Working at the Bible School

I know most of you have never been to the Alpha and Omega Bible School in Ocosingo Chiapas, so a description of it may be helpful. The school is located just outside of Ocosingo on a hill that overlooks the town below and the mountains to the south. The school has one large U shaped, single story administrative building, a two story kitchen/dining room/dormitory building, a two story library/classroom building, a married student housing building, and a small 2 story house broken into two apartments (that’s where we will live.)

All the building are made of concrete block with white stucco siding and flat concrete roofs. Each building has a large black plastic water tank on the roof to store water and provides the water pressure for its use. No hot water heaters here, which is not an issue in the summer, but makes for chilly showers this time of year.

I share an office in the administration building with faculty member Jose and Hebron Foundation Architect Bany Hernandez. Now that school is back in session, music fills the air each morning as students practice piano, voice and conducting. I recognize the tunes of many old favorites like Onward Christian Soldiers, Holy, Holy, Holy and others, but the words are not yet clear.

Each morning Chapel is held at 11 am, lunch is served at 2 pm and the work day goes well past 7 pm most days. The male students study theology and the female students study music and Christian Education.

I'll try to get some pictures up on the website to help bring this description into a real picture, but I thought you might enjoy this for now. It is a blessing to be surrounded by young people who are so serious in their faith journey. Most of the students are away from their villages and families for the first time. My Spanish is coming very slowing, and my Tzeltal even slower, and yet we share a bond through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that helps transcend language and culture in many ways. Still, I will be grateful when my Spanish skills improve so that we can have richer dialogue and get to know each other better. For now I feel blessed to be in their presence and can only hope that my presence is a blessing to them in some way.

Romans 12:9-10 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."