Fall 2006 concluding report

Dec. 16, 2006

Dear friends,

Grades have been posted for this semester. As I hoped/feared/expected/wished, I ended up with a B in Greek, by far my most challenging subject. As I was afraid of it, I deliberately surrounded myself with required courses that I thought might have a less relentless schedule of papers and readings, but each turned out to have its own challenges. This has been a semester of reflection and growth, and a good one.

My grades, then, are as follows.
Intro to New Testament Greek I. . . . .B
Intro to Spiritual Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A
Pastoral Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A
Art of Ministry II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A
Preaching, Worship & the Care
of Souls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A

Next semester looks to prove very challenging. Although a course transfer exempted me from Theology I, I still must take Theology II in the spring. Classmates who have been in Theology I have been unnerving me with tales of how demanding the course is and how free the professor is with his F's. It is what it is, however, and I will simply have to resolve to be wise with my time so as to give enough study time to Greek II and Theology II.

As well as Greek II and Theology II, I will continue with Art of Ministry II (my internship) and add Homiletics (preaching) and Religions of Africa. The latter, which meets a requirement for study of non-Christian religions, is a brief but intense course covering 3 hours a night, 3 nights a week ... for three weeks. It meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. from January 17 through February 9. The instructor is Henry Mugabe, a visiting professor who is the dean of the divinity school in Keretse, Botswana. He teaches here for several weeks each year to earn enough money to keep his school going.

So, this is what next semester will look like.

Mondays and Wednesdays: Greek II, Theology II, Homiletics (Religions of Africa)
Fridays: Greek II, Theology II (Religions of Africa)
Tuesdays: Art of Ministry II small group

Looking ahead, my senior year looks to hold Hebrew I and II, Old Testament I, and my senior project. Good stuff, all.

My next regularly scheduled post will be on Jan. 22.

Grace and peace,
Beth

Weekly post

Tuesday, not Monday, Dec. 5

Dear friends,

Greek final today. I've been doing well in the class, but we raced through the last three chapters and I'm not at all comfortable with the perfect active indicative. More next week when I have a better idea of how everything has fallen out. I'll post grades for the semester as soon as I get them. Pray for me.

Grace and peace,
Beth