For Cross Cultural Studies students there is a Semester Abroad study program offered in the fall of the senior year for those who desire to spend a semester abroad during their TFC experience. The student may select one of various centers located outside the U.S. and complete the fall semester classes while overseas. By selecting this option, the student does not do the six-week summer internship but instead fulfills the internship requirement via the Semester Abroad program.
For more information about the Semester Abroad program, please contact Dr. Fred Smith at fsmith@tfc.edu or 1-888-785-5624, ext. 5424.
To find out more information about Study Abroad opportunities at TFC, visit our Study Abroad page.
Glimmer of Hope
By Yeng Her ’12
On Sunday, August 22, 2010, TFC students Samantha (Sam) Mathias and Andrea Palm began their expedition to the country of Jordan as a part of the Study Abroad program. They lived with a Jordanian family and experienced first hand what life was like in the Middle East country. Their days were mostly filled with being at the local life center, teaching adult education classes, and English courses.
The classes consisted of about 50 percent men and 50 percent women, with the majority of the men being older than Sam and Andrea. “It was hard for us,” said Andrea, “We were both women, and we knew contact with men was not allowed. We had to limit ourselves, even as teachers, to minimal contact with the men.”
This was a part of the culture that Sam and Andrea had to engrain into their minds while they were in the Middle East. They told how they would have to look away from men’s faces and move out of the path of a man as they walked on the sidewalk. Many of those who came to the center were Muslim. But despite the cultural and belief differences between the teachers and students, people continued to come to the center because the teaching program was good. They wanted to learn English, and the center gave them the opportunity to do this.
Besides the cultural gender interaction guidelines, Sam and Andrea struggled with the stereotype of being American women. “The Jordanians view all American women like those they have seen in the Hollywood movies,” said Andrea. It was impossible to go unnoticed, especially since one was a blonde and the other a brunette. Sam says, “The power of prayer played a huge part in our lives there, and the Lord protected us.”
Sam and Andrea also ministered to the women who came to the life center. Both TFC students believe they have built lasting relationships with these Jordanians. These women shared their lives and sought encouragement from Sam and Andrea. Eventually, they were even invited into the home of a Muslim woman. There they experienced Arab hospitality and witnessed the life of a Muslim woman in her home – from watching prayer times to learning about the hijab.
Even though Sam and Andrea were not able to share the gospel freely, they were living it in their speech and in their actions. Through their willingness to serve the people of Jordan and minister to them, Sam and Andrea added a glimmer of hope in this dark area of the world. They left behind, not only their imprint on the lives of the people they came into contact with, but they also left behind a testimony of Jesus Christ.
For Sam and Andrea, the Study Abroad Semester program challenged them in their spiritual life. For each, it solidified and confirmed the calling into cross -cultural work. “Being away from the TFC community made us more serious about our devotional lives. These became a priority,” said Sam and Andrea. “It opened our eyes to different cultures and we came to love the people. We saw people come to know Christ. We walked the streets and knew they were lost, but we saw beauty in that.
“This program meant that we had to step away from all that we knew, give up our rights, and follow God where he was leading. Who wants to give up friends, family, holidays, etc. for a semester? Through this program, we found independence, experienced a different relationship with our professors, and boosted our communication skills with people back in the U.S. It helped us to realize the importance of prayer letters and updates. But most of all it gave us practical experience. Everything that we learned in our courses was put to use, it wasn’t something that we just learned anymore.
“We are thankful to the World Missions Department and Toccoa Falls College for starting the Study Abroad Semester program, and we look forward to its expansion.”
According to the Joshua Project, Jordan is home to about 6.4 million people. About 97 percent of the population is Muslim and less than 3 percent are Christian. Among the Christians, about 65 percent are Orthodox, 18 percent Catholic, and 10 percent Protestant.
In fall 2010, the World Missions Department launched their Study Abroad Semester program with two destinations for students: Jordan and the Dominican Republic. Four students participated in the program with two in Jordan and two in the Dominican Republic. Students lived and breathed the culture and country while taking online courses from TFC during the fall semester. This fall 2011, the World Missions Department will be sending out eight students to Jordan, the Dominican Republic, and newly added Indonesia.
Samantha Mathias and Andrea Palm are seniors majoring in Cross-Cultural Studies at TFC.
Editor’s Note: Sam and Andrea both graduated in Dec. 2011. This article was published in Toccoa Falls College’s Connections, Spring/Summer 2011 magazine.
Learn more about Study Abroad opportunities at TFC, visit our Study Abroad page!