Fridays are back with my Swedish lesson with Lennart. We are reading through the history of the Swedish Evangelical Mission’s work in Ethiopia. One important part of the story influencing the growth of the church was the indigenous leadership. Today, we read about the Bible translation into the Oromo language by Onesimus and his colleague (a woman!) Aster (there is a literacy center named after her). This helped the Oromo people realize that they didn’t have to change their culture to follow Jesus.
In the afternoon, I met my Johannelund-student Swedish conversation partner, Rebecca. She is wonderfully patient with me. I am so grateful for both of these two gracious helpers! Fortunately, they both seem to enjoy the time we spend together, so I don’t feel like a burden.
In between, I went for my first work out at a gym very close to work. I finally am getting around to making this happen. While on the exercise bike, I’m reading one of the text books (in Logos format, on my Kindle that Anya gave me as a gift).
You know this is Scandinavia when looking at what is on one of the large TV screens at the gym: cross-country skiing! Unfortunately, Sweden took third with Norway winning!
In local news and discussion, Sweden is reinstituting the draft. I think this is actually part of the ripple effect of a Trump win. Because Russia has done some provocative military exercises recently and Trump seems too cozy with Putin, there doesn’t seem to be the same American deterrent to Russian posturing.
On another note, I’ve been a little irritable lately. After half-a-year of learning this new context, I’m a bit bewildered about the procedures for developing academic policies on the faculty council. I don’t recall that there have been any voting at our 3.25 hour monthly faculty meetings! Yes, there is a cultural value of consensus, but it seems unusual to not have a clear process beyond discussion. This issue is coming up as Jim and I are discussing some tweaks to the delivery of the curriculum for a more developmental pedagogy and integrating biblical study software. We laid out some ideas on a whiteboard yesterday.
So, with an insight from my friend, Scott, I will also engage a Lenten practice of gratitude. That should not only help keep my irritability in check, it will spur on my prayers of thanksgiving.
With blessings and gratitude for you!
Beth