Wednesday, 7 March 2012

week 0 laidlaw theology 27 feb - 2 mar 2012

main entrance to laidlaw college
monday 27 feb 2012 - my application to study for the graduate diploma in theology has been approved. registration at laidlaw college today. college principal rod thompson welcomed us.
tour of campus grounds. starting at the garden of martyrs dedicated to 6 graduates from the college who were killed while serving as missionaries. followed by library tour and orientation to campus and other facilities.

garden of martyrs at laidlaw college commemorating past graduates who were killed while serving as missionaries
i managed to enrol in these four modules for semester 1:
biblical interpretation
biblical theology
ways of knowing
old testament : pentateuch
i also enrolled in these four modules for semester 2:
worldviews & ways of life
theology:introduction
old testament psalms
theology: god & creation


the atrium with offices above and library to the left
twos and threes atrium cafe on the right

colonnade beyond leading to lecture rooms
courtyard beside the colonnade
laidlaw library containing over 70,000 items

week 1 laidlaw theology 5-9 march 2012

second courtyard - lecture rooms on ground floor with upper room above on right
first set of lectures this week.

monday 5 march 2012 1.30pm. jacqui lloyd, senior lecturer, teaches biblical interpretation, great lecture. good start to the course. this course is a requirement for all theology programmes.
monday 5 march 2012 6.30pm. rod thompson, college principal, teaches biblical theology. inspiring lecture. wonderful to have laidlaw principal teach this foundational course which is the common requirement across all laidlaw degree programmes.

tuesday 6 march 2012 11.00am. powhiri (formal customary maori welcoming ceremony) in the upper room. in view of the treaty of waitangi, laidlaw college (te wananga amorangi as it is called in maori) formally welcomed the new students (well over a hundred of us from various programmes: theology, ministry, counselling, education etc) with a haka. maori reps on the college council spoke in maori and english and led in singing of hymns. college principal rod thompson gave the welcome speech, drawing on hosea 10:12. then the newbies were welcomed individually with the hongi (pressing of noses and foreheads and symbolic exchanging of the breath of life as form of welcome).

reminded me of the st andrew;s school prefects investiture at st andrew's cathedral way back in 1975! god has his way of claiming and sealing those whom he has saved and called into his kingdom for his service.
alleluia.

wednesday 7 march 2012 6.30pm. martin sutherland, college vice principal, teaches ways of knowing. a rigourous lecture. introduction to epistemology from a christian perspective. solid stuff.

thursday 8 march 2012 9.00am. phil church, senior lecturer, teaches old testament: pentateuch. dry wit. a firm start on the first five books of the bible.

i am very impressed with the passion, enthusiasm and academic breadth and depth which characterises the laidlaw faculty. concern for excellence in teaching the full orb of the gospel shines out from their evangelical stances. all of them start the lecture with a prayer. all are steeped in their knowledge of the scriptures. i am glad i am at laidlaw. looking forward to an enriching semester.


laidlaw students lounge
kitchenette adjoining the students lounge
 
residential accommodation for laidlaw staff and students on campus
jireh primary school at laidlaw campus
olive shoots kindergarten at laidlaw campus
in addition to the main teaching and administration buildings at laidlaw college, there are also residential accommodation for laidlaw staff and students, jireh primary school and olive shoots kindergarten. the laidlaw campus is about 10-15 minutes drive from home.

looks like i am going to enjoy the graduate diploma in theology course at laidlaw. 

shalom.

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

week 32 unitec carpentry 9 november - 1 december 2011

the national party under pm john key has won the nz general election 2011. and this is also our final week. we handed in our last assignment buit 4545 this week. what a relief! then we went to help out at another house. it's been a really quick 9 months. here are some mementoes of class cca1 and house 124 that we built with our tutor joey pitovao.

joey explaining architectural matters on our walkabout at the start of the course


joey briefing us on tasks for the day at a typical toolbox talk

cleaning up - house 124 almost done!

the final touches - house 124 almost done!
house 124 at completion

on a clear day you can see forever!





week 31 unitec carpentry 23 - 25 november 2011

except for minor touch ups, the house is now completed. we had our celebration dimsum lunch at wingwah restaurant!


the house looks great inside
and is good looking from the outside too!
our celebration dimsum lunch at wingwah restaurant @ $15 per pax
a very happy class. thank you joey!

week 30 unitec carpentry 16 - 18 november 2011

this week we continued with the installation of architectural trim. kitchen cabinets also arrived this week and are fitted by the suppliers. showers are also fitted by specialist. we install the vanities to the toilets and hot water cylinder.
photograph shows shelves in linen cupboard. we also installed hanging rails and shelves in the wardrobes.
kitchen cabinets installed by supplier. note we had to trim back skirting to allow base units to butt into wall
we fabricate a temporary stand to raise the vanity to correct height for installation

aqualine gib board installed over shower tray with 10mm overhang
shower linings and glass door are installed by supplier

week 29 unitec carpentry 9 - 11 november 2011

this week we concentrate on installation of architectural trim: cornice to wall/ceiling junction, architrave to windows and doors, skirting to wall/floor junction.

photograph shows architrave and skirting fitted to range slider.
photograph shows ceiling access manhole opening finished and fitted with architrave
photograph shows skirting fitted to wall. note expanded metal corner angle for gib stopping.
photograph shows architrave fitted to window with 3mm quirk
photograph shows architrave fitted to door frame with 3mm quirk all round as negative or shadow detail

week 28 unitec carpentry 2 - 4 november 2011

this week, we start to install the interior doors which are supplied as pre-hung units.

photograph shows double doors installed to linen cupboard

pre hung door to wc installed with packers to plumb the jambs
door privacy lockset installed and architraves fixed to jamb