Our time here at MTI (Mission Training International) has flown by and we are grateful for all of the things that have been taught to us. The first 2 weeks centered on language acquisition. It would be too long to explain this in any great detail so, I will give you the cliff note version. In the English language there are 44 sounds that we make for any word that we say. In other languages there are many other sounds that are not used in English.  In our training we learned how to form new sounds that make up words in other languages. We spent hours looking into a mirror and watching the placement of our tongue in order to form the new sounds.

Liz with our Vietnamese Language Helper.

Some of the other teaching has focused on how we can thrive in a new culture. We have played culture games, role played scenarios, and spent time in small groups discussing differences and emotions that we will encounter once we arrive in our country to minister.

One of the highlights of MTI are the relationships that are developed between each other. Our 2 weeks together has had the feel of a summer camp experience. In a short amount of time we have bonded with others quickly as we live in community with one another. Throughout our time so far we have laughed, prayed and shared how God has provided abundantly for the ministry He has called us each to. We know that God brought each of us (37 adults and 31 kids) together to encourage and support one another before we venture out into unknown soil, trusting that He will guide us through each peak and valley.

Jaden and Josiah have also been learning the kid version of everything we have gone through. They have made new friends and have enjoyed their teachers.

We have been enjoying the crazy weather here in Colorado. We have had gorgeous sunny 60 degree days and also snow storms like today. Our boys have had fun in all the different climates. Here is a picture of a Jaden’s sledding accident from a few days ago!

A Point for Reflection from our training:

Often times we look back at a tough event or situation that God walked us through and we say that “God taught” us this or we say that we have “learned this truth or lesson”. But the reality is that we never reach the past tense. Our journey with God is always active and God is always laying new things and challenges in front of us that will stretch our faith in some of the same areas that he already stretched us.  God is always teaching and we are always learning.

Thank you for your prayers as we continue learning new ways to adapt to a foreign culture.

Following my trip to Kenya last May of 2014 we prayed concerning God’s call on our lives. We knelt before the Lord and sought his direction, his will for our lives. We wanted to know if God would allow us to join Him with what He was doing in Africa and so we prayed. Over the course of 3 weeks in June it became apparent that God was indeed leading us to Kenya. We were overjoyed that this calling came for our family.

We knew the next step was to pick a date for our training at MTI (Missions Training International) because the slots fill up fast. In July, we settled on February 2015 for training and we both thought it seemed like it would be a long time before we would be leaving.

Now its February, 20 inches of snow fell last weekend which was a reminder that this will be our last Chicago winter and things are changing. As I shoveled the driveway numerous times, I kept reminding myself that there would not be snow in Kenya. Oh there will be things that will be much tougher then shoveling, and our family is trusting that God will help us walk through them as he leads us on.

Today is Saturday February 7, a day that has been on our minds recently as it’s the day before we leave for MTI. MTI has always been a marker that this is for real, we are really moving our family to Kenya. Obviously Colorado is not Kenya but MTI serves as a reminder that Kenya is close. For 4 weeks we will be in Colorado so that we can learn how to serve Christ in a foreign country. Our hope is that MTI will provide much needed training for our family as we all press on towards what God is calling us to in Africa.

Please lift our family up in prayer as we are taught about how to deal with cross-cultural challenges. And pray for our boys as they are saying goodbye to their normal surroundings and routine and enter the reality of this life change for our family.

Liz and I are grateful for you, our team of supporters, and are lifting you up in prayer daily.

For His Name

Mark

We are excited to give you all an update on the progress for our family and with Naomi’s village. Our family is doing well and both boys have had birthdays since our last newsletter! Jaden is now 8 years old and Josiah just turned 6 years old today.  They are full of Kenya questions have been embracing the changes we have begun to make.

The groundbreaking for Cornerstone Preparatory Academy  took place on Tuesday, January 20. The school campus will be located on a 21 acre plot of land across from Mount Longonot.
 
 Cornerstone is founded on the principle that change starts within Kenya, will provide an excellent education and knowledge of Jesus Christ to needy kids without charge to their families. In doing so, a nucleus of bright young leaders will be raised despite their background of poverty, and they will be encouraged to be part of the solution to their own country’s problems.

Click here to see a short video on the vision for Cornerstone Academy.

Update on our House:

The land that will be used to build the duplex for our family and my brother’s family was recently cleared!  We were thrilled to finally have a visual as to where the house will be. This is the next step towards our future residence in Kenya.  Pray for Robert Kimball (Naomi Village Building manager) as he and Bob Mendonsa work hard to have this house built in a timely manner.

Items for prayer:

MTI: On Sunday February 9, we will be leaving for Colorado Springs to embark on four weeks of language and cross cultural training at MTI (Mission Training International).  It is our hope that while we are there our entire family will learn new things that will help us to be more effective in adjusting and thriving in a new culture for the good of the gospel.

Selling our house: We will return in the first week of March and begin the process of selling our house.  Please join us in prayer for a smooth process.

Support: We are grateful for all of you that have supported us through prayer and finances.  We have currently raised about 85% of our monthly support.  Thank you for your sacrificial giving!  If you have wanted to partner with us monthly, but have not done so yet, there is a link at the bottom of this page.  We would be grateful for your partnership!

Children at Naomi’s Village:  Continue praying for the kids at NV that they would come to know the Lord. Pray also for the kids that have come to Christ, that they will desire to draw near to the Savior and grow in their knowledge and understanding of Him.

For His Name,
Mark and Liz Sisler