“Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in every way chosen for him”
Psalm 25:12
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I am passionate about training. I thank God for the opportunity He gives me not only to train students and staff but also to encourage others to do the same. God is our great instructor and he uses every opportunity to mold us into what he wants us to become. As I experienced some challenges in the last few weeks, I realized that my heart is not always ready to learn! The words of the Psalm 25 humbled me and made me think that if I want to be a good trainer I also need to be willing to be trained!
Edith Vilamajó

A story

As I was training some students recently, I was stunned by the response of one of them to my question: “How do you share the Gospel with your friends?” She answered bluntly: “I do not evangelize my friends anymore” The most astonishing thing is that the girl sitting next to her was her friend and a non-Christian! Later on I got an e-mail from her saying: “Could you please help me by telling exactly what you were talking about in your seminars. Do you remember??? I have been asked to write an article about them and I want it to be good, but I only remember the things I found interesting to me. I want the readers to get a good overview of what you said and make them think what they are missing if they are not participating in our student group.”

A challenge

Of course I remembered what I had taught. I almost know it by heart, as I have taught it several times. And yet…
Think about it: … Am I, are we, always open to learn? What would be the impact of our unwillingness to learn on the lives of those whom we are training?

A training tip

God does not teach us only when we are sitting listening to a seminar in the context of a weekend Conference. In fact He mostly teaches us in the context of our every day lives. It is His “hidden curriculum”. And it is also there, in our everyday lives, that we may find it more difficult to be teachable subjects.
Discover:
 How do I, as a trainer, become a better learner?
 How do I create a safe learning atmosphere to help students overcome barriers to learning?
Get back to me! I want to hear your insights and ideas!

A resource

1.- Movie: “EDUCATING RITA”
Plot: Michael Caine and the superstar Julie Walters deliver a couple of wonderful performances in this endearing but bittersweet tale of a boozily burnt-out professor's tutoring of (and subsequent tutoring by) a free-spirited cockney hairdresser determined to improve her lot in life.

Describe and compare the two main characters: Rita/Susan and Frank. What can we learn from Rita and Frank’s attitudes as learners and trainers? As Christians, what are our strongest motivators? What can we do to continue being motivated to learn and train?

2.- Extranet
Do not forget to use the newly developed IFES online resource “Extranet”. Visit www.info.ifesworld.org (click ‘Europe and Eurasia’ and then click ‘Edith Vilamajó’). You can register by visiting www.info.ifesworld.org/register.php. Ask Anja (from the IFES International Office) anja@ifesworld.org to send you the information on how to log in.

3.- Website
Watch this space…

This e-mail tool aims to motivate, refresh, train, and support you in your training efforts as well as to keep in touch. It will be sent by e-mail around 4 times a year. I would appreciate your feedback through stories, comments and questions. I am also looking for a “name” for this e-mail. Any suggestions? I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time!

Edith Vilamajó
Evangelism Trainer for Europe