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Concordia University Texas. Please rememberAndrea (
www.lcms.org?14884
) and Lynette(
www.lcms.org?15269
) in your prayers!Along with attending classes and getting toknow our new teammates during orientation, wewere also given the opportunity to test out ourTEFL skills at a real conversational class spon-sored by St. Paul LCMS in Chicago. St. Paul islocated in a predominately Hispanic neighbor-hood and the ministry involves helping atten-dees learn/speak English clearly along withopening the doors for opportunities to share thelove of Christ. I spent the majority of the nightwith a woman named Helen who has lived inAmerica for six years and her husband andsmall children can all speak English fairly well.We spent most of our time together addressingmedical terminology because she felt sheneeded to be prepared in case of an emergency.Spending the evening talking to Helen made merealize the incredible opportunities I will begiven to minister to my students in Hong Kongthrough EFL classes. The rest of this month hasbeen spent organizing fundraisers, presenta-tions, and spending time with my family. I havesome great fundraisers planned and will senddetails as they come together. Fundraisers in-clude; a yummy booth at the Fabulous Fourthcelebration in Flagler Beach, a dinner presenta-tion at KoKoRo Japanese Bistro, lunch/dinner atPanda Express, a Pampered Chef party, and aLia Sophia jewelry party! If you would like toattend or volunteer for any of these events,please let me know! Blessings to you!So it’s officially summer! I am amazedthat I have been home for over fiveweeks! In the beginning of June, Shep-herd of the Coast LCMS (SOTC), myhome congregation, celebrated it’s 20thanniversary. The celebration included afamily fun night, our annual church pic-nic, and a fellowship pancake breakfastbetween services. I was glad to be homefor this celebration, but missionary train-ing called and on June 6th I traveled toConcordia Chicago. I spent the next fewdays in fellowship with the new GEO mis-sionaries who will be teaching English asa Foreign Language (TEFL) classesaround the world this year. NancyKunert, one of our EFL teachers (picturedbelow giving me my certificate), was amissionary in Papua New Guinea for over25 years and served alongside Rev. Al & Nancy Ebel, Susan Fluegge’s parents! Attraining we were given more informationabout our ministry in Hong Kong. I will beworking at the Lutheran Tsang Shing SiuLeun School, Concordia English GospelOutreach Center, Holy Savior LutheranChurch, and Wan Chi English Center. Ourfocus is on teaching conversational Eng-lish classes, Bible classes, and outreachactivities. I met my new Volunteer Coor-dinator, Sharon Owens (pictured withAndrea and myself below) and was givena mini-education in Chinese culture andthe plans for the new ministry we will bestarting in Hong Kong this fall! Sharon isan amazing woman with the most joyfulheart. She oversees the EFL ministriesin Hong Kong, Macau, and Jiang menalong with arranging opportunities forshort-term teams to reinforce us full-timers. To learn more about the partSharon plays, visit
www.lcms.org?6689
. Along withSharon and Nancy, I was also able tomeet my ministry teammates and soon-to-be roommates, Andrea Bolognini andLynette Lierman. Both Andrea and Lyn-ette have done short-term ministry inAsia and are already an amazing en-couragement to me. Andrea is commit-ted to two years of missionary service inHong Kong to fulfill her DCE (Director of Christian Education) internship through
Oh the summertime...
 “Come near toGod and He willcome near toyou… Humbleyourselves beforethe Lord and Hewill lift you up.” James 4:8,10
 Africa to Asia
An insight into the ministry of LCMS Long-term missionaryMegan Birney serving Christ on the international mission field
June 2009
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