Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Mrs. Kenneth Sanderson:American AcademyLarnaca, CyprusDecember 29, 1970Dear Friends,Best wishes for a most happy and blessed 1971 — onewhich is honoring to our Lord in all things.We've enjoyed hearing from many of you alreadyduring the holidays and expect to hear from more yet.Christmas cards from the U.S. begin to arrive early inDecember and last year they continued to come throughFebruary. I think this was partly due to the shipping strikewhich delayed mail.You may have noticed in the heading that this letter iscoming from Larnaca, which is our home now. This is atown of about 20,000, on the south coast of Cyprus, abouttwenty-six miles from Nicosia, our former home.I suppose if I were asked to summarize in two words1970, I would say, "responsibility and change." In early1970 the principal of the Nicosia Academy, Miss RuthReade, left for furlough in the States, so Kenneth took overthe management of the school there We've been in thatschool since we came to Cyprus in 1959, so were wellacquainted with the whole system. Therefore whileit meantmore responsibility added on to his regular classes,it didn'tentail great change.In late 1969, our Board asked Kenneth to act asprincipal of the Larnaca Academy while Mr. Thomas Edgarwent on furlough, but we weren't at all eager to move herefor various reasons. For one thing, we go home next July forour furlough and we weren't anxious to move our furniturefor one year only. We liked our work in Nicosia and didn'twant to leaveit and our friends there. Most of all Ken wasn'tanxious to take over the management of a new and strangeschool without even having been on the staff to knowsomething about its inner workings. Also we didn't want togive up our part-time Greek study, which we've had to dohere for lack of time. So in spite of all our seemingly good andlogical reasons as to why we shouldn't be here, or otherswho could do the work better, here we are.In mid-July our mission staff was enlarged by thecoming of the Don Pipers and Bill Edgars, the former forNicosia and the latter for Larnaca. Pipers were our guests fora week or so. while they hunted an apartment in Nicosia.After they moved to their apartment, we got busy househuntingin Larnaca. After three rather discouraging trips,the fourth one proved the "charm" and we found a housewhich was satisfactory. It is about five minutes walk from theschool and has a garden, so I am again having the joy ofraising flowers.On August 7, we were up early, ready for the moverswhom we'd asked to come at 7:30, hoping to move before itgot too hot. Well, we waited and w-a-i-t-e-d and after several6phone calls and a trip down to the office to see why theydidn't come, they finally arrived about 11:15 and we wereon our way about 1:30. Each time they assured us theywould be there in fifteen minutes, or were just ready tocome, but such is the East. We merely had our stuff set inthe house that day and left for Troodos, seventy-five milesaway and 5000 feet higher. Our Academy Camp had openedand conferences would soon be starting, so there was workthere to be done as well. Anyway, Larnaca is too hot andhumid in August for anyone to enjoy setting uphousekeeping if it can be avoided. Tom Edgar didn't leaveuntil mid-September, so he could carry on in Larnaca.Following three good conferences on Troodos, wereturned to Larnaca on the first of September and slowly gotsettled in.Nicosia school has around 400 girls enrolled and thisone just over 500 boys and girls, from 6th grade throughhigh school, but the discipline problems seem many foldmore, sometimes almost infinite, Ken thinks. We are thankfulfor the invaluable help of Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Hutchesonwho are old pros here and who give unstintingly oftheir time and energy in solving the many problems thatarise.We would ask your prayers as Ken feels the weight ofresponsibility and we see so many needing and asking forspiritual help. We plan to leave for furlough sometime inJuly, so hope to be seeing many of you in the fall. Again,best wishes for a happy New Year.Your sincere friends,Marjorie and Kenneth SandersonGOOD MEMORY RULESForget each kindness you do as soon as you do it;Forget the praise that falls to you the moment youhave won it;Forget the slander that you hear before you repeatit;Forget each slight, each spite, each sneer, whereveryou may meet it.Remember every kindness done to you what'er itsmeasure;Remember praise by others won and pass it on withpleasure;Remember every promise made and keep it to theletter;Remember those who lend you aid and be a gratefuldebtor;Remember all the happiness that comes your way inliving;Forget each worry and distress, be hopeful andforgiving;Remember good, remember truth, rememberheaven's above you,And you will find, through age and youth that manyhearts will love you. _ Cappers WeeklyCOVENANTER WITNESS