Heart of
Missi ns
by Karen Unternahrer
A Different Perspective
Unternahrer update: Mike and
Karen, with their three youngest children, Nina, Janae, and Marcy, are midway
through eight months of study at the
Spanish Language Institute in San Jose,
Costa Rica. In April 2012 they will move
on to Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, to
begin an initial three-year commitment
with Students International (SI). Joining the ministry team already there, the
Unternahrer’s will be working together at
SI’s special education site. Their specific
assignment includes expanding the existing program to accommodate twice as
many students or more. Along with that,
they will have the opportunity to mentor
university students who specify disabilities as an area of interest while fulfilling
study abroad requirements through the
program Students International provides.
Needless to say, all this involves
many changes for the Unternahrer’s! Currently, the biggest issue they face is that
of language acquisition. And to coincide
with learning a new language this family
is learning how to live day-in-and-dayout in a different country, a different
culture with different traditions, different
expectations.
People generally don’t welcome
change. A person might recognize the end
result as good, even look forward to it.
But the process of change can be tedious,
complicated, even messy. One example
common to many missionaries is that
of language acquisition. Effective com-
Winter Camps
Offered At LoveWay
LoveWay, Inc. is accepting applications for winter horse camp that will
take place in their heated, indoor riding arena. Camps are designed for children without disabilities between the
ages of 6-14 years old. Riders will learn
the basics of English style horseback
riding, safe horse handling, nutrition,
and care, and have the opportunity to
make crafts and have a pizza party.
Space is limited to six campers per session to ensure each one gets personalized attention. Volunteers are assigned
to work with campers to provide safety
and assistance as needed.
Campers can choose between one
of the four following sessions: December 27th to 29th from 9 am to 12
noon, or from 1 to 4 pm, or January
3rd through 5th from 9 am to 12 noon
or from 1 to 4 pm. The cost per session
is $125 before December 1st and $150
after that. Contact Jessica Shelner,
Program Manager at (574) 825-5666 or
[email protected].
Volunteers will be needed to assist
campers learn to ride as well. Having
horse experience is helpful and individuals must be at least 15 years old
to volunteer with camps. Anyone that
is interested in helping can contact
Aimee Miller, Volunteer Coordinator
at (574) 826-5666 or info@lovewayinc.
org.
munication involves more than learning
to speak a foreign language fluently;
understanding and respecting cultural
nuance plays a big part in how well the
person and their message of the gospel
are received. In the same way a child
learns language skills little by little as he
grows, those learning a second language
must be patient and diligent in learning
poco a poco (Spanish translation: little by
little). The following Facebook conversation among new missionaries candidly
illustrates the frustration characteristic to those in the process of language
acquisition.
Facebook - Tricia: A friend accurately
described learning a new language as “feeling like a two-year-old cave child.” I just
asked for a coke and got a pastry thing. Lauren: Humbling, isn’t it? :) Rachel: Oh boy. I
don’t know if I’m cut out for this. Lauren: As
a fellow 2-year-old cave child, today I said,
“off bus me now here” to a driver on Monday
after he drove past my stop. The sad part is
that I actually said it in English ... just like
that! That’s when you know you’re stuck in
language-limbo. Jake: So true. It’s like a
linguistic straight jacket. But exciting at the
same time because you can apply what you’re
learning right away. John: Just wait until
you start forgetting English! That’s when you
know you’re in deep!
How deep are you in? Not everyone
is called into missions in another country.
Even in LaGrange County, if God is nudging you to serve Him in some new way, in
a capacity outside your comfort zone, are
you willing to go there? Humbling oneself
to the point of feeling like a two-year-old
cave child is not something any of us have
on our list of things to do. The bottom
line is whether or not we are willing to
give up control. And, ultimately, wouldn’t Libby Brown rides Josie during LoveWay’s summer
camp.
Photo Submitted
you rather surrender control of your life
to the God who created you?
The Hometown Treasure · Jan. ‘12 · pg 23