Today marks the end of 6 months of my Marie Curie fellowship. In some ways it is still early in the project. In other ways, I am so amazed at the solid foundation that has been built with Providential connections and meeting all the important benchmarks. Yes, I consider myself to be a midwife for what God is creating.
So, what does this day consist of?
Taking an early shower/bath to clear things out for the workers who need to do repairs in the bathroom. There is a leaking pipe above the bathroom ceiling that drips down into the bathroom—fortunately into the tub! They have to repair the pipe and will replace the ceiling that is at risk of collapsing. Now, it might make sense to paint the bathroom walls and make it nice!
The bathroom ceiling!
- I Skype with my sister at 7:00 am on Wednesdays, because she is still awake, and the Internet is best in the early morning here.
- I spent the morning editing papers for an anthology project, for which I’m the co-editor. We editors asked for each contributor to get a native English speaker to review their paper before the final submission deadline today. Two people sent their papers yesterday asking for a review, though one had asked a couple days earlier. However, as an editor, they got editorial comments too—not just English language edits. One paper still needs a lot of work. It is an important concept on widows—which I know something about—so, I’m trying to discern if I have the bandwidth to offer to co-write it to get it across the finish line. Perhaps, my colleague won’t want me to collaborate as well. Hmm.
- The afternoon was spent revising my SBL presentation for publishing. This is the biblical-theological framework for my Marie Curie fellowship. Knut encouraged me to try to submit to a top tier academic journal, and I’m not sure my paper has enough exegetical rigor. However, it does demonstrate an innovative way that biblical scholarship has a strategic role to catalyze the work of the church. I say that biblical scholarship is important for developing creation care content that is grounded in the Scriptures, informed by science, and relentlessly sensitive to the cultural context can empower the local church to be a vital agent of transformation in Maasailand. I’m going to expect a rejection and avoid disappointment!
- I’m preparing my notes (I keep a daily activity log) for writing the monthly report to my boss, Daniela, and research supervisor, Knut. I’ll put that together tomorrow.
- Around 6 pm, I took a walk. Each loop is 3.2 Km, so three loops before sunset is 2.25 miles.
- While getting some leftover dumplings steaming, the power went out (for about the 3rd time today). So, I had my last bagel with cream cheese (the first I’ve had in Tanzania, that I was able to buy in Arusha on Sunday). After consuming my bagel, the power came on, so I figured I’d better finish steaming the dumplings and eat those too.
- I washed up my dishes, and then received a text message. My neighbor, Suzana, had come home. I was coordinating the final part of the sponsorship for Hosiana’s training to become a pastor. (I met her parents a couple weeks ago, and her mother—a lay pastor—is lovely!) So, I went to finalize things with Suzana, but also take the opportunity to talk with her about my project. She is the director of the theological education by extension program (TEE) that provides the equipping of the lay pastors, and I’m eager to have her as a stakeholder for the project and collaborate with her on the part that intersects with the TEE program. We get along great, and I’m looking forward to learning more from her. I sense again that God is doing something to bless this project.
- So, now writing up a blog to wrap up the day. FYI, the workers did not come to work on the bathroom ceiling.
To add another picture for the day, here’s the largest mosquito I’ve ever seen!
Mungu akubariki! (God bless you! in Kiswahili)
Mikitamayana Engai! (God bless you! in Maa)