April 8, 2000
Dear Friends,
We do hope you are all well and will have a very
blessed time over Easter.
The students are all returning home today after a week of exams, marking the
end of BTC's first term. It has been a good week of cementing relationships
with more than the usual amount of interaction between staff and students,
be it concerning exam questions (after the papers!), experiences and
impressions of the past term, or parting conversations (which seem to have
the habit of going on...and on...and on!!) The hostel community invited the
faculty to a fellowship meal, in place of the usual hostel meeting, on
Tuesday night. Despite it being exam week and having an electricity cut, it
was a very happy and jovial gathering, with Jayanatha (who had also brought
his two girls along for this final week) sharing from the Word before the meal.
Pradhapan and Jeya's contribution to the hostel-life is greatly appreciated,
as one student expressed, 'Jeya is both a mother and a sister, she always
knows if anyone is not well and comes to help. Pradhapan works so hard
during the day, (making tables, clearing the backyard, putting up fans etc.)
but in the evening he sits down and takes out his big Bible...then he is
ready to talk... Apparently Luther and Calvin often have long discussions!'
Despite their different geographical and ecclessial/theological backgrounds,
it is encouraging and heartening to see the way the students have come to
appreciate, value and genuinely care for each other. Satyendra came to BTC
looking for Yesudasan (who is partially-sighted) last night, since he hadn't
arrived by 10.30pm. after visiting the Hooles. He found him, just getting
ready to leave!
Sivakumar (Reuben) brought his wife and 6 month-old son, to BTC yesterday,
on their way from her parent's home in Mutur, to Hatton. He will leave her
with her uncle in Uppeveli, (just north of Trinco) for a week while he goes
on to Hatton to secure a place for them to live. Thankfully he has been
provided with some money to help pay an advance, please pray that God will
lead hin to the right place.
It seems that Yesudasan will have to become a part-time student next term
since he has not been able to do the necessary pastoral visiting in his
church in Batticaloa, while studying full-time. He was hoping to find
someone to look after the flock while he studied but as yet he has not found
anyone. Please pray that God would show clearly what is His way and if
necessary provide another person to oversee the church. (Prathapan, a former
CTS student, could possibly fill in the gap but he is still away in India).
M. Sivakumar is a Hindu convert who pastors a church plant of Faith
Tabernacle here in Trincomalee. While his two friends, Yathukulan, and
Praba, with whom joined BTC, became part-time students, M. Sivakumar has
remained a very keen full-time student, desiring to learn as much as he can
from the lectures and his fellow students at BTC. Please pray for him,
particularly that he would be able to continue as a full-time student.
It has been an eye-opener to prepare the BTC books for the end of the
financial year. The following shows our expenditure by department within
BTC, along with our income. We are indeed amazed and thankful for how richly
God has supplied our needs through you and our other supporters. Thank you!
Baldaeus Theological College
Expenditure, January - March 2000
(=A31 =3D Rs. 115, U.S.$1 =3D Rs.73)
Library Furniture 57,583
Books 47,843
Total 105,426
College Furniture (Office) 26,912
Furniture (Classroom) 60,307
Kitchen Equipment 10,800
Photocopier 59,000
Telephone connection (2) 14,019
Miscellaneous 14,780
Total 185,818
OfficeExpenses Office Supplies 24,309
Advertising 2,200
Total 26,509
Hospitality Welcome Dinner 2,830
Board & Student's Dinner 2,500
Board Meeting Expenses 3,611
Weekly Fellowship meal 4,939
Total 13,880
Pay Regular staff and faculty 173,340
Visiting Lecturer 6,500
Translation (class & notes) 15,995
Moving & Transport 5,500
Total 201,335
Scholarships 36,400
Hostel Furniture 77,294
Kitchen Equipment 15,964
Hostel Improvements 45,488
Soft Furnishings 10,075
Tools, Equipment etc. 12,151
Advance 300,000
Deposit 10,000
Rent 8,000
Total 478,972
Total Expenditure 1,048,340
Baldaeus Theological College
Income, January - March, 2000 (Rs.)
Registration 15,675
Hostel Rent 2,000
Fellowship Meals 2,265
Local Donations 3,000
Foreign Donations 1087,827
Total 1110,767
(we can send this in a better form as an attachment if you want it)
Nepoleon has secured places for his children at the local schools, now he
just needs to secure a house to live in! Please continue to pray for him and
his family.
Thank you for your prayers,
Charles and Jaqui
|
|
|
| 