See also SHORTERM:Training

Training: SHORT-TERM: 2-YEAR
QUESTION From: Willis W Han <Willis.W.Han@jpl.nasa.gov> I am trying to find information on organized two-year short-term programs that will train people for the missions field. Also, can someone out there put me in contact with a YWAM DTS alumni?

ANSWER From: Neal Pirolo <Neal_Pirolo@eri.org> From your question it looks like you want a full two-year program. What Emmaus Road, International could offer is a ten-week Pre-field Training Course called the ACTS 29 Training Course. We could then network your people with ministries who would provide a mentoring relationship for the two-year period. You can see more about our Course at our WebSite: <http://www.eri.org> or give us a mailing address and I will send you a Syllabus of the program.

ANSWER From: Beram <sbks@pc.jaring.my> Willis, consider, "World Christian Foundations" (USCWM) - (818) 398 2184 WHY ? That's what I'll do if I had the option - It is vital to "study within a framework of service .. both within the ministries there in USCWM and/or alternatively doing your studies while being out on the field". "Out on the field" you can serve as an "intern" with a missionary / ministry while carrying on your studies ... one good place where you can do this is THE BRIDGE (South Thailand) - email address : resource@Hatyai.Loxinfo.co.th

TRAINING: Language Learning: Don't look at Language as a barrier
QUESTION From: <NE> The idea...was orignally...a joke... However, I am now wondering if it just might work... Due to the short term problem (and how we can get them to be more productive on the field) and world missions networking... what would happen if Wycliffe/SIL or another language agency designed a language that could be easily learned and used (in months, instead of years), so that short termers could easily help the pastors etc. in their field and be of greater help?

ANSWER From <NateWilson@XC.org> I don't know if this will take you anywhere, but I read recently that a Dr. Zamenhorf invented a language called Esperanto for international use in 1887.

ANSWER From: gdaily@gwe.net (Galen Daily) I asked Dave Tabor, former YWAM national leader about the question. Dave responded like this. "In missions, languages are often the most difficult and frustrating obstacle to overcome. It can be very trying to want to communicate to someone about the gospel and be relegated to hand gestures and feeble attempts at single, mis-pronounced words of another tongue. A couple of situations in our 14 years in Papua New Guinea stand out as examples of the Father's humor and his ability to transcend the language barrier. The first incident was in 1990 at the commonwealth games in New Zealand where the King's Kids from Papua New Guinea (PNG) were working with a group of New Caledonians... Our whole team as well as the New Caledonians struggled to communicate...until one day one of the New Caledonia girls overheard a couple of the PNG girls talking in Neo-Melanesian... the trade language of PNG... (Tok Pisin). The New Caledonians had learned a similar "Pidgeon" from their contact with people from Vanuatu. After "the discovery" of a common Language we were able to communicate with the French speaking New Caledonians in pidgin... Many missionaries are in PNG from many nations. Many of which are not english speaking nations. So it was not uncommon to have a meeting and have in attendance in that meeting German, Finish, Danish, Swedish and English speakers communicating, in Neo-Melanesian (pidgin) to get the job done." Dave adds that pidgin is easy to learn and can be picked up by anyone in 6 months.

ANSWER From: Jim Au <immx@integrityonline.com> It seems that God has already taken care of that problem to a great degree. That language is called "English". In addition to "English": In much of the southern Pacific Rim, you can use Pidgin English to get around most of the time and in many places; I know friends who have picked up this language variant in a matter of weeks. Other languages are also quite useful, ones which we all learned or could learn in school. French allows you to speak to over 200 million people in the world, including in many African nations. Spanish covers all of South and Central America. Almost everywhere else is adopting the use of English as a necessity. That leaves as major blocs (or "blocks") languages such as Chinese, Russian, Hindi, etc. When I'm in a jam in these areas, if "English" doesn't work, then "sign" language works remarkably well. And that's no joke.

ANSWER From: jfuller@parrysound.net (Fuller,Jonathan)`

...looking at language purely as a barrier can be dangerous and misleading. Learning someone's language is an act of love and respect as much as a means to communication. It is the most significant gateway to mutual understanding. We westerners always think in terms of 'truth' and how to get it across, where the majority of the world thinks in terms of 'relationships' - not what you know but who you are. "No one cares what you know unless they know that you care". Being a short-term missionary doesn't negate any of this. If we see language learning as part of the incarnation - an act of love then having a short-termer work at language makes sense. Our experience has been that short--termers who try to learn get farther with people and have a lasting impact. We have nationals learning another group's mother-tongue even though both groups can use a common trade language. This act of love has broken down century-old walls of hate and suspicion and allowed Christians to live in communities where they normally could not even visit. Language is an opportunity not an obstacle.

TRAINING: LANGUAGE: Spanish for Mission Trips
SFMT prepares you to minister to adults, children. 16 conversations, vocabulary, structure, exercises, dictionary, 2 audio cassette tapes. $34.95. Team discount generous. 965-565-3646. HTP, 348 S. Illinois St., Mercedes, TX 78570

CROSS-CULTURAL: LUNA GAME`

QUESTION From: Dennis Miller <mtscottGLOBAL@compuserve.com> I am trying to find how to order or obtain an edition of the "Luna Game". William Carey Library couldn't help me. Do any of you know where I can find it or a similar game?

QUESTION From: Alison Guerra <juanalison@netscape.net> Does anyone know of any cross cultural simulation games/exercises other than the Luna game appropriate for use in training short term missions teams?

ANSWER From: W Scott W <WScottW@aol.com> Their is an updated version of Luna called Kampei. Very similar and a little stronger. Contact World Chr. Curriculum Project, 1979 E Broadway #2, Tempe, AZ. 85282 (602) 968-2600. This address and number is about five years old, so no guarantees.

ANSWER From: commit@juno.com (Gregory S Crawford)Mission Training International <MIntern@aol.com> has several games available including, Cultural Squares and the 4 Culture Square game.

ANSWER From: Marcia Bickley <mitzy@compuserve.com>`

"Developing Intercultural Awareness - A Cross-Cultural Training Handbook," by Robert Kohls and John M. Knight, published by Intercultural Press, has approximately 20 cross-cultural exercises appropriate for all ages.

ANSWER From: Neal Pirolo <Neal_Pirolo@eri.org>`

Emmaus Road, International is an educational resource for cross-cultural ministry. We do not have any simulation games, but what we use as basic training for the short term teams we lead is a set of four one-hour videos, dealing with the culture shock and culture stress issues of: How I View Myself as a Cross-cultural Worker, How I View the Organization I am going with, How I View the People I plan to Minister Among, and Re-entry. The value of these videos comes as the team leader takes the issues raised and makes them personal to the specific team. It develops a teammanship like nothing else! They can be ordered by e-mail or from our website: <http://www.eri.org>

ANSWER From: James Au <immx@integrityonline.com>`

Contact Tim Feaver at the the Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) of Wycliffe Bible Translators for information on "The Journey." This is a 6-hour simulation experience which takes a person from their "comfort zone" to the missionary field through about 10 different stages. For many who go through this program, it is an eye-opening experiencing and the first step to a much longer commitment to world missions. It gives exposure to the many aspects and challenges of becoming a field missionary. Wycliffe offers this program for an entire church, youth group or college and even for more than one church at a time. They typically send from 150 to 250 people through the Journey in a single day. You can reach Tim in the USA at (503) 652-1662 or by e-mail: <Tim_Feaver@WYCLIFFE.ORG> The co-author of this program, Gary Peterson, is a mate, moved to Australia and would also be glad to share with you, at: <Garycc_Peterson@wycliffe.org>

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