Dinner companion

As I was making dinner tonight, I heard a rustling in the garden up the hill (because it's been SO dry; please pray for rain!).

I assumed it was a dog.  Nope; this guy was looking for his dinner too.

Cold and an ordination

I have the wretched cold (or flu, as we say here) that is going around. Ugh. When I get online for real I'll post pictures from Sunday's ordination in Jinja.

Of course, the trip back required a stop at a certain fruit stand, and when you pull up, all the merchants descend in your car with their wares, vying for your attention. You have to buy the entire basket, so while I wanted one pineapple, I had to buy two. Whereas I wanted one avocado, I bought five. 

Good enough, I had Canon Moses and Ruth Isabirye with me, so we did some sorting once we got home. I have them avocados and a pineapple, and they gave me a bunch of bananas. Oh, and I gave them some passion fruit; there's no way I could have consumed that entire bag. I just hope the juice helps with this wretched cold. 

Launching a coup

Today we began our curriculum review in earnest, and I began to launch my coup.  My earnest desire is to expand our programs by a semester, if not a year, which is going to cause great consternation, angst, and gnashing of teeth.  I've been talking to the dean about this, and several key lecturers.  Today I was literally whispering in Professor's ear, and he brought it up rather well.

The challenge is that the bishops probably won't go for this at all.  Like other leaders, they want to send us their students, and we pour what we need to into their hearts and minds in the fastest amount of time possible.  So, we will do our best to make the best proposal and presentation that we can, and pray our little hearts out.

Apparently, since I have the fastest fingers in Uganda, I have inherited the secretary duties for this review, despite my inability to take minutes. I am inferring that I am in charge of gathering, corralling, and making sense of all our information. 

If we can get our act together and actually agree on things, we have the potential to do some really great work here.  I think I scored some points, at least temporarily, with the need to emphasize critical thinking and analysis, particularly with the master's degree.

Lord, please help us! 

How a fire in Kenya affects Uganda

It made the Washington Post 'trending topics' at the top of their page, so it must be true. Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi suffered quite a bit of damage in a fire. While I've not read of any loss of life, this is a huge tragedy for both  Kenya and East Africa, as this airport is a major hub. 

Why does this matter to me?  The Global Anglican Futures Conference II will be held in Nairobi at the end of October.  

Even though Kenya is next door, it is much easier to fly to Nairobi in an hour than it is to spend 12 hours on a bus, and customs is much easier as well. A number of us from UCU are going, and I believe we are electing to fly. 

Please join me in praying that operations resume and find normalcy as quickly as possible. 

Requesting logistical brainpower.

Ok, people. I need your help. Next semester, I am likely to be responsible for taking attendance for 150 students in chapel, six times a week. Yay me. 

What is the easiest, yet most efficient, way to do this? Do not assume that the honor code is in effect. 

Thanks!

After the brouhaha

After the brouhaha about the marks I gave, we were talking about the long holiday (summer break during the September semester), and I mentioned that I would be traveling to Soroti and Rwanda to supervise students. 

My sweet student who had chastised me for the Proverbs coursework said, "but I'm in Kitgum!" (which is nowhere near Soroti).

I think the class has (mostly) forgiven me.

Revolution over marks

Over the last two weeks or so, I've been returning my students' coursework. One of the good things about having the same class [cohort] for two course units is that we get to know each other well rather quickly. I've been returning their coursework for Psalms and Wisdom literature as I mark their group presentations.

However, for Biblical Interpretation, the coursework is all individual. For the first assignment, I gave them a handful of exercises out of the book to reinforce the concepts that we discuss in class. The second assignment is an exegesis of a passage of Scripture of their choice (5-10 verses).

All semester I have been telling my class that I am tough but fair, and that I have no tolerance for plagiarism. This is important, because the day they received their first marks, it was like I had used their own blood on the coursework rather than red ink.

They launched a revolt. They asked me to top up (add marks). I replied that marks are earned, not given. They begged and pleaded. They asked me to give marks for attendance. I replied that attending lectures is like breathing; why should I reward them for breathing?

The class was sufficiently apoplectic that I showed the point spread to the dean to get her opinion. No one was failing. She had a brilliant suggestion that I'm surprised none of us thought of: if someone is unhappy with their marks, they can resubmit the work.

Smashing. And how many do you think resubmitted? Probably five out of the 33.