David M. Howard, Jr.
3/31/99
ORADEA, TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA
March 18-27, 1999
I made my third trip to teach at EBI earlier this month (the first two being in March and October 1998). Each time I have gone, it has become easier, for several reasons. First, I am more experienced in how to deal with the effects of jet lag. Second, I am more familiar with the school (students, faculty, staff, and administration). Third, the school is taking great strides in making things easier for guests.
In October, I had designed a curriculum of Old Testament courses for all students in the different degree programs. The Theology and Music students take five courses: two OT Survey courses, one OT Exegesis course, one OT Theology course, and one specialized course. The Social Assistance and Literature students take two courses: one OT Survey and one OT Theology course. We have also plotted out a five-year plan showing the schedules and terms each of these courses will be taught for the students in the different programs. This has already proven to be a big aid in planning.
I taught two classes, with help from three fine translators-Paulian Petric, Corneliu Simut, and Lucian Ciupe:
The OT Survey II class was a first-year class which I had had for OT Survey I in the fall. The OT Survey class was with first-year students I had not met before. They were a particular delight, as they were an engaged and interested group of students. I also enjoyed the presence in my classes of a group of extension students, who come to campus twice a year for two weeks. They tend to be older students.
I flew from New Orleans to Budapest, Hungary in three legs on March 18-19, and stayed overnight in Budapest. I was picked up in Budapest on the 20th and driven to Oradea. On Sunday, March 21, I attended the large Emmanuel Baptist Church in the morning, and preached that evening in the church at Tulca, a village about an hour from Oradea.
It was again a pleasure and a privilege to be with the Christians at EBI, and I look forward to returning in the fall. I again express my thanks to The Timothy Project for funding the trip and to the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for releasing me to make the trip. My desire is to take my oldest daughter, Christina, with me on this next trip, in order to expose her to another culture, one very different from our own, and to Christians in another part of the world. Drs. Paul Negrut and Emil Bartos of EBI both have daughters about Christina's age (13), and they have graciously invited Christina to stay with them while in Oradea.