And Seminary begins...

I was thinking of starting a completely new blog about this experience but decided why reinvent the wheel when it just needs to be dusted off and pumped up abit.  So for now our "Klanderman Family" blog is going to be some thoughts, meditations, or struggles with the new adventure in our lives, Amy's Seminary Days.  I would think most of these posts will be from me, Amy, since I'm going through this first hand...but there may be times when others chip in.  Just want to have a place where I can keep track of the process and...you never know...possibly help someone else along the way.  So here goes...

I began official Seminary classes this week (last week I had one morning of orientation) at Western Seminary in Holland, MI.  After my first week here are a few thoughts:

1)  When they say Greek is hard, this is not an understatement.  I studied 8 hours for my first quiz (took 5 minutes to do) and that was just for the alphabet.  I'm so glad that God is bringing me into this gently (only 3 classes) because if I was going full time and being a mom...honestly that would not be possible in my life.

2)  I love all my classes.  (Yes, even Greek.)  I go to class 2 days a week (T & Th) and this is my schedule.  8am-NT Greek, 9:40-Chapel (not a class but an amazing blessing to worship with others who are going through similar things...such a gift!), 10:30-The Practice of Discipleship, and 1:15 on Tues-Worship Foundations.  Why do I love them?  Greek:  Dude, I get to read the Word of God in the language that it was copied down in for centuries, before Bible translations were made.  I still can't believe that I will be able to do that...Go God!  Discipleship:  Trying to bring back the idea of discipleship...living out our faith and sharing that with others, walking together in discovery and learning, and growing more into the people God created us to be.  Worship: Looking at all the different forms that people use to worship the Living God, I'm excited about the things I will be challenged with and the opportunities God will give me to explore some I'm not traditionally inclined to do.

3)  New Friends:  When you struggle through these classes with basically the same group of people you hear people's hearts and work through things with them, and when you are left standing and changed at the end you can't help but be better for it.  I can't wait to see what God's going to teach me through them.

4)  The Professors are amazing!  A group of God loving people who truly have His purposes for our lives at heart.  Not cram it down your throat-type people, not get this or get out type people, but here are some things we have learned...how can we help you to grow type people.  Ones who reassure you that if you feel like you have no idea of what's going on you are in the perfect place, or ones who say we know you can't read everything you have been assigned...Get to the stuff that speaks to your heart and let God work through that.    Amen! 

So this is enough for a beginning!  If you have questions, comment and I'll try to get to them.  If you have prayer time you are looking to spend on someone, I'd appreciate your prayers.  For now just that God would help me find balance in my life and that each day I would grow more into the person He created me to be.  So we'll end with this thought...

My first quiz of my seminary career was my Greek alphabet quiz this morning at 8am.  I studied at least 8 hours for this quiz, every family member ran through the flash cards with me, and I spoke and wrote it out (sounding like an idiot trying to make spit fly on my "chi") and used every resource available to me to make sure those letters were stuck well.  This morning, getting that blank piece of paper with some lines for the letters and then an open space to write all the names (in order) was amazingly nerve wracking.  When I was done, I was pretty sure I had done a good job, but I would just have to wait and see.  When I got the graded paper in my mailbox, before I left this noon, it brought tears to my eyes.  Beside all I had written out in pencil, there were just two red words at the top, "Well done."  Not a bad start to a seminary career.  Go God!  (Matt. 25:21)

At His feet,

Amy