How keeping assignments will help in the future

Hello Readers,

 

I have been kept so busy trying to complete teaching notes on Children's ministry Ministry Training Group. Now I will be preparing the course outline for TEE leadership therefore my articles are quite few at this stage.

 

I am now posting a new article. At times I wonder why I have been working in a Bible College for the last 9 years. Yes I have often been questioning God when I think of my family members at home. It was at CLTC that I have completed my Diploma and now I look forward to getting a Advanced Diploma. When I look back I see the experiences that I have gained.Take for instance email, digital camera and internet, I learnt all these things in Banz.

 

Anyway, happy reading,

 

TKwara

Banz

WHP

What to do with your assignments

Hello friends,

I have been quite busy for the last 14 days. I am taking a study and busy working on manuscripts for TEE courses that have been in the computer for several years. Often teaching, preparing notes for courses and mentoring students often take up time. Besides that there are administration work like dealing with emails. letters and attending to phone calls or attending meetings. This has made me quite busy. I do not time to write letters since these days as I can rely on a mobile phone to talk to my relatives or friends. It is only those who live in the remote areas who rely on letter writing (snail mail).

Well, what can you do with assignments? I am still working on a degree course while I work and at the same time I am also teaching. This maybe too much but I know how to manage as I have done all my theological studies part-time.

I keep all my assignments in different folders. You never know that one day those articles will be helpful. I still keep some of my assignments from my High School days. I have keep speeches that I have used before. I take notes when I attend a gathering or even take notes when listening to the radio or watching the newspaper.

Whatever information you gather can be a gold mine one day. In 1987 I attended a ceremony in which a Minister was installed to look after the work of Lifeline. That same man was posted to be my pastor and the notes I gathered were used to write a story.

Do not throw your articles. I still keep a note book with all my newspaper cuttings with my byline and those news articles that I wrote. I may use them to write a book one day or use the articles for some of my lessons.

I even keep all my sermons, Bible teaching notes and even secular subject notes. Such articles come handy when I need them. I also cut newspaper articles of interest and file them away. So keep your letters or diaries as well. One day you will need them and they can refresh your memories.

Good luck to all the readers, stap isi tasol.

FW: For PNGOD

 

Hi this is the latest article for Hausman.

 

Thanks

 

Tkwara

---

From: Timothy Kwara [mailto:tkwara@cltc.ac.pg]
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:18 AM
To: 'rsos@naufm.com.pg'
Subject: For PNGOD

 

Well friends, I have been quite busy lately since I have visited the Telefomin area in West Sepik and the Wewak and Maprik Districts in East Sepik. As I was doing some studies in discipleship I see the importance of face to face communication. During my visits I see people excited and interested in God’s Word. I get to answer questions raised by the people. At the same time I am learning about the people’s cultures and their way of life. This will help me to relate well to the people.

 

A sad thing that I find is that some people are misled by others and join a cult. Others have lost interest because there was no tutor at hand to help them. I also witness how life is going on in other parts of the country. This gives me an idea of how to minister to others. I Iearn a bit about history, languages and even get to know the people better. It’s fun and exciting to go on such adventures. As a former journalist, I love travelling and meeting people. At present I stay in one place only but I also get to know the Bible college students. It is fun to mentor the students and encourage them to face life’s journey.

 

Some weekends I go to a village which is 30 minutes by foot from CLTC and run Bible studies. Already a literacy group has been started so that those who are unable to read and write can learn. The leader of the Bible study group has been asking me about starting a school. I do not have the time but I have asked some students to help me. There are some trained teachers at the school and they will provide their support. Another student is a literacy specialist and has offered to help as well.

 

Believe it or not the Bible study group is made up of former gang members. There was even someone who had harvested a big marijuana plant when the Bible study was started. However that person is now learning about rice growing at the College. He changed his life at the time when the Bible study was started. It is great to be involved with these kinds of people. They are forgotten people group but now find place in God’s ministry.

 

We plan to set up a committee so that the people can manage the ministry themselves. The group was started by an American missionary, Dan Anderson. Then later an USA missionary, Jeff Graf took over. Since Jeff is now teaching at POM for the time being so he asked me to take up the leadership of the group. I also take some students to go with me when it is my turn to lead.  I have enjoyed the long walks and the joy of knowing more people at Bunum Wo.

 

On Wednesdays afternoon, I am involved in helping out at the Awana ministry. It’s a long time since I participated in teaching children. Sometimes I get tough on the children. However the kids that I am with are now getting to really understand their memory verses. I know I am quite busy but at least I can help in some way or another.

 

Last Sunday I visited a church nearby known as the Kar Waghi or Kalvary Lutheran Church. It is a new congregation and the people are so keen to take up TEE studies and they really want to know more about God’s Word. I preached on Psalm 1 and the importance of meditating on God’s Word. I have been an urban dweller but God brought me to the bush so that I can be involved to help others come out of their bad ways and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Therefore let me encourage you now. You do not need to go long way to minister to other places. The neediest mission field may be near your door step. Go out now and find it. Please pray for this people that God will work in their lives. Yes through knowing God they now have a big dream to help themselves be educated, be literate and be adventurous.

 

Anyway, I better stop here and see you around next time.

More time to write

Well my friends,

I am now back after a month long break. It was not a break after all. I travelled to Telefomin from April 9th to 16th. When I returned I had to write a report. After that I was planning for my next trip to Wewak, Maprik and West coast. That is the reason why I have not written anything for a month. This does not mean that I was not staying idle. I was still writing reports, replying emails, replying letters and preparing for both trips.

When the Dean and I travelled we are also asked to promote the work of the Distance Theological Education (DTE). Therefore we have to write down what we will say. When I was at Telefomin, I was asked to talk to interested people so I shared on how studying God's Word will help the people.

I found that our studies in Theological Education by Extension (TEE) will equip community leaders and help young people to be confident. The people in the rural areas can improve their English by studying TEE courses. They will also learn about marriage, youth ministry, worship, discipleship etc.

In Maprik I also spoke to Bible College students. At Walahuta I spoke at a TEE graduation and at Brugam, I shared to Bible College students. Well, I had to write all my speeches. So you see it was not a break at all. I also visited the Central Sepik FM station at Maprik and shared about TEE studies.

Well I was writing reports, letters and replying e-mails and had no time to get on the internet. But since I am back and for the sake of my readers and fans I am writing this piece. This shows that we need more time to write.

I have always told my students- write everything down on paper then take your work and type it into the computer. To go and sit down and type straight away will be quite a difficult task.

Bye for now,

Tim Kwara
Banz. WHP

Usefullness of the hausman (ceremonial house)

Last Sunday I went to Kala village which is 30 minutes away from CLTC. The college van took us and we were dropped off at the turn off which leads in to a bush track. Eight students and I walked for 1 hour before reaching our destination. It was the cell group ministry weekend and my cell group was sent to Kala Revival Lutheran Church. We had to walk back to the road and wait for the bus.  It was a good exercise and a test of spiritual endurance.

As we were walking, I caught up with one of the final year (Diploma Th 4) students from West Sepik. He was talking about how the young people were being influenced by movies and from what they hear from their peers. He also referred to sex aids used by young people. This trend is very frightening because there is no proper teaching for the young people.

As we talked and discussed along the way I thought of how teaching and nurturing was done in the olden days in the hausman (ceremonial house). The same trend can be seen in the Old Testament as the Israelites were warned by Moses to pass on teachings which they heard from Moses onto the next generation. And that the next generation would keep passing on the tradition. (Refer to Deut 4). In Deut 4:9-14, there is a trend that emerges in the OT- where parents are the teachers, Bible as the text book and house as the classroom. Deut 6:7-9 also talks about teaching the younger generation. This kind of instruction was done in the hausman or the rupu as my people call it. Nowadays such places for instructions are not around therefore the onus is now on the church.

How can we do this in the modern age? Well in Africa a church has come up with a youth program that relates to young people. The youths are taught how to handle peer pressure, how to abstain from fornication, how to relate to the opposite sex and so on. I think it would be good for the churches in PNG to address such issues. Now that we have improved and state of the art communication systems we need to be prepared in advance.

In the past such issues were taken care of in the hausman o hausmeri. However due to modern influences we need to consider doing what the African churches have done. Think of Bible studies, TEE, cell groups or other small groups were people can discuss and come up with ideas to help the younger generation before it is too late. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, we can come up with relevant, biblical and Melanesian ways of reaching, encouraging and strengthening our people. Remember our young people are our future and our destiny.

Usefulness of hausman

Last Sunday I went to Kala village which is 30 minutes away from CLTC. The college van took us and we were dropped off at the turn off which leads in to a bush track. Eight students and I walked for 1 hour before reaching our destination.

As we were walking, I caught up with one of the final year (Diploma Th 4) students from West Sepik. He was talking about how the young people were being influenced by movies and from what they hear from their peers. He also referred to sex aids used by young people. This trend is very frightening because there is no proper teaching for the young people.

As we talked and discussed along the way I thought of how teaching and nurturing was done in the olden days in the hausman (ceremonial house). The same trend can be seen in the Old Testament as the Israelites were warned by Moses to pass on teachings which they heard from Moses onto the next generation. And that the next generation would keep passing on the tradition. (refer to Deut 4)

How can we do this in the modern age? Well in Africa a church has come up with a youth program that relates to young people. The youths are taught how to handle peer pressure, how to abstain from fornication, how to relate to the opposite sex and so on. I think it would be good for the churches to address such issues.

In the past such issues were taken care of in the hausman o hausmeri. However due to modern influences we need to consider doing what the African churches have done.

Always write down what you hear and are taught

A friend of mine who was a computer wiz was so helpful and always shared his knowledge about computers. He was so friendly and helped us those who are computer illiterate. Being close to such a person really helped me. Even if we were typing on the computer and encountered problems that took us hours to solve, he would be there to help us.

 

When we had questions, the answers were on the tip of his fingers or the tip of his mouth. As a result of our constant nagging from the DTE office, this person made a manual for us. He taught us many tips and tricks but today I cannot recall some of the lessons that I learnt. It was because I had not written them down. However I have some good IT contacts who have given their time to help me when the similar questions popped up. After being a fool I have become wiser by keeping a small note book to glue any print outs from the internet or to write down anything that I find interesting or helpful from e-tutorials.

 

I am so grateful for those who have shared their knowledge with me. Yes, knowledge is for sharing, empowering and helping those who are unfortunate. I remembered an overseas staff member who walked into my office one day and showed me several things about the email. I did not ask this person for help. E-mail is one thing that I just picked up by exploring the program myself and experimenting what to do. I did the same with blogging. I am not an expert but there was someone who just gave me some instructions and I just picked up from there. Partly I had read some newspaper articles and did my own research.

 

What a pity as I ask the same questions today about computing, I feel like a fool for not recording what I was taught. As usual since being Melanesians who belong to an oral culture, we take things for granted. It pays to record what you are taught. Thanks to some good IT friends that I have today, they give their time to help me.

 

I have several journals which I recorded my devotional thoughts. After some months and years I always look through the journals and they reveal to me my spiritual state in those times. It shows how I have grown in the Lord. I would like to encourage you to keep a spiritual journal for the future.

 

Likewise recording helps in our spiritual journey too. Keeping a devotional journal is part of a spiritual discipline. For example some spiritual disciplines are fasting, memorizing scriptures, studying God’s Word, Fasting, prayer etc. You can learn about some of these spiritual journals in a TEE course called “After God’s own heart”.

 

It reminds me of a student, who went to the phone booth to make a call but realized that he had forgotten the phone number. In a similar way another person rang the number but forgot what to say. It is like shopping with a shopping list. If we have good memories we can buy what we want. Keep recording things down today.

 

As a result of loosing many of the good things I learnt about computing, I still keep my assignments at CLTC as well as sermons and devotions and other work that I have done. I have copied all my sermons at CLTC on CD for future use and as resource for teaching in the future.  Yes, I better stop here; remember to make a note of all good and helpful things. Cheers.

 

This is a picture taken by some friends in North Wales, UK in  a small town called Prestatyn. I was there some years back to attend a Media conference in Sheffield, UK.