Call for Erin

 I'm feeling a little better this evening.  I spent three hours on a Zoom call with the Brother Baerhel France who heads up the program.  At one point, a German man joined in the call.  He was delightful and so helpful.  He was also reassuring. It still looks like a mountain to me. 

They have both served as stake presidents and both served as mission presidents and now both administer and teach in this Pathway program, and I suspect, spend a great deal of time at it.  The German brother explained to me, "Look, these people who have enrolled in this program are doing it to open up more opportunity for themselves."  Pathway program is a way for people all over the world to receive an education and a college degree from an accredited college.

He continued, "Many are spending a lot of time studying the regular curriculum, and have families, and are working just to put food on the table.  This is the part of the studying that will nurture their spirits."

I looked at the material for the first lesson I will give on the 27th, and it will take some serious study time, but that will be serious soul nourishment for me.  I will be able to take a peek at it intermittently, and ponder it as I go to sleep at night.  But I can't do that with the computer programs I am struggling to learn.

That will still take time, and I find that every time I get into it, I have more questions. And it is delightful to ask our French friend those questions because he has the best French accent ever.  I have to listen carefully to catch not only what he is saying, but his humor.  At the end of one lengthy call yesterday, he asked, "Do you have a beeg attic?"  

I must have looked blank, wondering why he cared if we had a big attic.  Then I realized, he was asking if I had a big headache from all the things we were going over. He said it with such a twinkle in his eyes that even if I hadn't gotten it, I would have had to chuckle.  He has a head of white hair, and he is funny.  He says things casually, and with so little change in everything else he is saying, that you miss it if you don't listen.

My class is full.  I had envisioned a class of eight that I would get to know well.  It is a class of twenty five, which means a lot more time, because I will check on each one each week, read their assignments, keep track of their running points towards finishing the course, and answer any questions they may send my way during the week.  I am praying mightily that this will not interfere with any of our mission work, because we are here to serve the young adults after all.

The pathway people reached out to all the missionaries all over Europe hoping for help with a program that is exploding with individuals eager to take advantage of the incredible program. I replied that I would be willing to help.  I didn't ask my mission president.

My class is entirely from Africa, and Brother Baerhel said that there are over 3,000 people needing to take an Institute class.  He also said there will be people in the class who are not members.  That should be interesting as we start right out talking about the premortal Christ.

This is the latest message from Brother Baerhel:

So, you may see some of these African students in your classes. Consequently, and also because  it’s a very new worldwide guideline, we have to increase the limit of the number of students we set on WISE. We will go to 40 for coordinators and 30 for missionary couples.

 

So, for some of you this semester may look a little bit different. But after 3 years in the Congo, I can tell you that these students are hungry for knowledge and are lovely people. You will love them as much you already love our European students.       

 

I will need to take a crash course in PowerPoint as well.  I have made a few slides but it's been awhile.  I am grateful to say that he thought four or five would be sufficient.  I think I can do that.  I need to think of assignments, things to ponder, etc.  

Erin, would you like to sub for me - for about 13 weeks?



p.s.  I don't know if you have done this yet, but I think you would enjoy seeing and hearing about Hyde Park Chapel (especially the organ - Bethany!) This tour takes slightly over a half hour, and is really lovely.  To schedule a virtual tour, go to this link:  (It is a great Family Home Evening!

https://calendly.com/londonvctour/london-hyde-park-chapel-virtual-tour 

Comments

Erin said…
Sub for 13 weeks?!?!? 😂 I find PowerPoint to be very similar to other computer programs I’m already familiar with.

Do you use a mouse with your laptop? I’m not sure I would be able to work on a laptop without a mouse.

Give me a call! I would be happy to help!

❤️❤️❤️
April 14, 2021 at 11:40 PM
melissa said…
Wowzer!! This is a big job!
April 15, 2021 at 10:42 PM
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