So... I promised you more about the history of the school I'm
at. And it's a cool history. :) It all started when these 5 families
began meeting together for Bible study. After a while they decided
God's command to go to the nations applied to all Christians and,
unlike so many people who hear the call, they listened. They read in
Acts that the early disciples sold all the had and lived in community,
so that's what they did. They all sold their homes and possessions and
pooled their money and bought one huge house and moved into it
together. Now, I don't know the exact number of people off the top of
my head but they all had kids so it was a healthy number of people
living together. And no one "owned" anything in the house, so I'm sure
it was rough to start with. However, they were determined to go the
the mission field and thought this was the best way to save money and
be trained. This was back in 1945.
Now other people started hear about what they were doing and
wanted in on it. A place to learn how to live in Christian community
and learn skills for the mission field sounded great. So, different
people started coming to live with them. They quickly outgrew their
house and chapel. So, in 1946 (told you it was quick) they bought
about 60 acres of land in Bloomington, where the campus still sits
today. The first class had 10 students, but more soon followed.
In the early days the school was free. Part of that was because
the students were living there, not just attending school, and so did a
fair share of the work (we still work 20 hours a week on campus to help
keep costs down and provide practical training) and part of it was
because they were very big into using business to support missions
work. Bethany has at different times made toys, griddles, and even
pop-up campers. The one business that stayed around was a printing
press they started. Now it's been sold (for legal reasons I think) but
the profits still go to support missionaries around the globe. In
fact, Bethany Press is the largest Christian paperback book press in
the country. Look in some of the books you have sitting around and I
bet you'll find that some of them were printed right here, just outside
my dorm window.
Of course, a lot of things have changed over the years. But we
still work on campus, are still required to live on campus, attend
chapel together several times a week, and eat pretty much of of our
meals together. The whole point is to learn to live in a community,
something they felt was lacking in the 40's but is virtually unheard of
now in the 21st century. But it's not just a community of 18-25 year
old's with a few teachers around. That's not a community, that's a
group.
You see, those original founding members, and then some of the
original missionaries, gave everything they had. They didn't keep back
retirement, they didn't have a plan B. They decided to trust God and
just let Him care for them. So when they got to an age where they just
couldn't stay on the field anymore they didn't have anything to live
off of, no home or big savings plan. So, the school took them in.
They live here on campus with us and eat with us. These are folks in
their 70's and 80's and 90's who have been serving God their entire
life. At the other end of the spectrum are the kids. There are babies
everywhere. :) Some of the students have kids. they live here on
campus with their parents. And most of the staff have kids, with quite
a few of the younger staff having a tiny one. Some live on campus,
some don't, but either way they are always around with children in
tow.
The thing that really strikes me is the feeling of peace here.
It's quiet physically, but also spiritually. Not dead, just peaceful.
Esp. the chapel. It's been turned into the Bethany House of Prayer and
their goal is to eventually have 24/7 prayer watches, 365 days a year.
It's got a long way to go, but it's getting there. Regardless, there
is a very strong presence of God in that place. I noticed it the first
day. I can only assume that it comes from the thousands of tears and
millions of prayers that have been offered up in it since it was
built.
As to what I've been up too... Well, it's been a busy couple of
weeks. I'm adjusting to living with my roommate, Ashley, and sharing a
dorm. I'm also adjusting to having homework to do, and on a deadline.
LOL That's a novel thing for me. My PT (practical training) assignment
is the kitchen and so we've been in training all week there. Starting
Mon I have my "permanent" (but subject to change) assignment, There
are 2 different dish crews (they also handle the cleaning), lunch and
dinner, and then a prep crew (they help with the cooking). I was on
the lunch dish crew during training, but now I'll be on the prep crew.
Hopefully it won't take too long for me to catch on.
Well, away I go. I need to go eat lunch so that I can help clean
the Sally Ann. It's a free thrift shop here on campus. If you need
something you just take it, if you have something you don't need you
just leave it there. Sounds cool, I guess I'll see for myself in a few
minutes.
Comments (1)
Hey that sounds very familiar
do you know a girl named Abby from nebraska?