Deaconess Christie Nelson, former LCMS missionary to Thailand and Guatemala, has recently completed teacher certification EC-6 and 4-8 including bilingual (Spanish) and ESL. Christie has accepted a teaching position to serve as the English Language Specialist (ESL teacher) at Buena Vista Concordia International School (BCIS) in Shenzhen, China. BCIS will be in its first year (grades K-7) and is being established by the Lutheran Church Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS) at the request of the Chinese government. The school is being modeled as much as possible after the 3 LCMS international schools in Asia. There are an expected 50 - 100 students this first year. LCHKS is a partner church body with LCMS.
Though the teaching position cannot be considered an official LCMS call, Christie believes with all her heart that she has the call of God to take this position and be used by Him in the lives of the children, their families, and the teachers at the new school. Christie will be serving directly under the LCHKS with salary in Chinese currency and Chinese medical coverage which will cover her while in China, Macao, and Hong Kong only. There are hopes of receiving an "add on" coverage for when Christie may travel outside of those 3 areas. She returns for summer in June 2012 and will go back out to China for a second year provided God wills it.
Christie departs on August 2nd in the wee hours of the morning. Sunday, July 31st, she will receive a blessing at her current church, Messiah Lutheran Church, in Keller, TX during the 8:00 AM service to serve at the new school. Please remember to keep her, this new opportunity to share Jesus in subtle ways, the children, and BCIS in first year of operation in your prayers.
Christie thanks everyone who has been upholding her in prayers since 2006 when she returned from Thailand and especially during the last couple of years that she has been seeking the Lord's will for her life for its next chapter and while obtaining teacher certification to broaden her opportunities for service to the Lord.
About Me
- bangkokjoy
- Keller, TX, United States
- I grew up on a farm in Indiana, attended Purdue and Concordia Universities (undergraduate and graduate, respectively), served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador, and as a missionary with LCMS World Mission for 20 years in Thailand (15) and Guatemala (5). More recently, I've attained teacher certifications (Bilingual and Regular Ed Generalist EC-6, Bilingual and Regular Ed Generalist 4-8, and ESL). My heart is still in that of being a missionary and my first full-time post as an elementary/middle school teacher is that of English Language Specialist at Buena Vista International School (BCIS) in Shenzhen, China on the mainland just across the border from Hong Kong. I teach ESL to all grades at this new school under Lutheran Church-Hong Kong Synod. The school is not a part of the LCMS though the school has been granted LCMS World Mission educational consultants and an interim principal for its first year of operation.
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments
Christie, I appreciate your blog, but even more I appreciate your heart of service! Although I sent you this poem separately, I'd like to share it here as a prayer of blessing for you in the year ahead.
ReplyDeleteThe Pilgrim Servant
O Pilgrim Servant, when God calls to send
you from your home to ventures without end,
and you step out with confidence in God
to go where none have been, by paths untrod,
you will not face your greatest fears alone,
for God will guide through perils still unknown.
God bless you on your servant way and hold
you in His hand, that you may be so bold!
Supported through God’s love, your every groan
bears on its breath your prayers to heaven’s throne.
He leads you by His hand and Shepherd’s rod
and sends you forth to share the love of God.
To places you don’t know, our God will tend
your footsteps safely to your journey’s end.
- Gilbert A Franke, 5/22/08
Christie,
ReplyDeleteWe've got your blog linked to the South Texas Lutheran blog. May God richly bless your service in China and use you in a mighty way to bring the Good News of Jesus to those you serve!
Your brother in Christ,
Allan Eckert, Pastor
Thank you, Pastor Eckert! I've got your South Texas Lutheran blog bookmarked, too!
ReplyDeleteI'll miss the US, family, and friends for sure but so excited about what is next!
Pastor Franke... you are such a dear man and pastor given to all of us for our spiritual enrichment and well-being!
ReplyDeleteThank you for blessing me with "The Pilgrim Servant"! It is a wonderful poem full of blessing and joy! I'll have it posted here for always!
God be with you. I thank God for your life and all your heart for committed service to other for Christ.
ReplyDelete