Dear friends,

I write to reestablish contact after some time without word. The main news—not to bury the lede—is that my teaching assignment will be shifting, for at least one year, from the University of Texas at San Antonio to Klaipėda, Lithuania.

In January 2024, I will be joining the staff at LCC International University, a Christian liberal arts institution, to teach academic writing and methods of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). The location is intriguing. As you might guess from the photo above, I have been there before: to help direct US Army cadets in English instruction of Lithuanian reserve and special forces. That was in 2013.

The more noteworthy aspect, however, is LCC’s student body and the teaching mission. The university identifies itself as a leader in transformational education and in offering lower-cost higher education to those east of Lithuania, many from zones of conflict. (The largest representation of students, for example, is from Ukraine.) Students, including Muslim students from Iraq and Afghanistan, have chosen to make LCC their refuge as they study English, international business, international relations, psychology, and theology. “It’s a fascinating laboratory,” says one of LCC’s leaders, pointing toward one of the university’s central inquiries, “How do we live peace?”

I write to ask for your partnership in this teaching assignment. Due to LCC’s funding model—shaped to offer an affordable option to those who otherwise would not be able to continue their studies or develop their careers—expatriate staff from the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere must raise at least some of their financial support. While I receive a living stipend, I am asking for assistance to support such budget items as travel for professional development, contributions to a 403(b)-retirement fund, student loans, and transitional costs of relocating between Europe and the USA. In turn, you will be supporting the mission of LCC to offer life-changing education to motivated students from 64 countries.

As LCC International University is a 501(c)(3) entity in the United States, contributions are tax-deductible and can come in multiple forms. I would consider it a great gift, for example, to receive occasional forms of encouragement such as texts, emails, pictures, and the like. By clicking on the survey link below you will have the chance to indicate the partnership commitment you are willing to make. Thank you for reading, and please direct any questions to me at johnt629@yahoo.com. You may also share these links with whomever might be interested.

Link to survey: https://forms.office.com/e/zycs7BSmPY

Link to donate: https://lcc.lt/donate/donation-options (select your location, choose “Staff/Faculty Support” in the dropdown menu, and enter my name in “Gift Details”)