Team Building for Helderberg College Residence Management 17-19 Jan 2007

We had our team building for the purpose of inducting newly appointed two Assitant deans and four Residence assistants. We went out for camping, and it was good. It was time to share goals and plans for the management of residences, and induction for new appointees, and agreed on strategies of making our residences conducive for spiritual, social, academic and physical development. We covered areas ranging from leadership qualities and virtues, resolving conflicts, role of team members in a team - to planning for extramural activities.

In brief, it was quite enriching and provided opportunities for bonding and getting to know each other better. We are planning to have a team building for Helderberg College SRC. It is amazing how camping can refresh and give one a boost for the new year.

Team Building for Helderberg College Residence Management 17-19 Jan 2007

We had our team building for the purpose of inducting newly appointed two Assitant deans and four Residence assistants. We went out for camping, and it was good. It was time to share goals and plans for the management of residences, and induction for new appointees, and agreed on strategies of making our residences conducive for spiritual, social, academic and physical development. We covered areas ranging from leadership qualities and virtues, resolving conflicts, role of team members in a team - to planning for extramural activities. In brief, it was quite enriching and provided opportunities for bonding and getting to know each other better. We are planning to have a team building for Helderberg College SRC.

Helderberg College Orientation 22-23 Jan 2007

We started off with about 45 new students for our orientation. We were anticipating more than 60 students. We may have to study why our orientations do not result to 100% attendance by new students. It could be that our orientation takes place before the end of the month, and some sponsors are still recoving from festive mood, and finances are not at their best.

Nevertheless, we had a good start, and some took english and maths tests as per requirement for their field of study. Theology Faculty, like last year, attracted more than 60% of our 2007 enrolment. Scarcity of funding and sponsorship for theology students is one of our challenges that we have, and we may have to address this area seeing that we have more students wanting to train for ministry. In general, our orientation went well. It was quite hectic to coordinate, but team work always pays when well organised. We also hope to have a smooth registration for the next three days (24-26 Jan 2007).

50th Wedding Anniversary - Silas & Thoko Motea - 10 Dec 2006

My family & I had quite an encouraging weekend. We went to Mapela Village, Limpopo Province, to officiate in a renewal of vows after 50 years between Silas & Thoko Motea. It was a touching ceremony because many marriages end in divorce or separation.

 

Silas has just turned 80, and Thoko is 67, and they had five kids (one passed away), and several grand and great grand children. After the normal preliminaries, I requested the bride-groom to kiss the bride, and grand children and great children were so happy and they demanded the couple to do it again. It appears that the current record-breaking wedding anniversary stands at 72.

 

Silas and Thoko have been following a vegetarian lifestyle for the rest of their lives, and it appears to be paying good dividends of longevity. There is a link between long life & diet. The same is true with a link between diseases and diet.

 

In spite of the fact that Satan is all out to destroy marriages, God is still in the business of saving our marriages - if we allow Him to do so. As mentioned earlier, we will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary 7 - 12 January 2007. We will be renewing our vows in one of the Mozambique Islands.

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Graduation Guests - 24-26 Nov 2006

We accommodated Mr Masina, Mandla Matshiyane's uncle from Limpopo Province, and Lindi Jakavula at our house. Last night we entertained the Graduation Guest Speaker, Drs. Garland & Jeanette Dulan from the General Conference of SDA in Washington D.C. We had a relaxed evening robust with discussions ranging from South Africa hosting the General Conference, absence or presence of Africanism in Adventism, customer service in South Africa and other countries, the way campmeetings are arranged and conducted as they relate to deleption of venues that can carry the numbers, to customer service in our airports.

 

We got to know the Dulans better, and incidentally we saw Drs Dulan's daughter speaking on Adventists' Hope Channel. We had a lovely time. We also had Sipho and Khosi Masinga, together with their kids, at our home. We then prayed together before parting ways...

I spent time with my mum (21 Nov 2006) - what a bonding...

On Tuesday, 21 November 2006, I spent time with my mother, and it was so good to bond with her. My mum spent a month in Durban, at my kid-sister's place. I discovered for the first time that a place without my mother constitutes a mere house or building, but a house where my mother is constitutes a home. In other words, my home had moved to Durban for the last moth, but now I am able to enjoy a home again.

 

A home is about a relationship, not just a house or a building. My mum baked home-made raisin bread for me. I have not met a person who bakes home-made raisin bread like my mother. My mum is so precious to me, and I am thankful to God for allowing me to enjoy a privilege of having a mother - a mother who is also a home away from home.

SRC Meeting - 3 November 2006

Yesterday (Friday 3 November 2006) we had SRC meeting where in Dr. Martin Klingbeil (Vice-president for Academic Affairs) made a donation of a desktop computer that he won for being the highest in funding raising drive for the college. The computer was donated to the SRC, and both the outgoing and incoming SRC members were present to receive the gift. This was a climax of my day on Friday, and I am anticipating a quiet, but challenging and eventful week.

Helderberg College Board - 22 October 2006

Today marks a memorial of 22 October 1844, the Great Disappointment Day. We had our Board today, and it went well. The calibre of Board members impresses me, and with such kind of Board members, the sky is the limit.

I presented my Student & Community Services Report, and there were discussions, but after that it was adopted. We knocked off at 17:15 hours, and Pastor B M Molopa accompanied me to my home to wait for his ride to the airport. We chatted and reminiscent of the good old days at the Trans-Orange Conference. Pastor Molopa is the current president of the Trans-Orange Conference. The day was hectic, but good. I planning to make Monday a lovely.

Roben Island Trip - 27 August 2006

Helderberg College Staff Entertainment Committee organised a trip to the Roben Island, and we went with our families. It was my first time to be in a boat for 13 km, and initially it was scary for me given that the waves kept on swinging and beating against the boat.Roben Island brought back the memories of the 1970s and 1980s, where South Africa was still under the dark cloud of separate development and racial descrimination. I saw Mandela's prison cell, together with other political prisoners' cells.

I was comforted by the reconciliatory spirit of those who served long prison sentences - many of whom are now serving as historians and tour guides for the Roben Island Museum. Their attitude is that everyone was a victim of racial laws, including those who initiated and perpetrated them. It is good to know that those who are currently running the government of South Africa have a spirit of reconciliatory and forgiveness. What a day.

An Eventful day - 13 October 2006

Today I taught my class as usual (Apocalyptic Studies - REB431). On Thursdays I lecture from 10:00 - 10:50 hours, and on Fridays from 09:00 - 10:50. I am almost left with 9 hours before I finish a syllabus for my class.

At 11:30 hours today I convened a Community Engagement Meeting (composed of all Faculty heads & Lectures who deal with Community Engagement or Phylosophy of Service). We made serious resolutions such as (1) Implement Service Learning from June 2007, (2) Audit the resources and skills we have, (3) Analyse needs in the immediate community, (4) Workshop the rest of the Faculty Lecturers so that all are onboard, and (5) Liase with the Development Officer with reference to Helderberg Basin Integrated Develop Plan.

This was a long day for me because I woke up at about 03:00 hours.