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We are "doing" our new schedule now,
following the sale of the old College building and our new
decentralization into the "5 mission fields." It has worked very well in
terms of being close to what's happening and what we hope to see
happening, if it is God's will.
When out at Madrapakkam, we were able to go visit the next church in line
to be built with one of the new model permanent church buildings. Being
able to attend the church service helped consolidate the plans for the new
church we are planning to build there through a gift from one of our
churches where a Board Member visited with his family.
Also we have marked out where the new Madrapakkam Boys Home should go, on
the original Compound property near our house. We have an engineer/builder
coming on Feb. 16 to look at the site and give us an estimate. This is the
same builder who built the Gummidipondi Boys Home, right now our most
modern Home.
And got to do office work on a "business as usual" basis before settling
in at the College in Thenmelpakkam (the old Chingleput Boys Home). We have
set up the apartment so that we can stay for days or even weeks at a time.
Our new schedule that we are trying out this month calls for us to be here
for 3-4 days at a time through March 15, when the College goes into Exam
mode.
Being resident on the campus helped speed up the satisfactory completion
of the doors and windows and plumbing. Now the building looks and works
the way it was planned to do. Much, very much to like in the new building
as we get settled in. The classrooms are larger and much more light. The
library fits comfortably and can be expanded easily. The administrative
office is light and airy. The male students are very happy with their new
dorm rooms, which would do credit to an American Bible College. We are
getting ready to build the new girls dorm rooms on the second floor of the
old Boys Home and this will give them equivilent quality rooms. Before, at
the old building, the male students shared one long hall. Now they are
four to a room, with plenty of storage space. By the rime they return, we
will have wooden doors on all the shelves and they will be handsome rooms
indeed. Likewise for female students, which we couldn't accomodate at the
old campus.
The biggest news is the commissioning of the computer facility with the
first 10 computers. Friday we dedicated the computers and printer, run
through a Linux server in anticipation of the day when we get the internet
in. I did classes all day Friday as part of the dedication, focusing on
keyboarding. As you know, learning typing skills is one of the key
exercises in learning how to be effective on the computer and when you
have to type in a language not you own, you can imagine the compounded
difficulties. But as I left the campus this afternoon to come catch up on
emails, the computer room was standing room only, with each student having
one hour at a time. A big hit! Starting next academic year, ALL their
homework assignments will be done on computer so speeding up on the
keyboard is a good investment of time.
We all miss the old College campus because of the memories it held for all
of us, none more than me. But this week on the new campus has helped see
how God moves us ahead here on earth so we can come closer to Him when He
calls us to Him.
And as the sinks all drain properly now and the doors close smoothly and
the lights and fans continue to be added, the new campus becomes more
attractive each day! Still a lot to do to bring Southern Asia Christian
College to the international standard that was Dad's vision and which Mom
and I shared. But we're on the way, without a doubt!
More excitment later but these are the headlines this month!! Please
continue to pray for the list of prayer requests: for a full time doctor
resident at Christian Hospital, for the next Leadership Development
Training Program for new leaders, for new church buildings (especially the
permanent buildings we want to build for the "mother churches" and for
funds to give scholarships to our children who graduate from the Childrens
Homes or whom we uncover while ministering door to door. Those continue to
be priority items. We constrantly pray that all of us here are able to
serve Jesus according to His will. And that He will give us the strength
and wisdom to do so.
David
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