And also to get to know them! Because Covenant College is a boarding school (i.e. our students board here during the week and go home to their homes and families each weekend) and we sadly don't have the ability to provide accommodation for students to bring their families to stay here, it's difficult to get to know the wives. This is one of our opportunities.
The conference this time was unusual because classes still continued as normal for the students while the women were here for the conference. Often we have scheduled it in such a way that the students' week of classes ends a day or two early, the women arrive for their conference, and the men head home. We have had them overlap by one day, in the past, and had sessions for the married couples. But this time, the women arrived on Monday, just like the students do, classes began as usual on Tuesday morning and so did the women's conference program, and the ladies were here all week long and left with their husbands as usual on Friday afternoon.
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| the entire student body, and the wives who were present, with Jackson, studying Farming God's Way |
We did this specially so that the ladies could benefit from joining in the 'Farming God's Way' classes which were taught to their husbands this week. The 'Farming God's Way' program here at the College Farm provides agricultural training based on Biblical principles of responsibility and good stewardship. Most of the men who study at the College are, like the majority of people living in Eastern Province, poor villagers who support their families by an agrarian lifestyle. But farming the traditional Zambian way is not efficient, and many people go hungry because they don't know how to farm better. That is why our farm training program exists. So this week these couples had the opportunity to learn the Farming God's Way material together. Each morning from 7:30-9:30, they were taught in the local language by Jackson, the new Farm Ministry Leader.
After tea break mid-morning, the students and wives went their separate ways... the men back to their classrooms for another 2-hour class period, and the women to the open-air 'old classroom' building (the original classroom structure from when the College first began on this property) where we held our women's program for the rest of the day. From 10am-12 noon each day we had 2 hours of Bible study. On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Marjanne led a Bible study from Romans 12 with the topic 'Love.' On Thursday morning I led a Bible study on the topic 'What does the Bible say about marriage.' On Friday morning there was no Farming God's Way session, so the first part of the morning was a Bible study led by Violet, the wife of Pastor Lovemore who is the Acting Principal of the College, and the second half of the morning was Marjanne's conclusion to her Bible study and farewell to the ladies.
Marjanne and I taught the Bible studies in English, but we were translated by Violet, because a number of these women do not speak English. You would be surprised how many of these women cannot read or write, even in their own language - they cannot even sign their own names. Yet that is so common here. Violet and Mercy both taught in the local language. We are so thankful for these women whom God has raised up to assist us, who can help by teaching in a culturally relevant way - much more than we can!
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| Marjanne teaching her Bible study |
In the afternoons on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the ladies first had a lunch break with their husbands. Then after lunch the students had study hours and the ladies met from 1:30-2:30 for 'health class' with Mercy, a qualified nurse who is also the wife of one of the College graduates. Mercy has been such a blessing to us in her willingness to come for these conferences and help by teaching on vital health-related topics. After health class, we then had a time of fellowship while doing crafts together during the remainder of the afternoon. There was a choice of different crafts they could do - some needlework, some decorative projects such as making a pretty decorated paper or CD to hang in their home, etc.
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| crafts! |
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| needlework |
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| using letters to create Bible texts on paper to hang on the wall |
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| this is new baby Prince, whose parents Wilson & Miriam are mentioned in a 'student church visit' post! |
In the evenings they had free time and devotions with the students after dinner. The days were full and I think that the husbands and wives really enjoyed being able to spend a few days in each other's company when usually they are apart! Our conference was attended by 15 student wives, out of a possible 19. We are always grateful when they are willing to interact with us during the Bible studies as it makes the time of fellowship so much richer as we learn together from God's Word.
Friday was a busy morning because it was the last day of the term, and all the students were finished with their classes. So as soon as the ladies finished their Bible study, it was time to pack and have a quick lunch. And then fit everyone (husbands and wives) AND their bags and babies into the trucks! We gave everyone a lift -- some only as far as the main road, where they will find transport to their homes, and others into the nearby town. It took 2 trips to the main road and 2 trips to town to fit everyone in. :)
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| like putting a puzzle together |
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| departure |
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