Today marked the final day of class, AND the last day Emmaus Biblical Seminary held class at it’s previous campus!
Pretty crazy to think about, all the hours of class, hardships and joys that have taken place in these halls, these classrooms, these dorm, for the last 40 years…all the men and women that have come through, all the different men and women who have taught, who have led, who have come and gone…all the services that have been held in this chapel, all the meals eaten in this cafeteria, all the soccer matches on this yard! (I’ve warned you: I struggle with change!)
It is an exciting time to be a part of EBS and all that God is doing here, and as my students bombarded me with questions about the new campus this morning (they’ve never seen it), I caught their excitement for something NEW, for hope for the future, for change.
They can’t believe the top bunks will have railings (Yay for Masson, who has fallen and hurt himself more than a few times J)…that there are NEW mattresses and NEW beds, not just new to them, but NEW…that there is a room in the library just for studying (versus studying at night in the classrooms)…that there is a large level green yard for soccer clear of large trees…that there will be projectors in each classroom…and that’s just the beginning.
Selfishly, Matt and I are also VERY excited that we won’t be commuting with Lily back and forth 1, 2 or sometimes 3 times a day anymore. In order to have internet access for a master’s class yesterday, Matt was gone from 7 am until 7:30 pm, and in order to share the truck, have Lily home for naps, have meals ready on time, be on time for class, etc., Matt frequently has to find creative ways home and I frequently have to make extra trips. Running Lily back and forth 6-10 times each M-F has been a lot, and we are more exhausted from this past 5 weeks than we ever thought we could be.
It will be a JOY to start teaching in our front yard in January! We may also get internet at this compound one day, cutting out a few more trips . It has been a CRAZY semester!
We also taught our last class in town this week for the year, led our last women's Bible study in the cafeteria for the year, and are starting to see things wrap up for the year! It will be nice to have a change of pace for a few weeks and some time to do those things we're always going to do...soon!
Thursday Matt is the main speaker on a conference on discipleship in an area church, and Sunday we head to the Dominican Republic to pick up my dad and sister, who will be coming to spend Christmas with us!
Lily took SIX steps on her own this morning, and will be running by the time they get here!
Enjoy the snow and all things Christmas for us today!
The change will be great, but I remember wedding receptions in the dining hall, watching them build the chapel,loooong grad ceremonies, lots of great memories there! S
ReplyDeleteStacey and Matt,
ReplyDeleteWhile it is nearly 22 years that we left Haiti, the memories of 16 years on that campus still bring tears when we think of "the last class and the last chapel service and the last meal in that dining hall" Seeing the new campus last year, we are thrilled that you will soon be there and trust you will soon have that Internet service. - Claude and Edna Beachy
I will be praying for you Stace as this new adventure in change continues (we share the same feelings on change). But I just know that as Matt & you and Lily take these next steps forward in faith, he will continue to bless the Ayars family in Haiti.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time with your dad and sister - Lily's first Christmas - some down time as you prepare to start the new year in many new ways.
Steps....I can't believe she is walking :):):)
I love you....
PS sitting in Pennsylvania trust me snow is not all that it is cracked up to be :) just close your eyes and "remember"