School Back in Session
When I was growing up, I always heard from older people that the older you get, the faster time passes by. Well, in the words of the queen of Sheba, “The half has not been told!” I cannot believe how fast this summer passed by. We are now approaching the end of the second week of school for the 2017-2018 school year. In the intervening weeks and months since my last newsletter I have been able to visit and give a report on our work to eleven different congregations who so graciously support the work. I have one left to complete the dozen. On August 27, Lord willing, I will be in Slim, Oklahoma to give a report to those good brethren.
I want to say, “Thank you” to all who make our work possible. While the summer went by quickly, we were still able to get some good work done, getting ready for classes to start back up again, as well as, a few projects that the church here had going. I did not teach a regular class at this year’s FPTC, but I did get to teach an evening class at the Fort Logan National Cemetery on ministry in times of death and sorrow. It was an interesting approach to be “on location” like that, and I enjoyed the opportunity very much. I also got to teach in our VBS this year. Each class of kids rotated after a class period to different rooms with teachers and/or projects. Our theme was “Fishers of Men” and my station was “The Fishin’ Hole” in the lobby. Workers had made the area up to look like a mountain lake (there were even goldfish in the pool). I got to dress up in my fishing gear and teach lessons as the kids came through. I can now say I have officially taught the cradle roll class and, may I add, my hat’s off to all you ladies who teach that age and the Pre-K group. That was MUCH more intimidating than teaching adults!
Our school year began last week (August 7) with two week-long short courses. I taught the Freshmen and Sophomores English Composition and Mike Vestal taught the Junior and Seniors the Gospel of Luke. In a short course, we have one class that goes all day long every day for the entire week. It really is like drinking from a fire hose. Overall, the students did well in both classes. This week, the other five classes offered this quarter are in session. Classes that are offered are: for the Freshmen: Acts I, Homiletics I, Research Strategies, Matthew, and Personal Evangelism; for the Sophomores: Romans, Homiletics I, Research Strategies, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon (Gal…Phile. are all one course), and Personal Evangelism; for the Juniors: Romans, Isaiah, Divided Kingdom, Gal…Phile., and the Epistles of John; for the Seniors: Acts I, Isaiah, Divided Kingdom, Matthew, and the Epistles of John.
I am very happy (and blessed) to say that money has been raised to cover the trips I have on my schedule for next year! Thank you so much for the sacrifices made to see this good work continue. We will be able to make this teaching (and learning) trip to Israel in March and a trip to Cambodia in the Summer to teach in our extension school there. Noma and I are also planning a return to London earlier in the Summer to help out with the church there. I cannot tell you how blessed we truly are by your generosity not just with these trips, but in the work overall. You are all God’s blessing to us!!
Thank you and God bless,
Donnie Bates