Seeing the Prime Minister

One interesting event I have not written about was that the Prime Minister - Peter O'Niel - visited the area. He came here to the Finschhaven area to dedicate a new building and make the usual sort of political visit. He toured the local haus sik (hospital), dedicated a new electronic classroom (I think we might call it an internet lab in the US), and since he is a Lutheran, made a tour Sattleback where Senior Flierl - the first Lutheran missionary - arrived. His main public event was in Gaugidu where a new building, that includes a post office, was dedicated.

Since a lot of students were interested in seeing him and hearing his speech, we finished classes early that day and took a bus load of people down to hear him. Since everything was running late, it was nice they had some local singsing groups (singing and dancing). There were some quite elaborate costumes and head dresses.

I felt fortunate in being able to sit in a grassy area just across from the stands where the politicians gave their speeches. They were good speeches, with lots of emphasis in limiting corruption. One thing that struck me was the lower level of security than one would expect in the U.S. I saw some security folks, but it seemed to be on a modest level. The were also speeches by the local member of Parliament and the Governor of the Morobe province.

The seminary has one of the few guest houses in the area. I am currently in charge of overseeing it. So, when the day before the event one of the governor aides came and requested that the governor stay there, it brought about quite a flurry of activity. The yard got re-mown and new sheets put on the beds. Unfortunately, in the end it was not used at all. Oh well, I guess it was useful to get everything ready. It is very likely that it will be used over graduation.

Killing the fatted calf

I have read the phrase about killing the fatted calf many times while reading the parable of the Prodigal Son, but it has taken on a new meaning to me. This last Friday we killed the campus cow and had an end of the year party. I learned many things, including how much work this entails.

First of all, we don't usually have a campus cow, so there has been a lot of improvising on how to care for it. The most common meat animal in this area is a pig, so many students would have know what to do with a pig. The cow was given as a thank you gift to campus from a village after one of the faculty members gave a sermon there. So through out the semester there has been ongoing discussion about how to care for it and when to it eat. Fortunately there is abundant grass on campus, so for feeding it they only had to move it to different grassy area. I was surprised one morning to find the cow staked out across the road from my house where he was contentedly munching away.

Finally, it was decided to kill the cow last Friday and have it as part of our closing celebration - called Amamas Night. Then came to question as to who could kill the cow. The people first appointed didn't know how to do it. Finally the Year Two class agreed to kill and butcher it. I did not watch, but the fact it happened by the basketball court is quite different then being hidden away in a slaughter house like in the U.S.

The rest of the meal was quite well organized, the leaders having passed out a list of what groups were to cook what foods. This included lots of rice and sweet potatoes like most meals in this area. My advisory group was assigned to cook "cow stew". This turned out to be boiling chunks of beef and then frying them up with cabbage and onions as the vegetables. Fortunately the committee had arranged for fire wood and the food to be delivered to our cooking area. Most faculty members had the groups cook at their house, but since I don't have a cookhouse we went to the house of one of the married students, who had a large outdoor cook area.

Since there is little animal protein available to the students, having so much meat available was greatly enjoyed. Since our students do quite a bit of physical labor they can eat with gusto. Meat is often prepared with lots of fat attached which I don't like. However, there is always someone happy to eat the fat I do not want.

The food was placed in pots on long tables in the Haus Bung or open air meeting house. The pots were protected by banana leaves. Finally they had us divide into our advisory groups and we were given our quota of the food.

We ended with a talent show. I had expected it to be mainly singing and dancing but it was mainly skits and comedy routines. We have some very funny seminarians. Some of them could give The Three Stooges a run for their money.

End of School Year Soon

It is hard to believe, but the school year is almost over. We have finished 7 out 9 weeks of class. Grades have to be turned in the middle of week 9 and all tests are to be given in Week 8. I am giving tests in 2 of my 4 classes. The other two classes were more project oriented. I am relieved that this semester is almost over. Teaching four new classes has been challenging. I think next year will be easier. At least I will have taught most of the classes before. However, I don't know for sure what I will teach. That is stressful sometimes, but also interesting. For example, teaching Church History Pt. 1 or Sios Histori Hap 1 as it is called here has been interesting. I know a lot more about arguments over the Nicene Creed and the nature of Christ than I ever thought I would. I guess it is true that you have to teach something to really learn it. It also is the closeup of activities. Tonight was the last English Language worship. Wednesday will be the last of my Wasmeri (advisory) group meetings. It was also the last day of sports also. We have been divided up into teams and there are volleyball games every Sunday. I haven't played, but have gone to cheer for my Blue team. We made it to the finals, but lost in the playoff. OK, time to work on the photocopies for tomorrow. There is only one rickety copier available, so one needs to make about 20 copies and then let it rest and cool off. Then you can come back on make some more an hour later. I am making copies for a class of 15, but I am trying to print on both sides of the page, which seems to be too much for it. We are supposed to have another copier on order. My prayers go up for it regularly. Most of my colleagues make very few copies, but I have not adjusted to that style of teaching yet.