I signed up for this. I fully admit this. But I'm nonetheless torn.
I decided on GRTS (Grand Rapids Theological Seminary: grts.cornerstone.edu) because I didn't have very many (only two) Bible/Theology classes in my undergrad (Dordt College: www.dordt.edu) and I felt that in working with people to the extent and intensity as you do in counseling, I would be best off getting my license from a godly institution.
Just over half way through my program, I constantly question that decision. Do I really want to endure (choosing that word over others) through my Bible and theology classes when I can skate by without them at another institution?
I enjoy them. Yes, I know, that statement sort of contradicts my previous one but I do. I learn a lot and they put so much life into Sunday Sermons (really!?!). And in doing the papers and readings (and somewhat the studying - cramming - for exams) I learn so much.
But I cannot stand sitting through them sometimes. And, being a counseling student, I don't see the practical use of it to the extent that the other (MDiv) students do. I'm thankful that in this seminary, the two are set side by side because Pastors definitely need the assets that the counseling major adds but I don't think that is reciprocated except by breadth and only to some extent depth. So I struggle in taking them.
I'm torn because I do see value in them as it helps me develop my own personal stance as a therapist and my own ethical conclusions. So I want to take them.
Could I just audit???
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Hello Again
Hello again all! ...And Happy New Year a week late.
I am excited for this semester, even though it won't be starting for another two weeks (Monday). I just finished with a J-Term class in Boston called Juvenile Delinquency and it's Contributing Factors. It was a really great class and I am continually amazed at the variety of people that show up to these things. Five of us have been to all four classes so far, in this class there were two pediatricians, 8 members of various (and rival) national gangs, one assistant to the US Prosecuting Attorney who prosecutes criminal mob activity, one man from the Roman Catholic Church, a retired teacher, several street workers with Straight Ahead Ministries (www.straightahead.org) who hosts the class, and Juvenile Detention Center Chaplains. All of us, among our differences, have this two things in common, two things that allows all of us - enemies and friends - to be able to sit in that class for four and a half days in peace and that is the love we have for God and the love God has therefore given us for those young people caught up in the justice system. Class was really good but as I expected, it was super easy for me to sleep all day in preparation for the third shift I have tonight!
Don and I finally have health and dental insurance. For those of you who don't know, we've not had it since I left YFC in the middle of December 2008. We are happy, praising God for his faithfulness and sustaining us for the past year. We do still look forward to and depend on his continued sustaining us each and every day.
Don is finished with his schooling and is now working with Mel Trotter full time. He started with them last summer as an intern. At the end of that, they hired him part time for the summer and school semester and then hired him full time after his finals which ended December 17. We are really thankful for that.
I will be doing the first of three classes that give me practice with real clients and their very real problems. I am working with Tri-City Ministry Counseling in Grand Haven (www.tcmcounseling.org). They do counseling with children, teens, adults, married couples, groups, divorce recovery, grief recovery, and all other areas of counseling. I am hoping that in working with them, God will give me direction as to what He has planned for me after school. I feel sort of directionless at this point but I am resting in the confidence that I don't have to know today and that when I do, He will have planned out a way for me to go. I do have the opportunity to work with TCM for the other two parts of my hands-on learning (my two internships) following this semester's practicum requirements.
So Don and I are very much looking forward to 2010. We again hope that this year we will have the resources to go back to Fiji. We are in a better position, probably the best position of our married life, to make this a reality. Last year we put some money away in a CD and though it had little interest through the course of the year, it helped us keep our hands off it. We actually forget that it's there so it's a pleasant surprise when we actually remember. Currently, we are nearly there if you include that CD that will mature in a couple months. We are really excited about this.
We feel like 2010 is the year we're finally getting settled and are starting to work on the goals that we have so far, just been able to talk about. Thank you for your friendship and prayers during the difficult days of the year and years that God has blessed us with and thank you for also being there rejoicing in our joys.
Don and Kelly
I am excited for this semester, even though it won't be starting for another two weeks (Monday). I just finished with a J-Term class in Boston called Juvenile Delinquency and it's Contributing Factors. It was a really great class and I am continually amazed at the variety of people that show up to these things. Five of us have been to all four classes so far, in this class there were two pediatricians, 8 members of various (and rival) national gangs, one assistant to the US Prosecuting Attorney who prosecutes criminal mob activity, one man from the Roman Catholic Church, a retired teacher, several street workers with Straight Ahead Ministries (www.straightahead.org) who hosts the class, and Juvenile Detention Center Chaplains. All of us, among our differences, have this two things in common, two things that allows all of us - enemies and friends - to be able to sit in that class for four and a half days in peace and that is the love we have for God and the love God has therefore given us for those young people caught up in the justice system. Class was really good but as I expected, it was super easy for me to sleep all day in preparation for the third shift I have tonight!
Don and I finally have health and dental insurance. For those of you who don't know, we've not had it since I left YFC in the middle of December 2008. We are happy, praising God for his faithfulness and sustaining us for the past year. We do still look forward to and depend on his continued sustaining us each and every day.
Don is finished with his schooling and is now working with Mel Trotter full time. He started with them last summer as an intern. At the end of that, they hired him part time for the summer and school semester and then hired him full time after his finals which ended December 17. We are really thankful for that.
I will be doing the first of three classes that give me practice with real clients and their very real problems. I am working with Tri-City Ministry Counseling in Grand Haven (www.tcmcounseling.org). They do counseling with children, teens, adults, married couples, groups, divorce recovery, grief recovery, and all other areas of counseling. I am hoping that in working with them, God will give me direction as to what He has planned for me after school. I feel sort of directionless at this point but I am resting in the confidence that I don't have to know today and that when I do, He will have planned out a way for me to go. I do have the opportunity to work with TCM for the other two parts of my hands-on learning (my two internships) following this semester's practicum requirements.
So Don and I are very much looking forward to 2010. We again hope that this year we will have the resources to go back to Fiji. We are in a better position, probably the best position of our married life, to make this a reality. Last year we put some money away in a CD and though it had little interest through the course of the year, it helped us keep our hands off it. We actually forget that it's there so it's a pleasant surprise when we actually remember. Currently, we are nearly there if you include that CD that will mature in a couple months. We are really excited about this.
We feel like 2010 is the year we're finally getting settled and are starting to work on the goals that we have so far, just been able to talk about. Thank you for your friendship and prayers during the difficult days of the year and years that God has blessed us with and thank you for also being there rejoicing in our joys.
Don and Kelly
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