November 11, 2003

Dear Friends,

This September 6 marked the beginning of our fifth year here in Egypt. As we reflect on all that has happened during our time here, one particular theme weaves its way repeatedly throughout the multi-colored tapestry—the theme of learning. We are grateful for growth and change in our friendships, our family, our calling, our community, our sense of belonging, and the seminary we serve. Through it all we can follow the Lord’s hand in teaching us and those around us more about His grace and truth.

God has blessed both of us with the joy of a vocation that is simultaneously an avocation. We passionately love teaching and continue to be immensely thankful for the opportunity to do it on a full-time basis. This year, I (Darren) am teaching two courses on Presbyterian doctrine and a course on the 20th century Swiss theologian Karl Barth. Elisabeth will be teaching Hebrew and Greek until the arrival of our second son in late November or early December. Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of teaching is that we are challenged to learn continuously even as we seek to educate others. We both feel stretched, rewarded, and fulfilled as we head to our classrooms day after day.

The theme of learning runs both ways as we spend our days learning from those around us. The students, professors, and church leaders we are blessed to work with have taught us far more than we can possibly express. One great missionary of the past gave me this advice on learning Arabic, “Just remember that the first 50 years are the hardest.” While I laughed when I heard it, there is an underlying truth that penetrates every area of our lives: we must continue to learn even as we teach.

Friedrich Schleiermacher is considered by many to be the greatest Reformed theologian of the 19th century, yet he continued to prefix his signature with the title “Student of Theology” even as an elderly man. We continue to be taught by the Christian and Muslim Egyptians we come into contact with every day. We thank God for this blessing, and also pray that the learning process on a large scale between all those in the West and the Middle East would continue to grow toward mutual understanding of one another.

In a different way, the birth of our second child this month will continue our education as parents. Calvin, now three and a half, has taught us a great deal about parenting. We anticipate many more joyful (and sometimes painful!) lessons about life and love as we welcome another member into our family.

Finally, we should mention that the seminary leadership has asked both of us to consider pursuing further formal education, in the hopes of improving our ability to serve here at ETSC for the long term. Thus we are prayerfully considering pursuing Ph.D. studies, perhaps as early as the fall of next year. Our plans are still very much in the formative stages, but we would ask that you would pray for us as we attempt to discern God’s leading for the path ahead.

Regardless of our next steps, we know that God will continue to guide us in the learning process. We are thankful for all we have learned over the past four years here in Egypt and rejoice that there is still much more to learn.

May God bless you and teach you in his love,

Darren, Elisabeth, and Calvin Kennedy

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 142

Note: You may have tried to mail us a package recently, and found it was returned to you. We are no longer able to receive packages via our regular postal address. We’re sorry for the inconvenience!