Hot off the press! Our summer 2008 newsletter featuring:

• From the Directors
• Staff News
• New Staff
• Spring of Festivals

Download the YWAM PA Summer ‘08 PDF Newsletter  now. (28 MB)

From the Directors

Praise God from whom all blessings flow: Blessings of health, provision of finances, students in our schools, and visas for our foreign students.

Approximately a month ago our oldest son, Melvin, had an accident with a snowmobile and broke eight ribs and his scapula all on his right side. He has been hurting very much, but we are thankful his life was spared and, in time, he will fully recover.

We are so blessed to have international students and staff in our midst. It is a challenge for them to receive visas from our U.S. Embassy. Our prayer is God will bring those who are destined by Him to come to YWAM Lebanon.

In our last news letter we spoke of our outreach to Ukraine. Once again plans are to go to Ukraine, only later in the year, such as mid-September to the end of September, to take advantage of cheaper air fares.

The summer outreach of 2006 was good in being able to relate and work with two Tatar families who were formerly Muslims and are now Christians. These two families take their keyboard and Christian literature out on the streets and in parks, sharing Jesus with many. We were able to once again visit with our friend Villyia, who came to the Lord a few years ago through our ministry. Villyia was a Muslim, and is bedfast due to a stroke, but loving the Lord just the same. Our friends, Nariman and Lenora, welcomed us with open hearts and arms even though they have not been able to walk away from their Muslim faith as yet. Living in a small Muslim Tatar village is very difficult to take and make the choice of following Jesus. They were receptive for us to pray for them.

Pray about joining us on our Ukraine outreach in September, 2007. As has happened other years, this may be a life changing experience for good.

Whatever your need and situation, God’s love and grace are available. He is an ever present help in trouble. Amen!

Welcome

Sarah Silva joined us last November from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is starting a new youth ministry here called Performing Arts Youth Ministry. Her vision is to reach the community and give evangelistic support to area churches. You are welcome to join them in prayer or come for a visit!

Nancy Aument is teaching the ESL class this year. She is from Lancaster County, but more recently has been part of the leadership team for a discipleship house on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. She joined YWAM in 2002, doing her DTS at Tyler, Texas before moving to the YWAM base in Wisconsin.

TESOL

From 1 Peter chapter 3 are the words “Whoever wants to embrace life and the day fill up with good, here’s what you do: say nothing evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what He’s asked.” From a time of prayer Marlene felt this was the word to the January TESOL class of 14 students and 3 staff and what a wonderful 4 weeks watching this word work out among us all. Included among the 14 young people were 4 young men recently back from Banda Aceh, Indonesia, the area greatly devastated by the tsunami in December 2004. They had been part of a work crew to redevelop the area. We had 3 international students, from Brazil, Puerto Rico and Korea, 2 great young people from Texas and 5 wonderful young ladies from this area, North Carolina and Virginia. Places where they feel God is calling them to are South Korea, Afghanistan, Sudan, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and here in the USA. As a school we thank God for His loving kindness throughout the time and as a staff look forward to our next school commencing March 5th. Thank you for your interest by prayer and care.

ESL

Our next ESL class will start on March 12th. Nancy Aument will be their teacher. Students are still applying for visas from Korea, Nepal, Brazil and Sudan. Students who already have visas will be coming from Colombia and Korea. Please pray for these students as they adjust to a different culture, and that their learning experience here will be successful.

Our previous ESL teacher, Faye Mills will be leading an ESL school in Madagascar this spring.

Mercy in Action

Hugo and Kelly continue in church and community ministries. Mercy in Action winter outreaches to Texas were postponed until spring, expecting a fruitful time of ministry in the Gulf Coast. Hugo coached the New Covenant Christian School middle school boy’s soccer team this fall. He is now developing a soccer training program as an evangelistic outreach and discipleship ministry to begin the spring. Currently he’s in Chile and Argentina ministering in churches with another Mercy in Action partner. Upcoming community ministry events include The Emerging Generation Seminar, a Bible study workshop for teens with Transform Student Ministries, and outreaches to Lebanon and surrounding areas. They are also gearing up for an amazing DTS beginning September 24.

Kitchen Staff

Miwuh is working in the kitchen, keeping the students and staff of our schools well-fed. She also leads an intercession group for the TESOL schools. Her church home in Lebanon is Freedom in Christ Fellowship Church, where she leads prayer meetings two afternoons a week. When there are no schools in session at the base, Miwuh volunteers at the Jubilee Ministry Store sizing and hanging the clothes.

Thoughts from the Directors

We praise God for His continued faithfulness to us. Just before our ESL school began in March Miriam was diagnosed as a heart attack waiting to happen and underwent bypass surgery. She has had a wonderful recovery, and is now full time back in the kitchen.

We have also seen God’s faithfulness displayed in His provision for the base. Last year we asked you to pray for $30,000 for a bank note which was due. This note has been paid in full! We also had a need for a new roof and siding repairs. A generous gift of $23,000 was given to pay this in full.

Again I have been reminded through the life of Jonah the graciousness of how God deals with us – not as we deserve. May we understand the nature of God – giving; the goal of God – relationship; the desire of God – increase and the pleasure of God – faith.

May we be found faithful.

Summer Outreach

It is not too late to reserve a place on our summer outreach team to Ukraine. Our past outreaches to Crimea, Ukraine have been filled with many diverse opportunities to minister in Tatar villages as well as to the Ukrainians. We are offering an opportunity for you to come with us July 15-30 as we travel to Crimea, Ukraine. Join us for this life changing experience.

We are in need of financial support for some of our CDTS staff and students who will be going on the outreach. Some of our YWAM staff also have need of monthly support. If you would like to partner with us in this way, you can send your donation along with a note designating it for the outreach or for a staff person. Thank you.

Welcome

Mike and RaeLynn came to us in March from California. They have 3 children, Trevor, Tanner and Trinity. They have been in YWAM for 9 years. Mike is serving as staff for the CDTS and RaeLynn cares for the children . Mike’s desire is to work with DTS, and they are excited to see where God will lead them.

Kitchen Staff

God made provision for kitchen staff even before Miriam had unexpected heart surgery. Miwuh Nkonguili from Cameroon, Africa and Mary Morrow from Australia had already planned to come to assist in the kitchen. These ladies, assisted by Kelly, provided meals for the ESL, TESOL, CDTS students and staff. Now back at the helm, Miriam continues to have the capable assistance of Miwuh and Sue Smith from Australia. We thank God for ordering the steps of these women so that they were here during this busy time. They have been a blessing to Miriam and to all of us as they have served us delicious meals along with the love of Jesus.

TESOL

Marlene, Lynn and Erna continue in this arm of YWAM Lebanon, PA to encourage, esteem, edify and equip precious people God calls here to be trained through the ministry of teaching English for the nations. We have had a school in March, and another one in May and will begin the third on Monday, 19th June. We then have a fall school beginning 28th August. We are always in awe from where God brings folks and to where He is sending them. This year we have had precious students from 9 nations to train and graduates going to at least 14 different nations. We are reminded from 1 Kings 8:12-61 all the glory belongs to God and lasting fruit appears only by the blessing of God.

We’d like to share a special blessing with you. During our June 2005 TESOL school a young married woman from Taiwan, Vivian, came not knowing our Jesus as Saviour. During the life of the TESOL school she became a christian. Vivian told her Taiwanese friend Henry he had to come to our October 2005 school to “find Jesus” and to learn how to teach English. This Henry did – thank you, Lord. Now comes the May school and Vivian’s friend Benson wants to come, and explains he doesn’t know Jesus yet. Will we accept him? He comes to see our facilities with his girlfriend Monica, and then she wants to come, too. Yes, we accepted them and yes, they accepted Jesus as well as being trained to teach English. They left us a photo and their comment: “Thank you for leading us to Jesus and sharing love with us.”

ESL

Just four short months ago, all but Faye and Marilyn were complete strangers – ten people from eight nations who came to YWAM-Lebanon because of the English as a Second Language School. God wonderfully brought us together and lovingly made us into a family that did “everything” together. We learned, laughed, traveled, explored, played, worked, cried, shared, prayed, helped, ate, visited, shopped, talked, worshipped, created, performed, watched, sang, celebrated and more. We rejoice in the knowledge that it’s our loving heavenly Father who gives us the gift of language that we might develop precious relationships with each other and with Him. This time truly was a delightful gift from His hand!

CDTS

The Crossroads DTS has been in session since April. We have 6 students from 4 different nations. They have all been challenged as they seek to know God better and grow in their relationship with Him. They are looking forward to a short outreach to Vidor, TX to help hurricane victims during the lecture phase, as well as their school outreach to Ukraine.

Mercy in Action

Last fall and winter YWAM Lebanon, along with several area churches, sent several work teams to help victims of Hurricane Rita in Vidor, TX. The next team will be going June 25 – July 3. Several of the Crossroads DTS students will be joining this team to go and help with rebuilding projects in Vidor, TX. If you are interested in joining a future team, please call Hugo or Kelly at the YWAM base, (717) 274-9010.

The week of June 11 – 18 has been a time of prayer and worship to exalt Jesus together as one body. Several churches have participated in the nightly meetings, with a youth day being held on Saturday to go into the community and do evangelism.

Thoughts from the Director

2005! Where has it gone? It seems like only last week that we were gearing up for the arrival of new staff, new students, and new schools.

January brought 2 new staff – Tony and Cheri Peck. They helped with the CDTS, the ESL and in the office before returning to Colorado in July. Faye led our third ESL class. She had eager language learners from Korea, Japan, Poland, Brazil, and Iceland. It was a very diverse class, but as their English progressed they quickly formed strong bonds of friendship with one another and with the staff.

CDTS

The new life of spring brought new life to the base when the CDTS began. The 8 students and their 6 children came from Korea, Poland, and Guatemala as well as the USA. They learned much during their lecture phase, and also spent a week in Philadelphia for practical application of what they were learning. One of the students joined us for our annual outreach to Ukraine. These students are now serving the Lord in their home countries as well as in Ukraine and New Zealand.

TESOL

Marlene, Erna and Lynn have had a busy schedule with six TESOL schools this year. Graduates of these schools are now serving in 23 different nations

Unfortunately, the new school we were planning for this year, the School of Intercessory Prayer (SOIP) was canceled.

Welcome

In October we welcomed Hugo and Kelly Avila along with their children, Daniel and Emily. They have come to us from YWAM Chile, and will be ministering into the local community, encouraging the local body of Christ to work together in outreaches to other regions. Hugo took a fact-finding trip to Texas in October, and Mercy In Action was birthed! You can read more about that below and/or follow the navigation bar on the left side of this web page and click on Mercy In Action.

We are blessed to be a part of what God is doing in the Nations! Thank you for partnering with us in your prayer and financial support.

May God’s amazing initiative – showing Himself clearly in our Lord Jesus, whom we celebrate so wondrously at Christmastime – be the source of great joy and blessing to you and yours in the fast approaching festive season.

“We have all benefited from the rich blessings He brought to us – one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16 NLT

Mercy in Action

YWAM Lebanon and the local churches in Lebanon are inviting you to participate in a project focussed on helping victims of Hurrican Rita in Vidor, TX. We are looking for skilled and unskilled workers who would like to be part of clean-up teams. Teams of workers will be going to Vidor November 5-12 and November 19-26, 2005, December 26-January 2,006. The next opportunity is February 17 – 26, 2006. We are also collecting non-clothing donations. Please contact us for a list of needed items. Point and click on the Mercy In Action link on the navigation bar to the left for pictures of past Hurricane Rita relief mission trips.

Thoughts from the Director

And so God made a promise. He wanted to show Abraham that He would never change His mind. He made the promise in His own name. God gave these two things that cannot be changed, and God cannot lie. We who have turned to Him can have great comfort knowing that He will do what He has promised. This hope is a safe anchor for our souls. It will never move.” Hebrews 6:17-19 NLV. As I reflect on the past year I am blessed by this wonderful character of God. He cannot lie and He will do what He has promised. Space will not permit me to tell of all the things we feel God has promised and is now bringing to pass, but they are many. God has poured out His blessings on YWAM, Lebanon by providing finances to continue the work and has provided additional staff, for which we are grateful. During the past year and a half I experienced several health issues, which was a new experience for me, but I recovered rather quickly from them all. I recognize that to be the grace and power of God. Though my body felt periods of slowdown, my vision has not, and I look to the future with great anticipation and hope for the ministry God has placed us in. I believe God has spoken. He will open new doors of opportunity for us personally and for YWAM Lebanon.

We covet your prayers and continued financial support so that the Kingdom of God will move onward and upward. Our goal is to occupy till He comes.

Welcome

Tony and Cheri are our newest staff members. They are jack-of-all-trade people—a very useful skill around here! Tony is currently helping with the ESL class and Cheri is helping in the kitchen and doing the bookkeeping. They both do a host of other tasks, as needed. Very soon, they will be staffing our next CDTS, and next fall they will staff our first-ever School of Intercessory Prayer. It is exciting to have them here, and already we wonder how we managed without them! Welcome, Tony and Cheri!

TESOL

What a wonderful year we had in 2004 in the TESOL arm of YWAM Lebanon PA to encourage, esteem, edify and equip 61 students in six TESOL schools for the year. These graduates have gone into thirty (30!) countries to teach to reach people for Jesus. As in 1 Samuel 7:13, we, too, raise our Ebenezer and state “hitherto hath the Lord helped us. ” We began this year with a small class of four persons, all planning to go overseas–China, Sudan, and Venezuela. We look to our Lord for what He will do throughout this year in our desire to train people to teach to reach.

ESL

There’s a real international “flavor” to our base right now. We are enjoying wonderful times of fun and fellowship with the students in our English as a Second Language class. Our lives are continually being enriched as we share with our current students from Brazil, Poland, South Korea, Japan, and Iceland. Each of them has been quickly learning English – not just in formal classroom settings – but while rolling around a skating rink, shopping in local stores, touring the Amish country, visiting a chocolate factory, and exploring the Pennsylvania countryside. We’re excited about all that God is doing in our lives, as well as theirs, during this time.

YWAM Lebanon Faculty and Staff

YWAM Lebanon is people—lots of people, at the moment. We currently have three schools in session, a first for us. So, who are the staff that teach and provide support for these schools? David Bauman, our director, wears many hats, from carpenter to bill payer to communicator to organizer to trouble shooter to…you name it, he does it all. Miriam Bauman is our chief cook and bottle washer, co-decision maker, painter, shopper, and doer of many unsung deeds. Marlene Truss teaches the TESOL classes, her primary responsibility. Between TESOL classes, she is generally elsewhere in the world, attending to orphans and refugees. Lynn Hartman, head of the ESL program, also helps Marlene with the TESOL program. She also teaches in various schools around the world, so is here only part of the year. Faye Mills, has been the main teacher in our ESL class this spring, and has spent much time meeting the myriad needs of foreign students not yet proficient in English, both in and out of the classroom. Marilyn Neville, is full time base staff, serving as secretary/receptionist, substitute teacher for ESL, small group leader for CDTS, and doing whatever she can to help out. Erna de Wet is our pastoral care staff. She leads our base intercession times, is available to pray with students and staff for their personal needs, and helps out with our computers. As you can tell, we all stay pretty busy. Every day brings new adventures. Fortunately our staff is flexible and multi-talented, so out of the clamor of many tasks, the Lord weaves a choreographed dance, and gives us a ring-side seat to watch Him at work among staff and students, accomplishing His work among us.