Today (1/19) we met with our Seminary Director and reviewed the 32 students who have applied for our first class scheduled to begin February 15, 2009. These students completed lengthy applications and references including their home churches. We were surprised that we had so few candidates from our own Palvra Viva denomination, but perhaps that is because most have participated in all sorts of training through the years. The student body is a diverse group covering 15 different church groups, which greatly expands our potential impact for Christ. One of our OMS advisors reviewed the candidates with us and thought the mix would be good for discussion and growth. He had quite a bit of wise counsel for us as we proceed and provided important insights for us in consideration of culture. We have all ages and are especially excited about the more mature men and women who have applied, that we hope will bring a level of seriousness and disciplined life (example) for the younger students.
We are desperately short of money to pull this off and so are trying to work with our parent organization to advise us. We seek to find people to sponsor the students - we provide the degree to the student essentially 'free of charge' but in reality we need to cover the water, electric, property tax, building guards, teachers, and the like. Individually the amount we need isn't that great (per student) but it adds up quickly and will increase if we add a class a year. We're working on a scholarship program through our Canadian OMS office, but it is the perienniel chicken or the egg tension. We need students but need scholarships for them, but can't get students without operating, and can't operate without money, and can't get money without scholarships, and can't get students without scholarships, and on and on it goes. And, as important as it is, seminary student scholarships don't seem to be as 'sexy' as instant deliverables like water wells, for example - it's a longer term commitment and actually a chance at a life-time relationship, but not something that comes easily. It is certainly a matter for prayer. In some cases, if we are unable to help the student with some minor costs, such as transport to and from school, we rapidly become unaffordable in a place where jobs are so limited.
It's very exciting - we have a beautiful facility, trained staff, supplies to start, a curriculum, a plan, and an enthusiastic director. It doesn't get much better than that, oh yeah, there's that green stuff again....(well actually money isn't necessarily green here - some is blue, some is red, some is tan...)
The optimists say "let's proceed ahead - teach them and the money will come" and the pragmatists say "how can you proceed without a funding base; how can you make a commitment to these students and gamble on their future?" and the pessismist say "we should not even start a class without funding in place and maybe we should just sell the building and do something cheaper so we can have operating costs covered." All of them have a great point as we try to find the line between faith and foolishness. Lead us oh Lord and show your hand. By the way, we are proceeding....
I was able to get the broken shock absorber fixed on the car today. Made a huge difference and the leak in the air conditioner was caused by a rock hitting the little condensor (radiator-thing) in front - making a small hole. It will be interesting to see if the repair holds with all the jarring over these rough roads! Progress.
We have a big Church Multiplication meeting in the morning and in the afternoon will meet with the Embassy to start the passport renewal process. Language class was canceled for tomorrow, which is a blessing actually. We're still suffering from jet-lag, sleeping about three hours a piece the last couple of nights. In my case not even Ambien will touch it! But each night is better - I'm understanding jet lag a bit better - it has never been an issue before. One of my friends says it is just age......
Blessings.
Dave & Ann
" Everything is allowable, but not everything is profitable. Everything is allowable, but everything does not build others up." 1 Cor 6:12
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