Special People: Visiting Faculty (2-23-14)

Special People: Visiting Faculty (2-23-14)

One of the features of our lives at Hope Africa University is living in close quarters and spending time with other visiting faculty on the campus.  They are special people. 

When we first arrived here at the end of January, Drs. Barbara Rose and Betty Overton-Adkins were still on-site.  Having come earlier in January, they were nearing the end of their time at HAU; we overlapped with them 7-10 days.  We know Barbara well; she is a special friend.  Before retiring, we worked together at Roberts Wesleyan College for 20 years; the past five winters we have taught with her at HAU.  Barbara is a mathematician and teaches Statistics and Research.  “Dr. Betty” (as we all call her) is past Provost of Spring Arbor University; this was her second tour to HAU.  Betty teaches Educational Leadership in the master’s program at HAU.  Both Barbara and Betty are very gifted teachers.

We were also privileged this year to overlap for 10 days with Dr. Colin and Barbara Meneely from Ireland.  This was their second tour to HAU, but our first opportunity to meet them in person.  Barbara is a nurse and midwife and gave sessions for the midwives and staff at the Van Norman Clinic.  Colin, who is a full-time pastor, taught the first course to a new cohort of 20+ students in the master’s program in Theology.  His course was Historical Theology; I have followed up the past two weeks with a course in Systematic Theology; and Tuesday will begin another, in the Foundations of Biblical Leadership.  Darlene and I thoroughly enjoyed getting acquainted with this couple from Ireland, with whom we shared so many interests. 

The day after the Meneelys left HAU for home, a new member of our visiting faculty moved into the apartment next door.  Larry Bucar is a surveyor from Denver.  This is his third visit to HAU; he will be staying here until the end of March (we leave for home March 16).  Larry is teaching Surveying to ca. 50 students in the Engineering department at HAU.  We are enjoying getting acquainted with Larry: every morning he brings us coffee and spends a half hour talking with us in our apartment before heading off to class.  He is a strong Christian, and has initiated a weekly prayer meeting among the “ex-pat” (expatriate) visiting faculty.

Our friends Dr. Norman and Nancy Wetterau arrived this past Sunday for a one-month tour of service at HAU; this is their fifth year.  Norm is an M.D. and teaches Medical Psychology; Nancy is a retired school teacher and serves as his assistant.  (Their class is always large, ca. 80 students this year, which they have divided into two sections.)  While Norm and Nancy do not live far from us in NY, the time we share at HAU represents the most significant part of our relationship with them.  We interact and share with them daily.  Today, Norm gave Darlene and me an informal “lecture” in alcohol and marijuana addiction, in which he is a leading expert.  The three of us also walked together to church, and shared in Sunday worship.  (Nancy was ill, and not able to go with us today.)  These are special times.

These are all special people, dedicated to serving God and people; that’s why they are here, at their own expense, teaching as visiting faculty at HAU.  And, you may have noticed, they all are “returnees.”  Moreover, all of them--including Darlene and me--plan to return yet again to HAU, probably “next year.”