With The Seminary Students

This morning, we were awakened by the heralding of the guest house’s roosters, telling us that a new day was starting, with or without us. Then, the noises of the seminary student began, laughter, music from their little radios, sounds of water being drawn for baths and laundry. Slowly, unenthusiastically, reluctantly, I got out of bed and trundled off to the toilet. (Not the bathroom here…that’s where we shower, and, certainly not the restroom…there is no resting in there!) We don’t have to use the squatty potty this year, but, what we have is only slightly less icky. It is a flush toilet, but, there is no water plumbed to it, so, in order to flush it, we must fill the tank with water from a large yellow jerry can…I’m not certain where they get the water to fill the can…I don’t think I want to know. But, for Yambio, this flush toilet is the height of luxury and they are very proud to offer it to us.



It has been a blessing to get to know the seminary students. They are wonderful, dynamic young men who are, at great sacrifice to their families, studying to be pastors in a 4 year program. They live here at the guest house, some of them leaving wives and children hundreds of miles away, for a nine month program, then, home for a few months before starting it all again. Most do not get to go home anytime in those nine months. One young man, Charles, is from Tambura, a town 150 miles away and when he goes home, he does so on a bicycle! These are young men who are truly committed to the cause of Christ. There presence has been a blessing.--Susie