We have had a lot of Theological Conferences here in Beni lately.
The first took place April 15-17 and was coordinated by the Bible Institute of Beni. The Conference was Wednesday through Friday and the theme for the week was "How can the church help with transformation and rebuilding here in the Democratic Republic of the Congo." I was actually pretty proud of myself since the whole conference was in French and I didn't need a translator. I did have a headache from concentrating so hard - but it was good practice! I was really proud when my boss, Honore', the Academic Dean at UCBC, gave the best presentation of the day.
On the second day, I was asked to be the moderator for the day. What that means is that I introduce each speaker, add witty comments at the end of each speech, and then coordinate the question and answer session at the end. For that day, I did have a translator, my student John, translated what I said to them in English into French. However, I was still on my own for listening to the speakers. This wouldn't have been so bad, except that as moderator I had to sit on the stage during all of the presentations. There were times when I felt like a Christmas Ornament - that I was just up there for show. "Oh, look at the mzungu on the stage - how funny that a girl is here!" However, the chairman was very gracious and honoring to me. It was meant to be a compliment - it was just that I became distracting from the speakers - so I felt bad. Anyway, they decided to take us all out to lunch that day and treat us to what here in the Congo would be a gourmet feast - french fries, cole slaw, a coke, and a whole half of a chicken for ourselves. I literaly couldn't finish mine, since my stomach as shrunk considerably here with loosing so much weight. So I felt bad that I had to send food away, but I didn't want to hold everyone back up.
One of the interesting things about lunch was that I was not the only mzungu there - there was a french catholic professor of Congolese history and a Quaker missionary with SIL bible translators. They both grilled me on how I got here to the Congo and how I came to study theology, since I was a woman. I knew what they were getting at - so I tried to answer the questions honestly but tactfully. It was hard - the Congolese don't put that much pressure on me in a sexist way - so it was actually hard to take from fellow mzungus!
The next day, I got to be back in the audience. I was still invited to lunch the next day, but I wasn't given the same treatment of questions. In fact, I was asked by the chairman to share my testimony of being a single woman in theology. He said that they are trying to raise the view of women here in the Congo and he feels that everyone would benefit from my story. You couldn't have wiped the smile off my face. How amazing that these people would honor me this way and recognize what they were trying to do to me the day before.
The funniest thing was when I did get up to give my testimony, when I mentioned that I was still single - there was an audible gasp from the crowd! Then, when said that I already had a master's degree and was working on a PhD - there was another gasp! It was hilarious!
It truly was great to represent UCBC and women in theology. I know that my students said that they were extremely proud of me for speaking in front of the conference and for representing a woman teacher! I didn't want to embarrass them and they said no - that they are very proud of me!
The next theological conference was our first one here at UCBC on Friday, May 1st. This is labor day here in the Congo - so we were out of school and we could hold the conference on campus. We met with our counterpart theology department from the other university here in Beni. We talked about a partnership in the future to hold seminars for all of the pastors here in the area and how we can support and encourage one another.
I splurged and treated them all to pop for the conference and they were very grateful! Also, the students from the other school were excited to grill me with questions and ask me when I would come teach them. I told them that they would need to enroll here at UCBC and perfect their English. I think some of the me are seriously considering it. However, I encouraged them to attend our seminars here this summer which will be translated into french!
I am very encouraged that we are building these networks for the pastors and theologians to support and rely on one another. It is a key step in helping the Congo to become self-sufficient! I was glad to be a part of it!!!
The first took place April 15-17 and was coordinated by the Bible Institute of Beni. The Conference was Wednesday through Friday and the theme for the week was "How can the church help with transformation and rebuilding here in the Democratic Republic of the Congo." I was actually pretty proud of myself since the whole conference was in French and I didn't need a translator. I did have a headache from concentrating so hard - but it was good practice! I was really proud when my boss, Honore', the Academic Dean at UCBC, gave the best presentation of the day.
On the second day, I was asked to be the moderator for the day. What that means is that I introduce each speaker, add witty comments at the end of each speech, and then coordinate the question and answer session at the end. For that day, I did have a translator, my student John, translated what I said to them in English into French. However, I was still on my own for listening to the speakers. This wouldn't have been so bad, except that as moderator I had to sit on the stage during all of the presentations. There were times when I felt like a Christmas Ornament - that I was just up there for show. "Oh, look at the mzungu on the stage - how funny that a girl is here!" However, the chairman was very gracious and honoring to me. It was meant to be a compliment - it was just that I became distracting from the speakers - so I felt bad. Anyway, they decided to take us all out to lunch that day and treat us to what here in the Congo would be a gourmet feast - french fries, cole slaw, a coke, and a whole half of a chicken for ourselves. I literaly couldn't finish mine, since my stomach as shrunk considerably here with loosing so much weight. So I felt bad that I had to send food away, but I didn't want to hold everyone back up.
One of the interesting things about lunch was that I was not the only mzungu there - there was a french catholic professor of Congolese history and a Quaker missionary with SIL bible translators. They both grilled me on how I got here to the Congo and how I came to study theology, since I was a woman. I knew what they were getting at - so I tried to answer the questions honestly but tactfully. It was hard - the Congolese don't put that much pressure on me in a sexist way - so it was actually hard to take from fellow mzungus!
The next day, I got to be back in the audience. I was still invited to lunch the next day, but I wasn't given the same treatment of questions. In fact, I was asked by the chairman to share my testimony of being a single woman in theology. He said that they are trying to raise the view of women here in the Congo and he feels that everyone would benefit from my story. You couldn't have wiped the smile off my face. How amazing that these people would honor me this way and recognize what they were trying to do to me the day before.
The funniest thing was when I did get up to give my testimony, when I mentioned that I was still single - there was an audible gasp from the crowd! Then, when said that I already had a master's degree and was working on a PhD - there was another gasp! It was hilarious!
It truly was great to represent UCBC and women in theology. I know that my students said that they were extremely proud of me for speaking in front of the conference and for representing a woman teacher! I didn't want to embarrass them and they said no - that they are very proud of me!
The next theological conference was our first one here at UCBC on Friday, May 1st. This is labor day here in the Congo - so we were out of school and we could hold the conference on campus. We met with our counterpart theology department from the other university here in Beni. We talked about a partnership in the future to hold seminars for all of the pastors here in the area and how we can support and encourage one another.
I splurged and treated them all to pop for the conference and they were very grateful! Also, the students from the other school were excited to grill me with questions and ask me when I would come teach them. I told them that they would need to enroll here at UCBC and perfect their English. I think some of the me are seriously considering it. However, I encouraged them to attend our seminars here this summer which will be translated into french!
I am very encouraged that we are building these networks for the pastors and theologians to support and rely on one another. It is a key step in helping the Congo to become self-sufficient! I was glad to be a part of it!!!
