Samuel Gill Servant in Training with NTM 
In this article you will read about my growing conviction that I would NOT have been prepared without the training I am receiving. I suppose I will never be totally ready for what lies ahead, but I sure am learning a lot this semester.
When I was in the eighth grade, I read a book about a medical missionary who lived in India for many years, giving his life to help the outcast lepers. Dr. Paul Brand had such an incredible love for those people that his work opened many doors for the Gospel in India. Although I considered becoming a medical doctor at the time, obviously that never happened. A couple of weeks ago we took a course on "International Health and Wellness." This class reminded me of yet another area of my life and ministry that will have to be entrusted into God’s hand. Although we learned quite a bit in one week, it was obviously not intended to turn us into trained nurses. If statistics mean anything, I’m sure that in the future I will be asking for prayer because of a need in this area – probably multiple times. 
Something that is often overlooked when preparing for missionary service is how much we depend on technology in missions and how important it is to know how to set up some kind of electrical system. In many countries around the world – and particularly in remote areas where we will be working – electricity from the local power companies is either unreliable or inaccessible. What are usually simple activities, such as washing clothes or cooking a meal, can become significant chores. The students here at the MTC are currently in a course to prepare us to deal with many challenges regarding this area of electricity. Did you know that there are at least 4 different kinds of electricity that comes from the wall, depending on where you are in the world? I doesn’t take but a couple seconds of 220 volts to render an American appliance useless. (My family had a knack for burning out appliances in Bolivia, and it seemed like they were always borrowed appliances). To complicate matters worse, missionaries often have to produce their own power, using either solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. Unfortunately, there are no such thing as house calls to the local electrician.
New Tribes has a team of engineers and technicians who work full-time to train and support the technical side of missionary work. The head engineer here has countless stories of things blowing up, melting, catching fire, falling, etc. because missionaries were not properly trained in this area. While I do love figuring out how to take advantage of all of these incredible advances in back-woods technology, I’m glad someone’s watching my back and can help out when I get stuck.
The latest news from our outreach is that the youth from the Hispanic church are coming this Saturday to the New Tribes campus. Yesterday, one of my co-workers and I spent several hours planning an elaborate treasure hunt for the youth. This is one element of our weekend getaway that we have prepared for the youth. We will also be watching a movie, eating lots of food, sharing from the word, and, weather permitting, going for a hike. Please see the prayer requests page to know how you can pray. 
One of the joys of this semester is being able to continue getting to know and serve the believers of this Hispanic church. Now that I have developed a good relationship with the youth, I see how much they need consistency in teaching and discipleship. I mention this only because it may play in to my plans for the summer. Honestly, I feel pulled between the decision to stay here for the summer or to return to West Chicago. I would love to stick around and continue to be involved here with this church. At the same time, there are so many people at Community Fellowship that I would like to see again, and there are always opportunities for involvement there as well. Please consider this decision as well when you pray for me.
