The big day came. The DTS graduation took place at our training center here in Lichinga on October 22, 2011. We graduated 20 students. With gratefulness in our hearts to the Lord we sang praises and celebrated the great work He had done in and through our students.The couple pictured above receiving their certificates are just one testimony of God's grace. The husband shared his testimony during the graduation service, explaining how before he loved women and lived in unfaithfulness to his wife. He viewed his wife as just someone at home to serve him. But he has now repented and they are planning to go back home to legalize their marriage. They came up hand in hand to receive their certificates. Just watching them makes you smile as they are obviously enjoying a new found friendship and intimacy that came from 5 months of growing in the Lord together and serving Him.
This couple has 4 children and gave testimony to God's work: The husband now understands and has stepped into his responsibilities as husband, father, and leader of the home. The wife understands how she needs to invest more in her children. Before their children would occasionally be sent off to live with different relatives but now the parents want all their children under their roof, recognizing their responsibility not only to care for them physically but also to teach them God's ways. They still have a long ways to go. but they have a good start down the right path. This family and the other family returned to a village on the lake and immediately were involved in teaching in a seminar that their pastor had organized! Their time of outreach is not finished! It has only begun as they return home to serve! Pray for strength and protection for them!
The students were so excited to receive their certificates! This is a happy picture and a sad picture as this group will probably never again be together this side of heaven. Good byes are hard after having invested so much time and energy and heart in living, learning, and serving together!
