April is a busy month that conveniently leads into May. Being a work-oriented person, I’m obviously thrilled to see the many entries in my monthly planner. Without realizing, I discovered I am on another preaching marathon; 11 consecutive speaking engagements through 8 weekends and 2 out-station trips in May and in June; traveling out-station at least once a month till October. Sounds so exciting, right? Yes, it is but age is catching up and I can no longer read small prints without effort.
I really do not know if the problem is me or my colleagues but I recently find myself easily irritated when my colleague is not moving at the same pace as myself. Or another irritation I recently encounter is when someone keeps calling on me to teach how to use tablet computer or GPS. I almost wanted to scream, read the owner’s manual yourself!
I am in Ipoh right now and a bit disappointed at the class turn-up. Perhaps the local coordinator is not aggressive enough. Or simply, he's been sleeping on the job! The BM class in Penang center concluded at the start of the Holy Week with 8 students completing this first module. Next class is in July. Right now in Ipoh is the first diploma class of the new curriculum and attendance is still not certain. Maybe it's because the local coordinator himself is not sure of the structure despite numerous explanation. Really...you can take a person out of the jungle but you cannot take the jungle out of the person.
Besides the continuous speaking engagements in every weekend in May, there will be 2 trips to the OA villages in later part of May. This is followed by a translation workshop in early June, followed by a working trip to Ipoh in later part of June.
Several ground work is in progress for the Anglican Training Center. A new signboard should be up and displaying brightly by mid-May. Classroom equipment should also arrive by then. This will consume my time in setting up the classrooms and library. Also needing attention is the official opening scheduled for 2nd July. Hopefully, we can soon start offering classes in 4 languages; English, Bahasa, Mandarin, Tamil. I know Bahasa is already on-going. Mandarin has some plans already. I will need to start planning for the English schedule while the Tamil work will have to rely solely on my colleague who is busy running around many places. This center will offer basic Christian ministry training in affiliation with STM. This will surely present an alternative for those seeking theological/Christian training in an urban, easily accessible campus.
Please join us in prayer as we venture into exciting times in this nation.
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
