I realized that I have not posted for about two weeks now. The silence of no voice seems to have affected my typing skills too!!
But good news!! My dr. says that I am able to resume speaking – albeit gently and to ease into singing. I am so happy as is my voice teacher and choir director at the seminary. I hope all of you are well and have not succumbed to the winter nasties.

Classes are well under way. This term is really hard – yes that is a good word for it. It has shown me just what all I don’t know. Humbling to say the least but good opportunities for growing.

I have been asked by our Dean of Chapel if I would consider taking on one of the sacristan positions. I accepted and am looking forward to my new job. It doesn’t pay but it is well worth the experience. Understanding how Altar Guild works and what is needed to keep the house in order is important incase you have to do it yourself in the real. Besides, I really enjoy doing altar linens and polishing silver – I don’t think its for everyone but I enjoy it.

We are getting ready for the LTS annual open house this weekend. It will be great to meet the potential incoming students for next year – my girlfriend Amber from Winnipeg will be attending – she and I plan to live together next year. I am looking forward to that 🙂 The open house gives incoming students a chane to meet the profs, current students, and see what the lay of the land is.

The following week will be the 1st Annual Mardi Gras party at St. Andrews Campus here in town. We share classes with the St. A’s students and it seemed only right to have a party together. Anyone else having a party???

Well, I think that is all the news for now. I get to see Alan for a few hours this weekend. Woo hoo! I really miss him and all the silly daily stuff of life. I can’t wait for this term to be over so I can be back home.

Until I write again,
J

Well, the first week of our winter term is through. I am really looking forward to this term – several of us are calling it the ‘meat and potato’ term – we are such praire people aren’t we?!! I am taking four classes: The Lutheran Confessions, Theology 1, Intro to the New Testament and Narrative Hermeneutics.

You may ask what on earth is Narrative Hermeneutics ( I know I did)!! It is simply understanding what is happening when a story is being told. Pastors tell stories – biblical or otherwise – the key is fully understanding what is happening when you tell the story that makes an impact or a connection to people. A very effective tool for ministry.

My story telling is rather limited right now as my laryngitis has come back with a vengance. My dr. put me on some strong antibiotics. I don’t usually like taking things like that but it just wouldn’t go. The hardest thing is is that I am also on complete voice rest. No talking (very limited c. 5 min per hour) and no singing in order to allow my voice to heal. So February will be a silent month. Maybe that is good in a way. Sometimes I think (forgive me if I sound bit philisophical here) we place too much stress on filling the silence of our lives with noise. We are uncomfortable with it. We are not sure what to make of the silence. What do you think?

Peace to you all.
silent sam signing off for now.

Today is a bittersweet day for me. I find leaving my husband, home and pets and returning to Saskatoon hard, but it is filled with anticipation too. Such mixed feelings….sigh. I have enjoyed my time at home immensly! It was good to reconnect with people either in person or on the phone. I remember when I would go home to Mum and Dad’s for a break at the holidays, invariably I would end up being sick…poor Dad would say “You only come home so we can look after you!!” ummm…YUP! that is how it felt this holiday. I battled from some sort of virus that Alan and I kept sharing. I lost my voice (which I think ALan secretly enjoyed!) and did enormous amounts of sleeping and reading. Come home to be looked after?? ummm…..YUP!

So tomorrow is the first day of classes for the winter term. I will look forward to hearing about the adventures of Peru from my classmates who went on the cross-cultural trip Jan 3-20th. I am also looking forward to hitting the books again. This term we are getting into the ‘meat and potato’ of our faith. A good meal for sure!!

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. It means the world to me. Blessings.