Home to Canada

Yes, I'm home. Arrived last night and today was over at my sisters house discussing the 'business' of the ministry. We have the name:

"Monsoon: Global Discipleship Encounter"

...and in the coming year, I will be teaching 5 days a week. I was thinking about it and praying about it and realizing that if I'm going to teach the Bible to young people - it's what I really feel I am called to: discipleship, teaching the Bible, giving people hands-on ministry experience. I want to be 100% involved in whatever I'm doing, and that will be at the school in the coming year. I will be working with High School students and we will also have opportunities to take them on missions experiences within their own country and maybe beyond. As for moving forward with the ministry, we hope to have full charitable status by the beginning of the coming year and want to be able to purchase the accommodation for the ministry sometime during the 2008 year.

I realise that many of you check this blog but lamentablamente (sadly) I have to shut down. I can't keep up with it down south. I will, however, continue with the email updates. If you are not on the list but want to be, please send me an email: shannoncita@gmail.com saying that you want to be on the list. That will help...

Okay. It's been fun...

Shannon.

A Look to the Right...

Hey all. Many thanks for your great votes and suggestions. They are all very helpful. Sorry to be picky, but here's the thing; I want more from Meg (did you know that Jo gave me a current perspective on two names, can the librarian beat that?) c'mon girl, show me your stuff... ;)

Okay, this is just a quick update to let you all know that I have updated the lists in the right hand column. They are important because they are my prayer requests. I need your prayers. I love that you pray for me and I hope you know that I'm praying for you too, especially when you tell me specifics via email. Take care of yourselves, drive safe and I am praying that there is no more snow for the year. :)

Much love,

Shannon

The Name Game

Okay, first, good news: I have finally been given my Pre-School schedule only! This means I no longer teach grade one - we have a new teacher for that. Yeah! Big answer to prayer. Now I am finished at school at 1pm and will have more time in the afternoons for getting things up and going. Also, I have discussed my schedule for next year and there are a few things in the works; I have asked to negotiate a Tuesday-Thursday schedule so that I can have long weekends to travel (to the outskirts and to Haiti, etc.) and this is being considered. They also asked me (as per request of the pastor of the church that runs the school ministry) if I would consider teaching high school Bible instead of preschool - wow. So, we are in negotiations and prayer for all this right now and would appreciate your prayers too. In the meantime, all of you over there in Canada, keep praying and considering if God might be asking you to take a year to be involved in a Christian School ministry here in the Dominican Republic - we are still looking for teachers for elementary and preschool - if there are people you know who might consider it, please send an email my way or give them my email address to get connected. Thanks. Lots to consider, but things seem to be on the move...

So, what about the name game?

I have to choose a name for this ministry. I have no idea what to call it. Wait, that's not true, I have some ideas, but I'm not sure that they are any good. I want something simple, one word, that will express part of the philosophy (because expressing the whole thing in one word is probably asking a bit much), and it has to be original because it's going to be registered in Canada. Oh, and I DON'T want an acronym. Okay, let's have a vote:

1. Senda - which is the word for 'path' in Spanish and has the significance of being on the journey
2. Global Discipleship Encounter - which will already be in the name, kind of the subtitle portion, but maybe it should just be called this...?
3. Chase - again, about the pursuit, the journey, and all that
4. Revolutions - about the philosophy of our work and also that we are around the world with this - ha ha, like a change agent society that revolves the globe (cute, shan, real cute...)
5. Crossing - you know, about the message of the cross and cross-cultural and crossing borders
6. Journey - although, there is a band with this name, so I think it's taken...
7. Requed - like as in, wrecked, but in a good way like how Jessica and I always say, that your life is wrecked for the ordinary and comfortable and has to be radical in response to the experience
8. Nomad - you know, just what it means
9. Verve - wait, isn't there a band with this name too?
10. Stretch - based on the little phrase: "Stretch your faith, form new friendships, share your dreams" that is on the www.drdreaming.blogspot.com website (the startup location for this ministry in the Dominican)

Okay, here's how you vote: either send me an email or click on the comment button to let me know what you think. I really would love your opinions... also, if you have other suggestions, the door is wide open = if you are unsure of the ministry vision, check out the drdreaming website (as above) and remember that this is not (hopefully) going to be limited to the Dominican only but will expand in the future to other countries and areas of the globe - so don't submit anything too specific, but I would LOVE your suggestions and comments.

Thanks very much.

Love, Shannon