UPDATED March 11, 2016

LifeNets Sponsors Annick Stefanin for Thailand Mission 2016-2017

We are happy to sponsor Annick Stefanin from the Seattle area who has been accepted to teach at Legacy Institute in Thailand for the 2016-2106 year. Annick is currently attending Ambassador Bible College in Milford, OH.

She writes:

"It is our duty to serve those in need. On July 16th, 2016, a new school year will begin for the Legacy Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand. As a volunteer, I will stand in front of a mix of Thai and Burmese students and, to the best of my ability, teach. From there I will have seven months as the clock ticks down to February 17th, 2017 to learn the unique culture, teach effectively, and be the best example I can be.

"My life has been relatively easy, because I and my family have been blessed with much. But God has also blessed me with the chance to experience other peoples spread across the world, across many different continents. I have had my eyes opened to the blessings that our country has received, though I may not have fully realized it in my heart at the time.

"I hold Thailand a little higher in my heart than most other countries, as I have grown to love the bits of their culture I have experienced, and have learned from a friend and a relative of their previous experience teaching there. Through these influences on my life and my own enchantment with Asian culture, I feel as if God has been preparing me to serve in Chiang Mai.

"This world is a beautiful one, despite the terrors that Satan and the flesh have induced upon it. Though it has its natural beauty, its most amazing characteristic is that of the people living on it. The varieties of skin, of emotion, of culture and characteristics only make humanity's existence more beautiful, as God loves all of them and will call all of every nation to salvation.

"As long as I am alive there will always be something new to learn. I want to use this experience to learn about people, to shape bonds with those I teach, and those I interact with, and overcome any struggles that may arise because of our differences. In seven months I want to broaden my perspective of the world, and hold onto the ties of friendships that I will cherish for a lifetime. I also wish that by being there, I will have introduced a different culture, a Euro-American one, to the Thai and Burmese people.

"This world is painful, in these instances of life. This world will not relinquish its terrors. But we have to look towards God’s Kingdom. We have to look towards the better future. We, who have been preached God’s Kingdom and believe, are so much more lucky than those of the rest of the world. I want to share that hope, that belief that makes life worth living. To spread the gospel through the knowledge I’ve learned at ABC and even better yet by example, would be the best that I could ask for.

"I desire in my heart to help others. It gives me joy to see the joy in others. I want to create memories that I can recall fondly. I want to carry that with me when I return to the States. I want to create ties that last, friendships that benefit both. I want to look back and know that in some way, I’ve helped these people. I don’t want to only be on the receiving end. I want to give."

UPDATED April 17, 2015

LifeNets Sponsors Ian Stewart to Thailand Mission for 2015-2016

We are happy to sponsor Ian Stewart from Texas who has been accepted to teach at Legacy in Thailand this coming school year. His sister Julia was sponsored previously by LifeNets. He has been assigned to teach Old Testament History, True Doctrines, Life and Times of Jesus, and A History of the New Testament Church. He will also be involved in the farming project. He will also be involved in the farming project.

Ian writes:

"I would like to thank LifeNets for sponsoring me while volunteering at Legacy. I am 23 years old and am anticipating the big changes ahead of me. I graduated college two years ago and was blessed with a full time job. After being baptized and working a of couple years I slowly started to feel that I needed to get out of the mold and serve in a capacity I had never done before while I still had the freedom to do so.

"Over the past couple years I have come to realize we have an exceptional amount of exposure to God's word compared to other parts of the world. Church of God organizations produce many sermons, study guides, and booklets we have easy access to in the United States. It is exciting to be able to share some of this knowledge with the students eager to learn English and the Bible in Thailand. I will be teaching several Bible classes during the year such as History of the Old Testament, Fundamental Doctrines, etc. I depart for Thailand on May 19th and can't wait."

UPDATED October 29, 2014

Report from Chris Collins in Thailand

October 7, 2014

Serving here in Thailand at the Legacy Institute has been more of a learning and growing experience than I ever could have imagined it would be. I knew before coming here that I would be teaching English and the Bible to young adults, and that has gone wonderfully, but nothing could have prepared me for the individual growth I would be doing over the next several months.

We just wrapped up the first semester of classes here, and all teachers, and students are excited about the break for the Feast of Tabernacles. All of us teachers can see a lot of improvements in our students English and their understanding of the Bible. Some of our students had no English background, and no Bible background before they came to study at Legacy, and now they are able to ask us Bible questions in English. I never could have imagined how rewarding teaching could be before coming here. I love it!

As I mentioned, being here in this environment has taught me a great deal. The other teachers and I have had a huge responsibility on our hands that we would have NEVER had at home. We have all been ripped out of our comfort zones and given responsibility that none of us have had the opportunity to have before. The responsibilities range from; growing our own food, to teaching, to Sabbath services, to managing the daily operations of the school. We usually work about 60 hour weeks each and although many things we have to deal with can be stressful, it is very rewarding to work and serve here in Thailand.

Thank you once again LifeNets for sponsoring me and helping to make a difference here. I never could have done this without your help.

Sincerely,

Chris Collins

September 5, 2014

UPDATED September 6, 2014

Report from Michael Slocum in Thailand

September 5, 2014

Just over three months in the Legacy Foundation is going strong. There are a total of five teachers here at Legacy including myself and, after some late additions, thirteen students. Many of the students are from Burma who spent a good amount of time in a refugee camp and about half a dozen of them are related to one another. One of the students is a single mother of a two and a half year old which brings all new challenges and joys in providing education for these kids.

The classes that we teachers provide are that of Speech, health and hygiene, choir, beginning English, intermediate English, advanced English, leadership, composition, computer, journalism, sports, as well as three bible classes (introduction, old testament history, and gospels). After dinner we have allotted an hour’s time for study hall where we assign one teacher to be available, even though all of us end up helping anyway.

Legacy also has farm land that we, as students and teachers combined, work at to live off what we grow. With the afternoon schedule of classes and morning hours that we put in for farming, each teacher spend about 60 hours a week working with and around the students. I’ve heard that full emersion is the best way to understand and know a culture and we are testing that theory in every way possible.

The support of Life Nets was a wonderful and welcomed aide from the beginning and now after just three months here I am so much more grateful. The assistance that Life Nets provided allowed me to experience something that I never realized I could experience. It is not just the country and culture, but the kids that I get to work and live with have changed me in ways that I didn’t think needed growth.

With the knowledge that the other teachers and I are providing here these kids will be able to succeed in their lives afterward. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Michael Slocum

UPDATED May 28, 2014

Two More Sponsored for Thailand Mission 2014-2015

We have sponsored three young adults for mission in Thailand. We have already written about Chris Collins (story below) for the 2014-2015 year in Thailand. We have addred two more young adults for this most interesting mission at Legacy Institute in northern Thailand which serves a broad community of Burmese and Thai people. More information at www.legacyinstitute.org. Here are their bios.

Julia Stewart

I really appreciate the assistance from Lifenets, that will allow me to have this once in a lifetime opportunity. Volunteering at Legacy Institute has been a goal of mine for several years, so finally being able to go means so much to me. I am 20 years old and will graduate in May with my Bachelors in English and a minor in Anthropology from the University of Texas at Arlington. I have taken many classes to prepare myself to teach English, and am currently enjoying a class focused on teaching Rhetoric and Composition. I am also in the process of becoming TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certified. While at Legacy, I will be teaching Beginner and Intermediate English and Composition.

I will be leaving for Thailand on May 21st, and while I am nervous I am also eager for the possibilites an opportunity like this may bring. I’m looking forward to teaching, but more so what I will learn while there. I don’t feel as if this is a great sacrifice but an opportunity to really learn the true meaning of serving. Just being able to live a year abroad amongst church brethren from a different culture is a tremendous blessing and a great way to gain a different perspective.

Thank you, again!

-Julia Stewart

Michael Slocum

I wish to thank you for your assistance toward this opportunity graced upon me. I feel gifted with the experience to travel and serve, and look forward to the coming year. I am 23 years of age, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and a part of the Church of God.

When I was the age of 20 I attended and in time graduated from the Ambassador Bible Center. While attending and at the age of 21 I was baptized. After graduation I returned to my home in Ridgefield, Washington to finish college. Since then I have been pursuing my degree in Elementary Education and aspirations of becoming a writer. The experience I will have in Thailand will give me hands-on knowledge that is unique for my future career in teaching. I am currently assigned the class of Bible 1 though more classes will arise with opportunity. I am nervous, but anxious to start this adventure come June. I hope and pray to be malleable to whatever God has in store for me and that I will be able to learn from this experience just as I pray those I teach learn.

Thank you once more for allowing me this wonderful opportunity.

-Michael Slocum

UPDATED March 1, 2014

Today we saw Amanda Boyer in Cincinnati after her return from Thailand. She spent an eventful nine months in Thailand teaching English, working on a rice farm and doing other work at Legacy Institute.

She also taught journalism and produce the Class of 2013-2014 Legacy Leader which you can view and download here. It contains a lot of interesting news about the Mission she was on.

LifeNets Helps Sponsor Chris Collins for Thailand Mission

UPDATED February 20, 2014

We are happy to sponsor Chris Collins, our fourth young adult to Thailand who will be leaving for Thailand in June 2014 for about nine months.

Chris writes:

Thank you so much for helping to fund this life changing opportunity that has been set before me. I truly feel this is going to be a once in a lifetime experience, and I will learn and grow in many ways over the next year.

Chris Collins

I am 25 years old and was born and raised in the Church of God. At the age of 20, I attended and graduated from the Ambassador Bible Center, and after gradation I decided to live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was baptized when I was 21, and have been doing my best to live God’s way ever since. I currently go to Northern Kentucky University where I will graduate from in May of this year with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, and a minor in Business Administration.

I am scheduled to leave for Thailand in early June, and will be teaching Introduction to the Bible and Old Testament History at the Legacy Institute. I am extremely anxious and excited for this opportunity, and for myself to grow and learn, and to also help serve a people that have not been as fortunate as myself in their lives.

I have seen God’s hand working with me in many aspects of my life, and I know that this journey will be another way for God to work with me and the students I will be teaching. I hope to impact the students in a positive way, and I pray that by my teaching and example they are able to leave the Legacy Institute and have a better life, and that they will live the rest of their lives in a way that pleases God.

Thank you once again for helping me in this once in a lifetime opportunity!

-Chris Collins

LifeNets Helps Sponsor Mission toThailand for Amanda Boyer

UPDATED June 1, 2013

LifeNets is happy to help sponsor Amanda Boyer from Cincinnati, Ohio to participate in Legacy Institute's Mission in Thailand that started in May. Amanda will be gone for nearly a year.

Amanda writes:

Thank you so much for aiding me in this wonderful opportunity through LifeNets. I am so looking forward to this adventure and service project in Thailand. Below is a short bio along with my expectations and goals:

Amanda Boyer

I was raised in the Church of God by my faithful mother, and answered God’s call to faith and repentance at age 15. My love for the truth of God was sparked by the Ambassador Correspondence Courses—and it has grown passionately ever since. At age 17 I was baptized, and upon graduating high school I moved to Cincinnati to attend the Ambassador Bible Center. While in ABC I served in the media department of the United Church of God as well.

Since graduation at ABC, I’ve been working with young children and teaching in a child care setting. I’ve also been attending the University of Cincinnati to pursue a degree in Secondary Education: Language Arts.

I believe this opportunity at the Legacy institute will be a life changing experience; one that graciously allows me to serve God and the Thai people, as well as gain experience and skills sets that will be need for my future aspirations to teach. I fully expect this experience to be a challenge, and to be a growing experience that I will put my whole heart into. Giving a year of my life to serve and teach is a sacrifice, but it is a sacrifice that I count as great gain in comparison for all God has given and done. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity.

Sincerely,

Amanda Boyer

Former Participants Charles Wilson and Hanna Reisdorff

UPDATED September 20, 2012

LifeNets has sponsored a number of worthy individuals for worthy projects that with fall within our own Mission Statement found on www.lifenets.org.

Along with Hanna Reisdorff, we are helping sponsor Charles Wilson who will be leaving shortly for Thailand, as well. He writes the following:

"Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit serving the Lord." This passage is found in  Romans 12. It goes on to list many attributes of what make up a Godly Christian. This passage has stuck with me the last few weeks. Why?

Two weeks ago. I committed myself to embark on a journey. A journey that will untimately change my life. A journey that will help touch other lives. I have been blessed with the oppurtunity to head to Thailand, and partner up with Legacy Institute and LifeNets to help and serve in any way possible. Now two weeks ago, if you would have told me I was going  into Thailand, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. I was wrapped up in myself and college. Theres nothing wrong with college. But I firmly believe that our amazing God went out of His way to make sure I was in Thailand. Yep. You guessed. Before knew it, God opended doors for me, and certain things fell into place. 

We are called to be literal servants of God. Doing the work of God, and stepping up to the plate in any way we can. I will be helping with the locals in Chiang Mai. Teaching english mainly, working on the farm, and helping with piano and anything else that they want me to do.

Please pray that God uses me the way He wishes, and that it is a success!

Posted June 3, 2012

We are helping Hanna Reisdorff of Washington State on her nine month mission to work with Legacy Institute in northern Thailand which serves a broad community of Burmese and Thai people. She leaves on June 11, 2012.

Hanna describes her work:

As a volunteer at Legacy Institute, I will be teaching a class on health and hygiene. The curriculum will include disease prevention and cleanliness. There will be practical ways to be healthier in a third-world environment. Also, the subjects of STD contraction and abortion will be addressed. Knowing the dangers that wrong choices in these areas will bring will help the students to make wise decisions. This class will fulfill the aspect of promoting well being that is mentioned within the Lifenets mission statement.

I will also be teaching a Journalism class. This class will combine English composition with technical computer skills to give the students a more well-rounded skill set to be able to find work and support themselves. English composition will help fine-tune their knowledge of the English language. A larger vocabulary as well as correct grammar and a knowledge of the written language will open students up to many more job opportunities and make them a first-choice employee. The ability to adequately use Microsoft Word, Publisher and typing skills will also give students an advantage in the work force. These added skills will help students to become self-sufficient in their current environment, which is another philosophy mentioned in the Lifenets mission statement.

I truly believe the work done there will make a difference. Teaching students to support themselves and make wise choices will dramatically improve their quality of life. It is my hope and prayer that the volunteers at Legacy this year will be beneficial to the Thai people.

- Hanna Reisdorff

On August 13, 2012, Legacy Institute celebrated the Queen of Thailand’s Birthday. In recognition of this national holiday, classes were cancelled. A former teacher graciously funded a field trip for the students and so, we packed all of the students into our blue Sung Tao (pickup truck) and headed off to the Mae Sa Waterfall. Hanna Reisdorff on left.

Missions of cooperating organizations:

Lifenets Mission Statement:

LifeNets is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization which develops programs offering practical assistance that promote the well being and self sufficiency of disadvantaged people throughout the world and, where possible, encourages them to pass on their LifeNets benefit to others. http://lifenets.org

Legacy Institute Philosophy:

Legacy Institute is a private, non-profit, charitable foundation, founded in 1999, that seeks to improve the quality of life of people everywhere, both spiritually and physically.