Annalisa grew up in Manitowoc, WI, and then attended Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. At MLC, she majored in early childhood education and special education, with a passion for working with young children. She loved teaching, especially when it came to sharing God’s Word with her preschoolers during student teaching. She also spent time as a nanny in both Italy and Australia, sparking her love for travel. This inspired her to combine her passion for teaching with living abroad in a ministry setting. She applied to Friends Network and moved to Mito, Japan in the spring of 2022. Annalisa teaches English conversation classes to all ages at the local Lutheran church. Through these classes, well over 60 people get to hear the Gospel message every week. She considers it such a blessing to be a part of this ministry! 

 

When she’s not teaching English, you might find her at the local international center attending Japanese classes, playing volleyball, at a coffee shop working or studying Japanese, or at home reading.

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Going from being surrounded by a large community of believers at both her home congregation and MLC to a much smaller Christian community, in a country where most people don’t know the Savior, has deepened her awareness of the urgent need to share the Gospel in all the world. It also has helped her to appreciate the blessings of growing up in a community of faithful believers. She is grateful to Friends Network for the opportunity to serve God and the community in Mito. If you’d like to learn more about her work or connect, fill out your contact information below or don’t hesitate to reach out at aschuette@friendsnet.org.