FROM YOUR DEACON, THE REVEREND PHYLLIS DOTY

June & July 2013

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM YOUR DEACON, THE REVEREND PHYLLIS DOTY
English classes: We came to a roaring finish with a party to celebrate the end of classes, May birthdays and Mother’s Day. For the first time our celebration included those who are studying for the Citizenship exam, a class taught by Bob and Lydia Bush and Andy Miller. The regular classes numbered between 25 and 30 stu-dents most of the time with 4 levels: Beginning Eng-lish (taught by Maureen Menosky), Advanced begin-ners (taught by Arecley Diego), Level 2 (taught by Phyllis Doty) and Level 3 (taught by Marie Brian). We plan to start classes again in September. Thanks to all of you who contributed to the scholarship fund. We had all the money we needed and we have some left over to use for the same purpose next semester! You are all soooo generous! Thanks sooooo much!

Cuba and Fielés A Jesus: Mother Tulia writes that she will not be able to get the telephone we had hoped for, but she is now trying to get internet ac-cess on her mother-in-law’s telephone. This has also had some delays, but she is still hopeful. Her mother-in-law lives across the street from her, so that would be very convenient. I call her on the 3rd Sunday of each month to let her know that we are sending her the money by Western Union that we collect that day. We can also e-mail each other on her brother-in-law’s e-mail, but that is not so con-venient, but it is better than nothing. She and all of Fielés A Jesus are looking forward to our visit with them in July and to the men who will visit in the Fall. The things we still need to take over to them are thread –big spools of all colors, towels of all sizes, and vitamins. If you would like to donate anything, please leave it on my desk. Thank you so much. Mother Tulia sends her blessing and best wishes to all of us. Phyllis

English Classes and Citizenship classes: Two years ago we had to pay an additional $30 per student to the State.  At that time many of you sponsored a student and we were able to cover the cost. After that “the grant” covered the cost for us, but this year they are no longer able to do that.  They have provided envelopes for those of you who may again wish to sponsor a student. The envelopes are in the Parish Hall on the table by the door.  Make checks out to St. Luke’s so you can get a tax deduction.  You may give them to Ellen in the office or hand them to me.  Thanks so much for your continued support of this outreach program of our church.

Fieles A Jesus in Cuba:  We’re planning a short trip to visit Fieles A Jesus in July, leaving July 18 and returning on July 23. We need others to go to help handle the excess luggage. The main purpose of the trip is to take the many things that we have collected for Fieles A Jesus, so the more who go, the better.  Please let me know if you are interested. Last year the cost was $400 for a round trip from Miami to Havana. 

April 2013

• English Classes and Citizenship classes: Two years ago we had to pay an additional $30 per student to the State. At that time many of you sponsored a student and we were able to cover the cost. After that “the grant” covered the cost for us, but this year they are no longer able to do that. They have provided envelopes for those of you who may again wish to sponsor a student. The envelopes are in the Parish Hall on the table by the door. Make checks out to St. Luke’s so you can get a tax deduction. You may give them to Ellen in the office or hand them to me. Thanks so much for your continued support of this outreach program of our church.

• Fielés A Jesus in Cuba: We’re planning a short trip to visit Fielés A Jesus, leaving July 18 and returning on July 23. We need several others to go to help handle the excess luggage. The main purpose of the trip is to take the many things that we have collected for Fielés A Jesus, so the more who go, the better. Please let me know if you are interested. Last year the cost was $400 for a round trip from Miami to Havana.

March 2013

ESL CLASSES: We
have been seeing from
25-30 students who come regularly. We also now have someone to be in charge of the nursery. She will not only teach the children, but will also train the babysitters. I am thankful for this great answer to prayer.

CUBA: We have a new picture of Mother Tulia and Sara, the new baby, and Susana, her older daughter. It will be on the bulletin board in the parish hall for you to see.

February 2013 

English Classes and Citizenship classes:

We have started classes with about 20-25 students in the English program. Lydia and Bob Bush and Andy Miller are going for training to do the Citizen-ship classes and will start classes on Wednesday, Feb 6. If you know anyone who would benefit from either the English class or the Citi-zenship class please let Deacon Phyllis know about them. Also a big thanks to Mary Giddens for all the help she offers by supplying snacks!!

Fielés A Jesus in Cuba:

Thanks to everyone for your generous support of our sister church in Cuba. Mtr. Tulia reported in our last conversation that when she started her ministry at Fielés A Jesus there were about 6 or 7 dedicated members who came to church. They had done all possi-ble to keep the church alive, but were very discouraged. Now, 2 years later, there are 32 members who are tithing and between 60 and 70 people who attend church regularly. A lot of their encour-agement and growth is due to our prayers and gifts to them. As they see the love of God expressed by St. Luke’s, they are hopeful for the first time in years.

January  2013

News from Cuba:

We received word from Mtr. Tulia that they still have not received a telephone. They say that there are too many phones in Matanzas and the infrastructure will not support a phone for the church, so we need to keep praying for them and for a way to open up for them to get the phone. Thanks so much for your support and prayers. She also reported on the building project. They have started the construc-tion of two rooms and a bathroom that visitors will be able to use. They especially have us in mind because we plan to send a team of builders to work on the construction project next November. If you are interested in going, please talk to Tony Williams and let him know of your inter-est. You also may want to check your passport and be sure it is valid through June of 2014. You will need to apply for new passports in February, 2013 in order to assure you will have them in time to make the prepa-rations for travel to Cuba.

ESL Update: Our English as a Second Language classes graduated 32 people in December – a record number for us! We will start classes again the 21st

of January. We also plan to have a Citizenship class this year that will meet once a week on Wednesday nights. If you are interested in teaching this class, please let me know asap. There is a training program for you on January 31 in Tampa, but you must register before Jan. 16. The class is free of charge, but you will need to pay for your travel to Tampa.

I am so grateful for this won-derful church family. You are so supportive of this Spanish min-istry and I appreciate your prayers for it and for your fi-nancial support. Thank you so much!

December 2012

Deacon’s Notes Bibles for Cuba and more: 

A big Thank You goes to all of you at St. Luke’s for your generosity. You always give in abundance for our sister church in Cuba, Fielés A Jesus. When we make another trip we will have some extra money for the excess baggage we will definitely have. Mtr. Tulia has asked if we can find some Bibles in Spanish for them. They have a good number of Prayer Books, but lack Bibles, so if you would like to make a special contribution for Bibles, please label your check ‘Bibles for Cuba’ and we will see to it that it is used ex-actly for that. They have also asked us to continue to pray for a telephone for the church. They have waited 10 years now, and are still having difficulties getting one. 

ESL: The English classes are wind-ing down with still a lot of enthusi-asm on the part of the students – we can be very grateful for that! At the final party on Dec. 10 we will have door prizes. If you have a nice door prize we could use please leave it on my desk with a note that says ‘door prize’. Other-wise I might send it to Cuba. Last year you donated generously to provide bilingual dictionaries for our graduating students. We would like to do that again this year too, if possible. If you would like to provide a dictionary for a student the cost varies from $10 - $25. Again, thank you for your generous support of this program. It means a lot to many students from many different countries . Not all of our students are Spanish speaking; we have one from India and several from Haiti and from Viet Nam.

October 2012

DEACON’S NEWS

September 2012 Cuba Update: 

The city of Matanzas survived the hurricane with only heavy rain. Of course, the church was flooded, but there was no other damage. Baby Sara is now 1 month old and Mtr. Tulia is recuperating well from the caesarian section and will be able to conduct the services at Fieles A Jesus in September. After the presenta-tion about our trip to Cuba, Glenn and Andy sold rosaries they had made and gave all the proceeds to Mtr. Tulia. We were able to send her $105 the next day by Western Union. 

My hopes for future relations with Fieles AJesus include sending Mtr. Tulia at least $30 a month to augment her salary and more that she can use for her discretionary fund. If you would like to contribute to that financial aid, please put your check in the Sunday offering and designate it for CUBA.

English Classes: 

Classes will start on Sept.10 and will be held every Monday and Thursday nights until Decem-ber. If you would like to help host the classes with refreshments, please let Deacon Phyllis know. Thanks so much for all your support for these classes.

August 2012

I would like to share the following letter from Mtr. Tulia, the family and the church, Fieles A Jesus: 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Phyllis, Tammy, Tony and Laine,

I am so sorry that I couldn't be with for the Good-bye party, but my blood pressure has been playing games with me. On Tuesday the pressure spiked and on Wednesday I went back to the hospital, but came home on Friday. My doctor wants to wait to do a caesarian until next week. We just have to hold on till then. Don't worry about me, pray that our great God will take care of me.

I did receive your two e-mails.   I don't know if anyone sent you my birthday, but here it is: Feb. 19, 1978.

My brother-in-law, Orestes and his wife, Wanda, are going to the U.S. on the 30th and will be there for a month.  I'm going to ask them to take your contact information. Maybe it would be a good opportunity to send the money you had mentioned. Osmani has already gotten a good amount of materials at a good price, and yesterday they started to deliver it, working till quite late. We believe that this is a miraculous opportunity that God has given us. The people of the congregation are very excited and happy with this new light that you have shined on us.

We are so happy to have known you and to have shared such a good time together with you. We are also very grateful for such generosity that you have shown us. We will always be praying for you. We love you. God bless and be with you in all your ways. A big hug!

Mtr. Tulia, the family and the church, Fieles A Jesus

TEACHERS NEEDED: Next fall we will be short 2 teachers for the Eng-lish classes. If you have any inclina-tion to teach, please consider this opportunity. We meet every Monday and Thursday from 7 p.m. To 9 p.m. For more information, please call Phyllis at 386-249-0096. Thank you so much!!!

ST LUKE’S TEAM TO VISIT SISTER CHURCH:  

In July a team of four will represent St. Luke's with a visit to our sister church in Cuba. Fielés A Jesus has new rector, Mtr. Tulia Sanchez. She is looking for-ward to our visit and will be letting us know the things we could send that would be of help to them. As soon as I have this list, I will be letting you know. The four who are going are Tony and Tammy Wil-liams, Laine Fletcher and Phyllis Doty.

ESL CLASSES are on hiatus until the Fall.

THANK YOU!

A great big THANK YOU goes to the men’s group for their wonderful food service to the students of the ESL class. They prepared a grilled dinner for everyone, about 60 people altogether, for the closing ceremonies of the class. Everyone ate well and were very grateful to St. Luke’s for our wonderful, generous members who made these classes, not just possible, but really great! I appreci-ate all of you too.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM YOUR DEACON, THE REVEREND PHYLLIS DOTY

• 1. A Korean woman, Vivian, would like to have a con-versation partner. She speaks fairly good English and just wants to practice with someone for an hour or two a week. Sorry, men, but only a woman can re-spond to this need. If you would like to go to lunch with her sometime, please call her at 213-327-7950, or you can call me, Phyllis, at 386-249-0096. This is a great opportunity for someone – maybe you?
• 2. The English class will end this Spring on May 10. Last year many of you gave $30 to meet new state re-quirements. "The grant" will cover that expense this year. However, we would like to give each student a bilingual dictionary. If you would like to help in this new project, you can either give me a dictionary that you buy, or you could give me the money to buy one. The cost of one is approximately $15. We will need to have about 20 dictionaries, so let me know if you would like to help our students in this way. Thank you to all of those who have supported this ministry with goodies, money and teaching.
• 3. Another need for the English classes – next fall we will be short 2 teachers. If you have any inclination to teach, please consider this opportunity. We meet every Monday and Thursday from 7 p.m. To 9 p.m. For more information, please call Phyllis at 386-249-0096. Thank you so much!!!
• 4. In July, a team of four will represent St. Luke's with a visit to our sister church in Cuba. Fieles A Jesus has new rector, Mtr. Tulia Sanchez. She is looking for-ward to our visit and will be letting us know the things we could send that would be of help to them. As soon as I have this list, I will be letting you know. The 4 who are going are Tony and Tammy Williams, Laine Fletcher and Phyllis Doty.

    ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES AT ST. LUKE’S

By Deacon Phyllis Doty

"Can you help me? I speak no English Do you have classes for me? I speak some English, but I need to learn more. How much does it cost?"

These are questions I hear frequently and am happy to tell them we have classes for all levels of English speakers and there is no cost to them. Every Monday and Thursday nights you will find four classes of English with wonderful dedicated teachers, all from St. Luke’s. In addition to those who are now teaching or who have taught in the past, there are many of you, our members, who provide snacks and assist in other ways as well. This year, thanks to "the grant", we also have sufficient babysitters to enable the steady attendance of mothers. This has kept our numbers up and encoraged many families to continue in their studies.

We have a wide range of students; those with no educational background who have taught themselves to read and write to those who are college graduates. Each level presents it challenges, and at whatever level they are studying, it requires perseverance and dedication – a lot of hard work!  Our teachers are patient, encouraging, and willing to give deeply of themselves to enable our students to succeed. We have several students who have continued faithfully for three years. They entered at the lowest levels and are now studying in level three. There is a marked difference in their ability to handle themselves in English and in our community. Others, who have not been with us so long, are also encouraged to see their improvement and growth in their ability to use English.

 English classes for speakers of other languages ESL classes continue on Mondays and Thursdays from 7-9pm. The Spring session of the ESL classes will end in mid May and Fall classes will begin in mid September.  

 Thanks to all our wonderful members of St. Luke’s for making these classes possible.