It's that time again when the seminary makes a frantic dash to the end of the semester, preparing, giving and grading final papers, exams, reports, entering test scores and absences, tackling the procrastination pile, and making a final assessment of those who will leave us to make sure they are ready. There's also a sprinkling of special events:
a. Heritage Day when seminarians celebrate their respective cultures in song, dance and skits. They represent nine cultural groups throughout the country.
b. Sports Day - most of one Saturday with competitions in volley ball, netball and soccer.
c. Parties for departing staff members - the librarian and her husband (an adjunct at the seminary) moving north to be nature conservation manager and chaplain to a private school, respectively; the bookkeeper, who has been here since day one of the seminary, and her husband are emigrating to the United States.
d. A ceremony honoring those who have completed their studies and other obligations here as they go off to their new lives. Robes, speeches, hugs, tears, laughter.
For us, we are 41 days from departure to go home for Christmas. Before that though, we must complete our reading of reflections in the program we administer (about 150- 200 reflections). Did I mention that we are moving to another house two doors down? Of course, it's not yet ready (cleaning, repainting, various repairs, etc., but that's ok. We have 41 days.
Finally, two weeks ago, we were handed the task designing a strategy and plan to launch the seminary as a mission hub, catering primarily to European and North American churches or groups that would like a spiritually based mission trip. These trips would be customized from several offerings, including game parks, beaches, etc. Possibilities include a guided spiritual retreat at the seminary, working with or visiting agencies helping the marginalized people for a few days, sightseeing, touring a township, visiting a sangoma, walking through a nature preserve, hiking, on and on. All this is supposed to be ready to go by the end of the year. Build the website (but spend no money). Partner with tour complains, do some market research.
41 days.
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* Joe Nuxhall was the youngest pitcher to play in the major leagues. He started with the Cincinnati Reds in 1944 at the age of 15. He would spend the rest of his life with the Reds as a player then broadcaster. The title of this piece was his radio sign-off at the end of each game. His jersey number was 41.
