graduation day for the first class from the keugata
theological school, kenya
The Rev. Grant H. Odhner
T
his summer I had the privilege of presiding at the graduation of the first
group of students enrolled in the Keugata Theological School, hosted by
the Etora New Church in Kenya, under the leadership of the Rev. Samson
Abuga. The graduates are: Fred Onsiro Ang’asa, Nehemiah Manyara Gwonda,
Emanuel Wanjala Juma and George Omusu Magero.
This training and graduation mark historic steps for the New Church in
East Africa. I wish I could convey how excited the graduates and Mr. Abuga
were on the completion of this event.
These men took their education in the teachings of the New Church over
a period of four years. This included visits from three tutors: the Rev. Louis
Synnestvedt, the Rev. Dr. Andrew Dibb (who administered the instructional
program), and myself.
Since a number of the students are teachers, these visits took place during
school breaks in April and August. The sessions ran for two (sometimes three)
weeks. Classes were held in the morning and ended with lunch. Lou visited
three times, and stayed for longer periods. He also kept in contact with the
students, and held some classes from a distance by Skype. Andy visited for
one session, and held another via Skype. I visited twice. The graduation event
capped off the last two-week session, which I taught.
The graduation ceremony took place on a Saturday, classes having finished
the day before. Our two Kenyan congregations, Etora and Kiagware, were
invited. Transportation is very problematic, so adult attendance was not as
abundant as it might have been – particularly from the Kiagware group, which
is some distance from Etora. There were perhaps 50 adults present, including
graduates and staff. But with Etora’s 65 orphans on site, we had many children
present. This was a joy!
The service was scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m., but in Kenya things
rarely (if ever) happen as scheduled. As noted, travelling is difficult and hardly
anyone has a motorized vehicle. If they can afford it, people catch a Matatu
(a taxi-van) or a Piki-piki (a motorcycle taxi). Picking up one of these may
involve walking a long way to a main road. Many people simply walk – for
miles! But this alone does not explain why things don’t happen according to
schedule. Fact is, people there are not governed by the clock; they come when
they’re ready to come.
So on the morning of the graduation, the adults arrived some time before
the service began – about 11:30 or so. In the meantime, the orphans were
hanging out outside of the church, where the ceremony would take place. This
is the area where they play in their free time. They were having a good time.
49