May Update

A painting of my daily view and walk up the hill from my dorm, to the main part of the campus for classes. Tessa’s May News Dear friends and family, The time has come for me to leave my home of two years in South Hamilton, and enter an in-between-phase before I can go to Germany. YES, I am in fact finished with seminary! On May 11, I graduated with an MA in Religion, focus in literature, from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Below you will find some pictures from my graduation. As my family could not be there, friends who have become like family came to support me in their stead and it was truly a celebration of all God has done to get us to this point. And now that I have reached this point of finishing my studies, and the door to my future stands wide open...I peer through it with some slight trepidation. I am so excited to start this ministry in Germany, a ministry I truly have felt God calling me to, and preparing me for. However, it is hard to exist in this limbo state, where I have finished grad school, but cannot quite start my ministry and go to Germany yet, until I have completed fundraising, as well as the orientation for TeachBeyond in Wheaton mid-June. A friend of mine loves to ask, “What is God inviting you into?” And this question has been in my mind, as I enter this in-between-stage until I leave for Germany: What IS God inviting me into, in my relationship with Him, to learn and to experience during this time? Below, in the prayer requests, I would love if you would join me in prayer that this time of in-between would be a time of growth and blessing as well, and I would not feel it wasted time, for our Lord never wastes anything! And more than anything, I just want to thank you all for the prayers that have helped get me through. I know countless people were praying for my thesis (which I completed on time, and received a good grade on!), fundraising, and my health. Please know that those prayers were very definitely answered and heard, and much appreciated, and that you have been in my prayers as well. God’s blessing and grace to you all, Tessa   The past two weeks have been filled with spending time with and saying goodbye to friends. Here, two of my closest friends and I are hiking around Walden pond.  Since my parents couldn’t come to my graduation, my church family stepped in, and celebrated with me!  The past year I’ve nannied for this family, and it’s been a huge blessing to be able to get to know all three of them. They were my adopted family for graduation, and I will sorely miss them.  Prayer Requests: Praise: I reached 60% of funding! Graduating and finishing seminary well. I couldn’t have done it without the Lord giving me strength. All the friends and family that have supported me to even get this far. I’m so grateful for the way I have caught a glimpse of what true community means here at seminary. Leaving seminary, and all my friends, is SO hard, but that means that I spent my time there well.  Supplication: I need to reach 90% of funding before I can leave for Germany. Please pray the Lord would provide this by the end of June.  Leaving Gordon Conwell is really hard. My heart feels heavy leaving friends who have become like family. Please pray that the Lord would allow us to remain in touch. I am leaving, and entering a state of limbo for the next month or so. I will be visiting several different people, several different states, even, and will not be able to settle down for a while. Please pray for strength, endurance, and an ability to live out of my suitcase.  Helpful Links: If you would like to read previous newsletters, follow the link to my blog: http://teachingtcks.blogspot.com/ If God may be calling you to join my ministry support team financially, follow this link: https://give.teachbeyond.org/support/tessa-sydnor/  If you would like to unsubscribe from my email updates, please just email this address, and let me know so I can take you off the list. Copyright © 2019 TeachBeyond, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: TeachBeyond 2940 Rivermont Ave Apt 22 Lynchburg, VA  24503-1487 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

April Update

Tessa's April News

Dear family and friends, It is nearing May, and time to send a little update about all the things the Lord has been doing this month. Below, you will find a few highlights, pictures and prayer requests. The picture above is the crown of thorns. Easter came late this year, but the timing was just right in my book. In the midst of paper writing and finishing my MA degree, it was restorative to simply pause. Reflect on the terrible beauty of the cross. And realize, that Christ suffered immense pain for me. That should blow me away every single day (sadly I pass my days mostly forgetting it instead). One of the things I emphasize when I share about my ministry is that the missionary kids (MK) at BFA need to know that God sees their pain. Unacknowledged pain is one of the loneliest things to bear, and most MKs experience this loneliness. But this Easter reminded me that Christ bore unacknowledged pain for me! A friend reminded me of this truth: That though we (as believers) will know pain in this word, it doesn't have to be lonely, if we remember and acknowledge that Jesus bore pain even unto the cross. He comforts us knowing full well what it means to suffer pain. What a marvelous truth! Some highlights from this month: Within a week, God raised 20% of funding, putting me at approx. 50% fully funded! My papers and thesis are finished, and I graduate from seminary in 2 weeks! I held an art exhibit/ministry evening to raise awareness and funds for the ministry, and people prayed over me. It was so encouraging and uplifting to see everyone there. I spoke at the Northeast Association Women's Fellowship of Massachusetts on the 24th, and was encouraged by these women who care about what God is doing in the world. As always, I pray for you and am so encouraged by your prayers for me. May the Lord our God, who knows all our pain, bless you and keep you. Love, Tessa

Seminary friends praying over me at my art event.

Sharing about my ministry, and how my art connects to the vision God has given me to care for these MKs.

The burning of Notre Dame shocked Europe, and I think, is a symbolism for European spirituality. Part of my vision is to reach out to the German community around me when I am at BFA, who need hope as much as the MKs do. Prayer Answered I have submitted my thesis and other papers for my MA degree! I have reached 50% of full funding! Praise God! The Art evening was successful, encouraging, and glorified God! My carpal tunnel has almost entirely gone away! Prayer Requests That God would lay people on my heart to approach personally about joining my ministry support team. That God would continue to help me prepare well for the ministry. That God would raise 100% of funding by the end of June 2019.

March Newsletter

Tessa's March Update

Dear friends and family, Another month has slipped by, and I am not only one month closer to graduating from Gordon Conwell, but one month closer to leaving for Germany! A quick recap of the last month: I spoke at several churches, both in New England and Virginia, and spent an entire week in Lynchburg reconnecting with friends and family, and sharing about my ministry. My prayer for the week in Lynchburg, and indeed, this entire time of finishing school and support raising is that God would let this time be fruitful. I love that word "fruitful", because it makes me conscious that God is in charge, and that it is HE who decides what kind of fruit my ministry and support raising will bear. I am praying for financial fruit, to allow me to go to Germany, but I am also praying for fruit in people's lives as they learn more about God through my ministry. I am praying for fruit in the lives of the Third Culture Kids in Germany, and I am praying for fruit in my own life, as I learn to rely on God more and more, and finish my time here at seminary. I like this word: fruitful. I think it encompasses so much of what God has in store for us. A quick update on my thesis writing: I have one more month left to complete and polish off my thesis on the novel by Richard Adams, Watership Down. I am writing about ways in which this book could be used to teach Third Culture Kids not only literature, but also address some of the deeper developmental issues they experience by drawing them closer to God, through Adams' imaginative story. I am almost finished writing my first draft, but need to work hard on making the draft cohesive and polished. Some last minute information: Below you will find a photo of my presentation at my home church in Virginia. The painting above is a recent one reminding me, during this slow budding of New England spring, of God's mercy that winter-seasons do not last forever, and that spring, without failing, comes. I have also included prayer updates at the bottom of this email. Thank you for your continued prayer! Thank you again for your support, your interest and your prayers for my ministry! I am so excited to be able to share this adventure God is taking me on with all of you. May the Lord bless you and keep you, Tessa

Prayer Updates: Please join me in prayer! Praise God that I am 30% fully funded! Please join me in prayer that God will continue to provide the remaining 70% by June 2019! For continued energy and wisdom as I balance support raising, finishing my Masters, and part time work. For my future students at BFA. May God prepare their hearts for me, and mine for them. May God be present to them as a loving father, as they live away from their own families. For God, who is Lord of time to stretch the last few months to let me finish all the things I still need to finish, before moving to Germany. As I have been typing a lot to try to finish my MA work, my carpal tunnel has been aggravated. Please pray for healing.

February Newsletter

God's timing was especially evident to me this past week. I was preparing to come to Virginia for a week to speak at a church and help my friend (who flew in from Japan) to prepare for her June wedding, when my grandmother (who lived in Lynchburg, VA) passed away.

My youngest brother, who lives in France  had been visiting the US and was in the DC airport ready to leave for Europe when his plane was cancelled. He then heard the news and was able to turn around and come back to Virginia, giving my uncle, in the same airport trying to get back, a ride to Lynchburg.

Long story short, my brothers, my father and I were able to attend my grandmother's funeral. It truly was God's timing that allowed our family to be in Virginia at the right time, to attend my grandma's funeral, honor her in that way, and find some closure in the grieving process. It also reminded me poignantly of how well God takes care of us, to orchestrate things the way he did, and to trust him with how he will orchestrate things in the days to come.
Below, my friend, brothers and dad.

Busy, busy! In the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to speak at two churches, and with several individual friends and family about my ministry.  It's been a real joy! However, classes started again three weeks ago, and it has been a challenge balancing studies, writing my Master's thesis, part time work and preparing for ministry. I have several upcoming speaking engagements that require preparation, and I would really appreciate prayer for balancing these areas of my life these next few months.

January Newsletter

Visiting my parents, living in France, for Christmas. We went to a restaurant that served food local to the area (Lille). My two brothers (Noah on the left, Luke on the right) were able to be home this year too!
Dear family and friends,
Greetings from the Dusseldorf Airport in Germany!
I have spent the last two weeks in France, and then Germany, where I celebrated Christmas and New Years with my family. I am sitting in the airport cafe, waiting for my flight to London, and then to Boston.

As many of you know, I have been accepted by the mission agency TeachBeyond and will be sent to the Black Forest Academy (BFA) in August to work with Missionary Kids and other Third Culture Kids. As I am sitting here, I'm struck by the fact that the next time I return to Europe, it will be to work at BFA!!

I am flying back to Boston to complete my last semester of my graduate degree, as well as continue fundraising. I am excited for what this new semester holds, the new connections I will make, and the old friendships and relationships I will strengthen. God continues to surprise me with His grace and humor, as He leads me towards this next chapter of my life. I would have NEVER guessed that He would lead me into full time ministry, but I wouldn't want it any other way now.

As always, I am so grateful for your prayers, and hope I can connect with all of you in person soon as well.

Many blessings on this new year for you.
Love,
Tessa