BSCC graduation

One nice thing about living so close to Bethel, as well as being part of a congregation that has quite a number of Bethelites, is that you get invited to special theocratic occasions from time to time. So it happened that a brother named Clément who works in the Service Department--and who incidentally let me know about a town 2 hours from here where there are a lot of Chinese, but unfortunately I haven't made it there yet (sorry, Clément)--invited me to the graduation of the Bible School for Christian Couples on Sunday, June 22, at the Kigali Assembly Hall. I was told there are 4 such occasions a year held here, including also the Bible School for Single Brothers (although that will now all change).

I'm not sure how I ended up with this privilege, but no doubt someone wants me exposed to as much as Kinyarwanda as possible, because that's the language the program was to be in. I attended a similar graduation before and, remembering that it is a very emotional experience for friends and family of the students, prepared myself to embrace and get all misty-eyed over people I am meeting for the first time. (In a way, that reminds me of a custom in Malawi, which also exists in Rwanda: someone in a wedding party can invite you to attend the wedding and the reception, even though you don't know either the bride or the groom. Hey, why not?) But the event turned out to be relatively modest in the tearjerker department.

Fortunately, I arranged to sit next to Philbert, so that he could type a bit of interpretation on my tablet so as not to disturb any of those sitting around us. The open-air Assembly Hall was about a third full, which meant there were about 500 in attendance.

The class had 12 couples, for a total of 24 students. Three of the students had previously graduated from the BSSB. The average length of time in full-time service was 17 years.

First on the program was an interview of Assembly Hall committee members, who described some of the preparations that had to be done in advance of the school. Then some students explained how they benefited from the course. Finally, each of the two instructors gave some parting encouragement, and then the assignments were handed out. Most of the assignments involved substitute circuit work and special pioneering.

Watchtower Study, with students as participants

Interview of students

Receiving assignments!

Queueing up for refreshments afterward

Three sisters with Chinese dresses!?

Afterward, I had the opportunity to meet one of the instructors, whose name is Luc. He is a circuit overseer in the French circuit, but in September will be changing to a Kinyarwanda circuit. Someone said that years ago when offered the opportunity to attend university, he turned it down, which is quite remarkable in a place like Rwanda, in order to enter the full-time service. So he has enjoyed many theocratic privileges ever since.

I returned home very tired but happy to be able to witness this event. By the way, on an unrelated personal note: During a water cut, I successfully took a shower with about 3 gallons of water from a bucket! Yes, it can be done!