Kohima Meeting October 26, 2006

Report on the latest OTSAF meeting held on 28th October, 2006 at Kohima

Dear Alumni Friends,

Warmest greetings to you from OTS! It is indeed a joy to write to you in spite of the incessant business that I have to attain. I am aware that a long winding write-up is usually burdensome to the reader, in fact, some get instantly turned off by it (I suppose, I am not falling into the pit!). Therefore, I will try to stick to the main points.

The meeting was held on 28th October, 2006 at Kohima Ao Baptist Church through the courteous invitation of Tzuwainla (2003; 8th Batch) who is serving as the Youth Director (A big thanks to Aien!). It was such a pleasant day—cool and fresh air permeating us coupled with the excitement to gaze and marvel at the picturesque vista of Kohima from the meeting room! In all there were eleven of us who devotedly attended the meeting.

We first had a short and meaningful fellowship. Imli (class of 1996) led the fellowship and Neiwete (class of 1996) shared, basing on “friendship.” We took time to pray for all the alumni—our ministries and endeavors. After this time of fellowship we entered into the discussion of the agenda. Here are the highlights:

1. We discussed about the structure of OTSAF. The issue of the structure of OTSAF becomes imperative if we want to sustain our alumni fellowship. OTSAF grows in number exponentially every year and unless and until there is some sort of concrete structure it will be difficult to survive as an intentional and meaningful group. Of course, we cannot certainly draw a rigid and overpowering structure. This is because we all have our priorities. It is here that the aims and objectives of OTSAF become significant. Therefore, we discussed that OTSAF has to adopt a minimalist approach towards formulating our aims and objectives. Thus we came to a consensus that OTSAF should exist to provide a common place to meet one another and in the process deepen our friendship, share Jesus’ love with one another, and even enhance our theological and practical knowledge. Apart from this, OTSAF should exist to provide a helping hand to our alma mater in whatever ways we can possibly do whenever the need arises. Having these aims and objectives actually provide OTSAF some noble reasons to have a structure, a meaning to exist. We need that structure to get us together. And therefore, we came up with this basic structure:

First we will have an OTSAF website/internet link and for this we agreed to approach our dear James Longkumer (the first Coordinator) to create one since he has done before and since the networking will be faster and cheaper there in Singapore—we hope you will agree!

Second, we decided to have OTSAF centers in Kohima and Dimapur to carry out information about OTSAF. The centers in Kohima will be Ao Baptist Church (c/o Aien, Youth Director) and Archies’ Shop (c/o Akolo Mero class of 2004); and in Dimapur it will be Hallelujah Book Store (c/o Vizi, manager—class of 2002) and Adelphia (residence of sisterhood network, c/o Ayang, class of 2001).

Third, we agreed to have separate Coordinator and Assistant coordinator in Kohima. As such Thejonye (class of 2004) was selected as the Coordinator and Neno as the Assistant Coordinator for Kohima. It is our understanding that as of now these two centers will try to reach out to the other areas.

Fourth and the final, we decided to select class representatives. They are: Imli (1996), Asen (1997), Azungla Imsong-James (1998), Phomlee (1999), Sashi (2000), Ayang (2001), Titus (2002), Aien (2003), Awalo (2004), Longdapou (2005), and Apise (2006).

2. We discussed on the issue of Timothy Elementary School (TES). Here is a brief account of TES for those who have not yet heard about it. OTS has initiated this school, Timothy Elementary School. It has three classes— preparatory and two nursery classes, basically for children whose age range from 4 to 6. It is just a year and a half old school established to meet the need of the kids of the OTS teachers and staff. As you know OTS is situated away from the city (20 Km away from the nearest city), it is difficult for the parents to ply down their children to the city everyday because of time, money as well as inconvenient transportation. The alternative to this difficulty is that the whole family has to move down to the city and leave the OTS teaching staff in bizarre condition. This is one of the main reasons why TES was started in the first place. However, the need for this sort of primary school goes beyond the OTS’ endeavor. There are hardly any schools around leave alone the issue of choosing schools. OTS as a caring community could not just observe the need of the children inside the village. Therefore, this concern has equally become an important reason for the opening of TES. Last summer both Dr.Wati Aier as well as Dr. Keyho asked whether OTSAF could help TES. Keeping this in mind we brought this issue to the table and decided to focus on the “pledge card” which TES has already printed and circulated. If you get some of those pledge cards, please help this vision venture of OTS by earnestly promoting this school.

3. The last agenda was on the issue of the general gathering of the OTSAF. For almost two years this proposed meeting has been postponed and therefore we discussed about this and decided that we will try to have this “general gathering cum seminar” next year in the month of March during the week days—possibly from Wednesday to Friday. The Coordinators will be working on the schedule and inform you once it is done. We did decide that a sum of Rs.100 will be collected as registration fee. This is everything we discussed.

It will be great to hear your feedbacks. Also, your contribution will definitely strengthen our OTSAF family. Let us continue to pray for one another, for TES project, and for the proposed general gathering in March 2007.

By the way, one of our special members, Akokla (class of 1997) had a heart surgery. She is recuperating and looking forward to work with NMM. OTSAF had the privilege to give Rs. 500 from our fund as a token of our love and solidarity with her in her recovering stage. Let us continue to pray for her.

OTSAF indeed is growing exponentially! Imna (class of 2000) and Aola are parents to a wonderful baby boy, Atensanger; Cho-o (class of 1996) and Anung (class of 1998) had another member added to their family—a beautiful baby daughter, Anelu. Congratulations to both these families.

Well, the report has grown long; however, take time to go through as I have taken time to put this into writing! It is my hope and prayer that our God will continue to bless and keep us wherever we are and whatever we do.

Shalom,
M. Sashi Jamir
Coordinator, Dimapur.