University Life

On campus we've just had our farewell service for the theology students going home for the holidays or on placements in congregations. The first year live-in students this year took a lot of initiative in growing vegetables, and rearing freshwater catfish which they have been selling to restaurants in Kupang. Every weekend different groups of students also took turns to organise various outreach activities to rural congregations. Facilities for the students on campus have been improving, including the problem of clean drinking water. Elsye has been very busy in her role as vice-dean, which continues even when the students are on holiday. She has just finished a major review of syllabi for each subject. The faculty has recently come under the governing board of the Christian University, which means that there is now a lot of work to be done in order to meet government higher education requirements. At the same time the faculty is keen to maintain and develop the ethos of a theological seminary concerned not only with academic formation of students but also with their spiritual formation and preparation for ministry. Last semester I began teaching Theological English to first year students, which also proved a good way of getting to know them.

Partnerships Work

In the synod office (GMIT church house) there has also been much happening. I still remain in the church partnerships commission, which has widened in its scope to include partnerships with other churches, ecumenical bodies, goverment, NGOs and other Christian organisations. As well as this we are aiming to make GMIT more known through the development of our website, and newsletter. Partnerships with PCI congregations have also been progressing. The congregations of the Ballymena Presbytery are supporting the development of GMIT's radio broadcating facilities through the building of new studios and a recording room in the synod office. This is a very important ministry for GMIT given that congregations are spread across so many islands and areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.  Stormont congregation is involved in providing a building for a Christian Technical School with the aid of a bequest made from one of the families in the congregation. The school is located in the village of Nenas in the mountains of central Timor and should provide local young people with appropriate skills for developing their community. Work on the school building is due to begin very shortly and we've managed to secure the full support of local government and community.

A very significant sum of money was raised last year from the PW Birthday Thank Offering, of which one half is going to the work of GMIT in Timor. This will be used to provide a truck to help village congregations with transporting produce to markets. Some will also be used to help with training and support for women in Timor, especially in helping with business start-up.

Meanwhile the students in the theology faculty accomodation continue to benefit from improved facilities with the help from Harmony Hill, Lambeg and West Church, Bangor, congregations. Among other things improvements have been made to drinking water supply and kitchen, a computer room opened, and recreational facilities provided. West Church Boys' Brigade were able to provide water pumps and a hand tractor for one group of congregations near Kupang.

Looking Ahead

In the coming month (July) we will begin to visit ministry students on their summer placements in Central Timor. Also a group of visitors is coming at the end of the month from the Presbyterian Church in Australia. Elsye's younger brother and his wife, who are both ministers, will be installed in neighbouring village congregations this month and we will probably be involved in that too.

Rebecca (now 5) is preparing to enter her second year of primary school in July and her reading, writing in both English and Indonesian has been progressing well. Her school is small, which means that that each child gets great attention from their teachers.

Gisell (now 2), although she hasn't officially started nursery school yet, goes along sometimes and right from the start knew all the songs from Rebecca. Both are doing well and keep us well entertained.

Prayer points:

Thank you for your continued interest and prayer.

God Bless.

Barry, Elsye, Rebecca and Gisell