Liebenzell Mission Germany has an intensive missionary training program, which I have had the privilege to take part in this past year.  Most of their accepted candidates come to them after having finished a degree, often through the Liebenzell university in southern Germany.  Many missionary candidates come to Liebenzell Mission after having completed an apprenticeship in a practical trade (such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, etc.), and then study to become an ordained minister by the Liebenzell university.  They then apply to become missionary candidates and, if accepted, are sent to Canada for nine months of additional training.

In Canada, they live together with missionary trainers in a house in Toronto.  Candidates attend English school to improve their English, as that is the international language of Liebenzell missionary teams.  They also are partnered with an immigrant church in Toronto and assist in their ministries.  Once a week, there is a full-day training at the house, led by the missionary trainers.  This usually includes: a devotion and worship time, a morning lecture, lunch together, and then an afternoon cross-cultural activity or guest speaker.  

We have covered a lot of different topics in our weekly meetings - these are just the topics from the first half of the year!  We covered understanding yourself - your personal and cultural history, understanding other cultures, ethnocentrism, cross-cultural communication, cross-cultural ministry, cross-cultural stress, cross-cultural leadership, multi-cultural teamwork, and spiritual warfare.  We have also visited with other missionaries, ministries, immigrants, authentic international restaurants, and gone on a scavenger hunt in Toronto's Chinatown.

This fall, shortly after the German candidates arrived in Canada, we went on a retreat.  We spent a few days in Red Bay (near Sauble) getting to know each other, and enjoying the fall colours and beautiful water before the snow came.  It was a lovely time together.

We left off last time, with my arrival in Canada, and a diagnosis of a thyroid condition.  From March 2016 until now:

It was decided that it would be best to wait for me to return to Malawi until the thyroid condition was stabilized, and that while I was in Canada, I would pursue additional mission training to better equip me for my future.

I have been attending weekly trainings run by Liebenzell Mission for missionary candidates. Our trainers are a couple who were formerly missionaries in Malawi, so they have been a wonderful resource for me.  This year was actually the perfect year to be in Canada for this, as the majority of my classmates are going to either Malawi or Zambia (neighbouring country of Malawi) and will be my nearest co-workers!  I have also been able to take a few courses through other mission agencies as well.  Most recently, a supporter communication and fundraising course with New Tribes Mission, and a course on how to learn culture and language quickly, the PLANTS course by MissionPrep.
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My thyroid condition is slowly getting closer to stabilization, but my numbers have fluctuated wildly over the past few months, which means that my energy levels and brain capacity often change from day-to-day. This has made it difficult to manage much more than basic survival and essential meetings, although that has recently been improving.