Bob Nordvall

Report from pastor Bob Nordvall  

During the week of September 8-12 TAT hosted its third Adult English Language Camp. A robust team of Americans came over, at their own expense, to spend the week with eager and inspiring students in good and fun conversation in English. The team members included: Keith Perhus, North Dakota; Leah Knutson, Minnesota; Boni Schanil, Minnesota; Beth Tofte, Wyoming; and Pastor Bob Nordvall, North Dakota. (Bob has been a frequent visitor to TAT over the last years and was instrumental together with his wife, Karen, in beginning the Language Camps in 2006.)

 The purpose of the TAT Adult Language Camp is to provide an opportunity for people to practice their English language skills and talk about faith through an immersion experience with English speakers. Attention is paid to vocabulary, sentence structure, verb tenses and adjectives along with reading and listening. The camps are also an opportunity for students to be introduced to TAT and the education programs provided there. Along the way, too, we are hopeful that the experience will be helpful in shaping 
and strengthening students in their own faith. Sometimes the camp becomes an introduction to the Christian faith.

Each day the students gathered for classes that ran from 3pm - 7pm, with a snack break in the middle that included treats of bread, meat, cheese, drinks and chocolate! Songs were sung and Evelin assisted the team with her guitar. We studied the life of King David and lessons focused on development of faith and character. Students were very involved with questions and discussion about the Bible stories, and how these stories related to their own lives. Team members each shared their personal stories of faith in the time of sadness or struggle and sometimes great joy. There was also lots of laughter!

After the large group introduction for the day, the students are divided into smaller groups depending upon their level of English usage. There was a beginner group for those with little or no experience in
English. The intermediate group was for those needing more help with writing and the fundamentals of speaking the language and the different verb tenses. The more advanced group focused on conversational English skills and expansion of vocabulary, pronunciation and some of the common idioms in expression. The advanced group retains more flexibility depending upon the needs and the desired helpful directions the students might like to take. It is all great fun!

Plans are being made for another camp in 2009, and Pastor Bob plans to introduce another team to the wonderful country of Estonia and TAT.
Hopefully next year the team will also be able to host a Camp at St.Gregor's School in Saldus, Latvia.

Pastor Bob Nordvall