I have had a great year at Séminaire de Théologie Evangélique de Port-au-Prince (STEP). I am grateful for the opportunity to increase my knowledge of the Bible and ministry.
I have not been in school since 2017. I lost the habit of sitting in a chair listening to lectures, doing homework, and moving from one place to another in other to get tasks related to study done.
In late August 2022, I had a choice between getting my CPA license or going to seminary. The first one is for professional matters and the second one is to fulfil a vow that I made some years ago. After some thinking and seeking advice, I decided to start with fulfilling my vow before I get the first goal done.
I went to the seminary to get information, but they told me registration was finished and if I wanted to be part of the session, I needed to get registered very soon. Therefore, I took the admission exam and got the interview. The next week, classes began. I was so in a rush to get registered to class, that I did not have any school supplies to go to class. I had to go get some and of course, the Executive Director helped me get a solid, waterproof bag and was faithful on supplying me beautiful pens 😂 because she knows that I really like to write with them.
I went to the new year activity Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. But on Wednesday, a big rain soaked me and a coworker that went to the ceremony too. It was a struggle to find a ‘tap tap’ because the roads were flooded. Finally, a friend, on a motorcycle, went by and gave us a ride until home. It was so frustrating to me, and I asked how I would make it for the session. I have been under some rain later in the weeks after. But it was not too bad. And I kept on going to class.
My big challenges for this year were
• First, the transportation. Since November, ‘the time is changed’ by the government. I mean that class ended when it was very dark. With the insecurity, it has been difficult to find ‘tap tap’ to get back home. But, sometimes, I found friends that gave me rides. And with the raised price and the shortage of fuel, it was hard. Some days, it took hours to wait for ‘tap tap’. But finally, we made it work.
• Second, the amount of reading that I had to make for each class. A two hour class requires 200 pages of reading, beside the textbooks recommended for the classes and for a three-hour class, 300 pages of reading is required and some other reading for the administration.
• Third, time management. I had to find time for work, seminary, family and church. It has been a struggle for me to have time to do all that and do everything well. Time was never enough for me. And the first session was online, because of the political situation of the country. We had class via voice messages on WhatsApp and we had evaluations and work via Google Classroom. With the internet issue, I had to stay at the Community Center late to be able to have class, sometimes. The professor was asking individual questions via the chats and if somebody were offline or not attending, the professor would notice. But some days, I had to be attending at home and the professor would send a message and I would receive it 15 minutes later. And imagine that we have to attend a three-hour class like that and the professor ask you to make a summary of the class to send him before 12:00 AM after the class? I had to overnight to meet these expectations. But we made it work.
• Finally, the heat. It’s hot, and I had to wear a tie from Monday to Thursday. On Friday, I could choose not to wear it. It’s not hot in class because there are large windows and fans that are always on. But on the way to school, in crowed tap taps, dusty road and the sun, it was hard.
My satisfaction was that the professors are really committed. They always come to give class, even when the situation on the road is bad because of demonstration, insecurity and kidnaping. They are available to listen to our questions and concerns and are ready to help. Every student is called by his/her name. When someone, with a vehicle, comes to class or any service or activity related to the seminary, he/she is always ready to give rides to anybody that’s going their way and do not have vehicle. I have seen other students and professors change their itinerary just because they want to drop other students somewhere they can easily find public transportation or near their houses.
There is also the sense of friendship, respect and brotherhood among the students and the people of the administration. It makes you feel that you belong to a community, that others care about you, your ministry, your family, and your wellbeing.
There is a lot available to learn at the seminary. It’s like a well. You can take as much as you can. Being in seminary showed me that there are a lot of verses that I understood and heard preached out of context. It’s amazing, for me to see the number of errors and lies people tell about the bible. I am more than grateful to learn some and to be able to be in the right track to find and go search the Truth.
I am now on vacation. I will be back to school this fall, late August or beginning September. We pray that the country finds stability, and we can have class physically at the seminary.