• fully comfortable with communicating and training through online tools and platforms
• has good writing skills

Time Commitment: half-time assignment

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Listen to SEND missionaries and leaders to learn individual and mission developmental needs
• Develop, evaluate and recommend online training modules and resources for SEND missionaries
• Teach in MOP and oversee MOP in the absence of the SEND U Director
• Write for SEND U blog and Training Tracks newsletter
• Take on various administrative or training projects as assigned by the SEND U director

I invite you to pray that the Lord will direct us to the right person. If you sense that this role might fit you or someone else that you know, please contact me. The process of choosing an Assistant Director for SEND U is one that will be done prayerfully and carefully, and in consultation with the area and regional leadership of the person who eventually steps into this role.

(copied from Wheaton College's website)

Have you been actively engaged in language and culture learning for a few months and now you need some help to reach a higher level of proficiency? Do you want to move beyond everyday conversations to use your new language in heart-language ministry or professional activities? Perhaps you feel like you're stuck on a language learning plateau and can't seem to get “unstuck,” or you may just need some fresh ideas to help you fill some gaps in your learning or shore up the weaker areas.

Offered six times each year, this fully online course is six weeks in length and requires about 3-4 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Most participants are on-field learners in the Novice-High to Intermediate-High proficiency range, which means that at a minimum they are able to carry on everyday conversations about the weather, understanding and giving directions, ordering a meal in a restaurant, talking about what they did yesterday and plan to do next week, handling basic phone conversations, etc.

For each participant, the course is highly customized to meet individual needs and goals. It consists of four components: Individual Coaching vis Skype, Foundations, Language Learning Techniques (LLT), and Phonetics and Target Language Pronunciation. (This printable pdf version of the course description gives more detailed information, including FAQs.)

Keep Learning,

Ken Guenther
SEND U Director based in Kiev, Ukraine