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Previous Item: Sacramento Conference Spring Assembly Report Next Item: Sacramento Lutheran Television Greetings from Dawn SolevadPosted: Monday, May 5, 2003 |
I hope that you are well. With this message, I have attached my annual report that I wrote to the Head Bishop of the Lutheran Church in PNG. This may be of interest and tells a bit more about my work here. Things continue to be busy here at Martin Luther Seminary. We have just started the second term of the academic year and are getting underway with the term's activities. This term I'm teaching writing skills and a term paper writing course.
The tropical heat is always present with frequent showers now at night.The rainy season is approaching and will last until November. The showers are refreshing as it is so hot during the day.
Peace be with you all and thank you wholeheartedly for your continued support and prayers. They are much appreciated! God bless.
Kind regards,
Dawn
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
The year 2002 was my second year of teaching English at Martin Luther Seminary and my first full year as the Dean of Studies. It was a long and challenging, but good year. At the beginning of the academic year in January, there were seven first year students, making a total student body of forty-five. There were eleven members of the faculty. We made it through each term to the graduation in November with twelve graduates. I have continued to teach English and to hold the responsibility of the Dean of Studies. As I continue to hold the responsibility of Dean of Studies, I am thankful for the tremendous degree of help from Joyce Graue. The curriculum is in the process of change, as the faculty continues to think about how to condense the six-year Diploma of Theology Program to a five-year program. Some of the courses have been condensed and some are still in the process of transformation at the present time. English used to be six terms. With the acceptance of only grade 12 graduates to MLS, the English program is only one year now. The program now consists of grammar, writing, term paper writing, and speech. The Biblical and Doctrinal Foundations courses have also been shortened to one year instead of a year and a half.
One of the greatest challenges continues to be looking for new materials to use that are applicable to seminary students here in Papua New Guinea. This is true, especially since a lot has to come from my own ingenuity and there is no one curriculum for teaching English to seminary students in Melanesia. With much pleasure, I try to do what I can with the materials that I have. Having the internet now helps out a lot too. There is more access to materials for teaching English to speakers of other languages.
The first steps for the new one-year Bachelor of Theology Program continued during 2002 to be implemented in 2003. The BTh candidates are now required to take two courses per term (one upper level course and a seminar) in addition to a BTh Writers’ Tutorial and writing a 30-50 page thesis. Martin Luther Seminary also began the initial stages of communication about its bridging program for the graduates of the seminaries with Pidgin as the medium of instruction. More work was done on the new four-year program for lay people – the Diploma in Ministry - to begin at the beginning of 2003. Much is happening and has yet to happen over the next few years with the curriculum here, with the intent that the changes are positive and provide a more challenging, helpful learning environment for all MLS students training to become pastors or church workers in the ELC-PNG.
I had a nice home leave for a little over a month in July to early August. I visited my sponsoring congregations and received many encouraging words about my work here and many interesting questions and comments about Papua New Guinea. It was good to meet the congregations and also to see my family and friends!
It is good to know and believe that God is always with us, helping us through all of our hardships and sharing in all of our joys. I am thankful for God’s everlasting guidance and love. I look optimistically to next year and to the opportunity to serve one more year at Martin Luther Seminary - as my contract is up in July of 2004.
Thank you for your continued support and blessings.
In God’s love and care. Peace be with you always.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Solevad
March 11, 2003
Rev. Dr. Wesley Kigasung
Head Bishop – ELC-PNG
P.O. Box 80
ELC-PNG Headquarters
Lae
Dear Dr. Kigasung,
Peace to you this day.
I'm writing to you to inform you that the seminary has another teaching opportunity in Term 2 2003 for you if you are interested. I enclosed a term schedule for this academic year. You'll see that there is a question mark by your name for Early and Medieval Church History in Term 2 and for Lutheran Confessions in Term 3. I realize that you are going to Canada during Term 3 but would like to ask if you would be interested, willing, and/or available to teach Early and Medieval Church History in Term 2? Please think about it. If you would let me know as soon as you can, I would greatly appreciate it. Many thanks!
Term 2 begins on Monday, April 28 and ends on Friday, June 27. Final exams will be on Monday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 1.
Sincere regards,
Dawn Solevad
Dean of Studies