In a brief amount of time I have between fall and winter classes of my second year of seminary, I want to write a few brief posts that update people one where I am in life and ministry and continue to encourage readers in manners similar to previous posts. This is first of an unknown number of these updates for December, 2017.
In the middle of my fall semester, I had the opportunity to go to Fiji for a few days on a very brief missions trip. This update will discuss what that was and why it happened in Q&A form.
Did Grant really go to Fiji in the middle of his fall semester?
Yes.
When did Grant really go to Fiji in the middle of his fall semester?
October 25–30, 2017.
Why did Grant really go to Fiji in the middle of his fall semester?
“Tell your parents you need to study in a tranquil environment.” -Michael Seehusen
No, but really.
My high school small group leader (Michael Seehusen) will be moving out with his family in 2018 to teach at a Bible college in Fiji (College of Theology and Evangelism, Fiji; henceforth called CTE). Michael visited during their graduation at the end of October. Readers should be reminded, if they think this sounds strange, that Fiji is in the southern hemisphere, like everywhere else I have gone for missions trips. He invited several people to come with him for different purposes. I was invited to do an evaluation of the college library.
What did Grant do when he really went to Fiji in the middle of his fall semester?
I messed around in the library jotting random things on 4″x6″ index cards with a TWSBI mini fountain pen. This is remarkably similar to what I do in class.
More specifically, I took notes observing general trends in the library’s collection to get an idea of how to improve its content and organization. Michael, having space in his shipping container, will be able to collect book donations to add to the library. Observing the library’s current content gave direction for expanding and improving it, not only through those donations, but also potentially through reorganization.
What sort of observations were you able to make in the library?
I was encouraged by the general quality of content already existing in the library. There were a good number of helpful evangelical commentaries, enough resources to learn and study Koine Greek well enough to work through the New Testament, a decent amount of theological reference works, etc.
There were two main observations I made for improvement. First, the vast majority of books (probably around 95%) were printed before 1985. Particularly for scholarly works and libraries, this is a shortcoming worth attention. This gives opportunity for expansion. Second, a lot of books had numerous (for some potentially upward of a dozen) duplicates. Books that were very popular at particular times had been donated in large numbers. Most libraries don’t need numerous duplicates of the same book; this gives opportunity for reorganization.
So what now?
I’m doing things stateside to help in the expansion project. I’ve already done some library software research and am currently working on a list of recommended books to find in donations. I’ll probably continue to be a library contact stateside for Michael into the foreseeable future.
Can I help?
Yes! Please pray! If you’re interested in giving or serving in other ways, please contact me and I will direct you in the way you should go.
Citizens & Sons 