A letter from Kay Day serving in Rwanda
October 2014 - Equipping the Saints
Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Rwanda. As you are carving pumpkins and preparing for autumn festivities, we have just celebrated graduation at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS). The timing may seem a bit off, from an American perspective, but it works well for us. Classes ended in July, so August and September are for students defending their final papers and finishing the paper work so they can graduate. Graduation is held just before the beginning of the new school term. The final-year students who do not complete the work in time go to the parishes to which they have been assigned to begin their internships and to struggle to finish their papers while serving in their village assignments. This presents a challenge, since in many cases they have no electricity, much less Internet access. For that reason it takes many of them more than a year to complete the process and return to campus to defend their papers and graduate. The weeks before graduation were busy as former students returned to finish the process. In addition to serving as an examiner for one of the papers, I assisted many in the editing of the final papers since English is a third language for them. I had plenty of work myself.
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Rwandan drum line at graduation
The graduation was held outside, under tents and on the lawns, to accommodate students, families and invited dignitaries. Instead of the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the academic procession entered to the rhythm of a Rwandan drum line. It adds a local flavor to an otherwise traditional service. As with any graduation, it is not the ceremony that is as important as the people for whom the celebration exists. For me, it was three students in particular, ones I have grown to appreciate. Innocent and Marianne finished their studies last year and went to their parishes to begin their internships and complete their dissertations. Both are living in areas without electricity, so working on their dissertations presented challenges, but they determinedly met them. They were the first of the class of theologians to write and present their papers in English since the country made the language switch from French just five years ago. This added pressure to their presentations, but they did well. I helped them by editing their English writing. Daniel was a student this year and worked diligently to finish his project before going to his parish. He juggled his studies, writing his paper and serving as president of elders (session clerk in the U.S.) for our English chapel. I worked closely with him in that role as well. I edited his English and encouraged him in his program. I was so proud of all three of them. They represent the stories of all the theological graduates who are dedicated to serving God in Rwanda.
While editing and teaching English may not seem as significant a ministry as preaching or evangelizing, I realize that it gives the assistance to emerging pastors that allows them to minister in villages I could only visit. This is a part of equipping the saints, as Paul calls us to do. It is not “glamorous” ministry, but it is important. Monday I launch into it again with a new term as I teach English to entering students before I can teach preaching and worship leadership. The groundwork has to be laid, and that is what I have been called to do. You are a part of this as you support me in prayer and with finances that enable me to be here. Thank you. Please pray for the beginning of the new school year, for those who will begin their studies, and for those who will finish this year. All are preparing to serve our living God, who calls and equips. They have been called and we are equipping them. Praise God.
Yours in Christ,
Kay (Cathie to the family)
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 128
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