A wild ride!

Well, I have been quite busy lately with Preaching Tests, piling up of assignments from various modules and 6 exams coming up within this last one month period of bible school. After the last exam scheduled on 9th Sept, the remaining weeks in September would be mainly some days off for the academia staff to do markings and then we are ready for graduation week end of Sept.

Looking back since this 6 months diploma started in April, it has been a wild ride of faith! I didn't anticipated that I would get into a freak accident on May 13th that left me with a surgical open wound for 3 months and still healing... the endless trips back for follow up with my orthopedic surgeon. thrice a week rushing home for wound specialist nurse to come do wound dressings... and in the last one month my Father in law was terminally ill that we kept rushing back to the hospital whenever the doctors said he might not made it! Finally he passed away two weeks ago, ending his suffering as all his organs were failing too.

I was in such a roller coaster of emotions... that I felt so worn out and caught a flu bug... ended up with this persistent cough for more than 3 weeks now. I have no choice but to take more days off from school to rest and nurse my body. I know the school admin said she would have to arrange for me to meet the Dean's wife again to speak on my attendance matter. I would just wait for them to arrange.

Whether I would be given a certificate of attendance or a full certificate with credits is up to them to decide. After all, my assignments grade are in the 80-100 range and I passed all my current 4 exams so far. I don't think attendance should be the reason I don't get a full cert with credits. Beside, it is not fair to consider hospitalization leave and compassionate leave as taking normal leave/day off. In the secular world I worked in, these are unforeseen situations that can't be controlled. You know what I mean?

Anyway, finally as I have laid my 95 years old FIL to rest... I don't need to keep 24/7 watch on my phone and it's been so long since I can sleep in peace turning off all notifications as a caregiver. With more quality rest, my cough is getting better. Even my shin wound is almost healed... maybe a week or two more and the outer skin has fully regrowth as well.

For my recent two weeks of Preaching Tests, I am told by all Evaluators that I already have all the technique in preaching. I smiled because I am a trained educator for over two decades before I was forced to retire due to my incident at work. I only need to work on my bible knowledge and how to apply the verses to the different theme for preaching.

After the Preaching Tests, my team mates organized a day out for lunch, dinner and durian feast. I felt left out as they didn't consider that I have dialysis treatment. But I didn't say anything... maybe it's also a blessing in disguise because as all of us are undergoing stress with coping with the school demanding schedule, I saw them started to gossip about others in the ministry they were assigned to. I know it is a type of social bonding when few get together to bitch about someone they don't like. But I felt uncomfortable in my spirit because this is a bible school, where we need to show love and forgiveness to our own people when we get offended and not get together to slander or bitch behind that person. I even wonder if they too, might be saying otherwise about me always not in school? Who knows?

Thus, I think it is okay not to get too close as not all in the team are able to show empathy for others. There are still a few who are older and kinder... but it is always those with anger issues that are loud when things don't go their ways. I am only here to study GOD's words as I have left church for a long time due to being confined in my non lift level home unit. Since I am not planning to become a pastor, I would just enjoy the rest of the school till I graduate. I am not showing too much of my potentials because I also realise some of them have very competitive spirits too. One person even mess up my part of the group presentation and made me look bad because she knows I am good in my works. I didn't say anything because this presentation only carried a small percentage for the module. But I am more wary of any further dealings with her since she's one of the team in charge and we have to submit group stuff to her.

Anyway, I hope after this Diploma, the next level is Associate degree. If I can get my cert with credits, then I am allowed to sign up for the AD level. Hopefully by then, it is more tertiary independent learning and lesser group work.

Well, I am already in retiree mode... I just want to learn new biblical knowledge at my pace due to my health constraints. I am not like some of these younger ones who are striving to find their places in society in life. So all these competitive, backstabbing, gossiping behaviors some of them displayed ain't my cup of tea. They still have a lot to learn about life. After all, this is bible school where we are taught on ministry and pastoral roles. It is not the typical secular school that look only at grades but more on building leadership character and attitudes.

Some of my team mates are Pastors from other churches... and they are the ones I looked up to. They are caring and considerate, and they are strong in the bible foundation that I can learn from. So yes, I am still enjoying my time here, learning from those with more Christlike behaviors.

Now is half past four in SG, I would need to leave my house by 6.15am to get on my medical van that I ordered. I have to reach my church before 7.30am for usher minstry briefing. It's gotten be a long day ahead as I am serving for 2 services. I think I would get home about 3pm. Then I have to rest and wake up later to catch up on 5 books for revision, as tomorrow there's two exams on these 5 books!

Wish me all the best! I only ask for a pass in all my exams. I am not that competitive. Oh yes, since I am so good in preaching... my main team leader has allocated me to be the one giving the sermon for a mock cell group presentation on Tues. I better start praying for a word from THE LORD on FAITH topic to share. More digging into the bible ahead!

Ciao! Catch up again when I got spare time to blog!

Meanwhile, I'm still on this wild ride! Woo hoo!