Dear Friends,
After experiencing the
seasons; rainy-, winter-, and what I am told is a rare guest: a beautiful sunny
summer, in England my tickets are bought, visa in hand and vaccinations
scheduled it is time to return home to Bangladesh.
I have been privileged
to study at Redcliffe College in England for a year. While others have finished
their degree in a year, I will need more time to do so, and because I am
scheduled to start work again from mid September it will be quite a while
before I finish my degree.
It has been a
privilege to study Justice, Advocacy and Reconciliation. The requirements have
been that the students make their studies both Biblical and relevant to their
work. This has helped maintain motivation for me as I have been able to work on
how various challenges others are working throuh have relevance for us at LAMB.
Studying has been
challenging in many ways, not least academically. The struggles have given
renewed appreciation for those of our student at LAMB who find learning a
challenge. Insights from many parts of the world on working for justice and
reconciliation have also given me hope; hope that circumstances can improve for
those who do not live the lives of freedom God intended.
A key passage from the
New Testament is where Jesus claims that the Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled:
Luke
4:18-19.
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the
oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. …
21 “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
A challenge for us
today is to see how this is true for us today, and in what ways we are called
to participate in making it a reality. Redcliffe has given me many questions;
while the answers are few and weak the hope we have in Christ is strong.
When I return to
Bangladesh I hope to work on my dissertation every week. There is much to learn
but I look forward to the process of relating what I have learnt to our lives
at LAMB.
Highlights from the
past year includes bike-rides with former colleagues from LAMB; visiting and
having visitors from all over the world and experiencing God’s provisions for
people I care about and for me. Being away from LAMB has given me renewed
appreciation for the work God is doing in and through us there: I count it a
privilege to be part of a work which, while by no means perfect, has a focus
and aims to be proud of.
At the school a new
year has started, we continue to take on more students and new challenges. The
Snowdons who have covered for me while I have been away have agreed to stay on
at the school. I look forward to working with them on developing the school in
new areas and to return to work with all the colleagues who have carried extra
loads while I have been away.
Praise
A year of study and
reflection
Competent cover at
LAMB while I have been away
The opportunity to
meet friends and family
The opportunity to
return to LAMB
Prayer
Travel mercies
For good
re-integration into work and community at LAMB
For wisdom to know how
to use what I have learnt
For time and stamina
to finish my studies
For LAMB to do justice
to our focus and the God we claim to serve
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