A letter from Kay Day in Rwanda
August 2014 - Scientific Week at PIASS
Dear Family and Friends,
What impact does family violence and conflict have on children’s performance in school? How should the church respond to the increase in divorce in a culture that has not accepted divorce in the past? How effectively can disputes between members of a community be settled without going to court through the use of community mediators? These are the issues that were studied by the different faculties of PIASS (Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences) and their findings were presented and debated by the faculty members, representatives of the community, and all students. This is the core of Scientific Week at PIASS. Actually, it is a weekend of intense discussion and debate. This year the general topic was “Violence and Conflict Management in Families and Communities.” Research findings were presented by the faculties of Education, Theology, and Development. The debates were lively, with students from all three disciplines engaging as fully as professionals in the various fields. The goal was merging academic study with real life situations, to make study practical. It succeeded.
This year, in addition to the faculty presentations, we had two international guests. Eva Zimmerman, a psychologist in trauma healing from Switzerland, presented a method of therapy that has had great success with healing memories of trauma from all forms of conflict. Then Dr. Charles (Chip) Hardwick, Director of Theology, Worship and Education for the PC(USA), spoke on reconciliation through grace and gratitude. These presentations offered some insights into effectively managing conflicts and their results. Each day was begun with worship and I had the privilege of participating and preaching twice as we explored biblical examples of conflict and violence in families and God’s role of reconciliation.
The weekend provided academic stimulation around a serious issue in culture and offered practical options for dealing with it. The weekend brought together partners from Rwanda and afar to work together. It was a witness to the body of Christ. Personally I had the opportunity to host Chip Hardwick and introduce him to the wider PIASS community and to the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. That was a blessing.
You were part of this process of problem solving by your support of me. Thank you. You make it possible for me to be here and to participate in such encouraging programs. I ask that you continue with me in this ministry through your prayers and your financial support. Please pray for my students as they finish their academic year with their exams this week and next and then go to do internships for a month. Pray for me as I take a vacation in August. God had opened the door for me to go to Malawi to visit my sons and their families. I am most grateful for this opportunity and covet your prayers. How may I pray for you? You are always on my heart.
Yours in Christ,
Kay (Cathie to the family)
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 128
Read more about Kay Day's ministry in Rwanda
Blog: Day's Diary
Write to Kay Day
Individuals: Give to E200502 for Kay Day's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507524for Kay Day's sending and support
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
